Meet The 3P Team

all staff are CPR & First Aid certified and receive annual in-service training to include childhood development and behavior, naturalist knowledge, primitive skill building, hazard awareness and risk management in the outdoors

Kevina Casaletto

Founder & Executive Director

Kevina Casaletto was born in Austin, Texas, and spent much of her childhood traveling with her family around the country. She has always loved learning about new places and connecting with nature wherever she finds herself (which was usually up in a tree).

After graduating from UNCW in 2006 with a degree in elementary education, she spent two years working in the classroom before adventure called again. In 2009, Kevina and her husband, Greg, moved to Belize to serve in the Peace Corps, where Kevina worked as a teacher trainer until 2011. With a background in education and a lifelong passion for the outdoors, Kevina knows firsthand the benefits of exploring nature and seeing the world through curious eyes.

Kevina has two adventurous children who love to camp, explore, bike and bird watch! She began working with the Nature Explorers program in the fall of 2021 and quickly realized this was the work she was meant to do! She loves fostering creativity and wonder through art and observation and does so in our program through embroidery, journaling, painting and nature-based arts. Kevina has been a lover of longleaf since moving to Wilmington in 2002, and hopes to spread the love of this unique ecosystem to the next generation through 3P.

Christy Porter

Co-director & Lead Facilitator

christy@threepinesproject.org

Christy is from Wilmington and grew up spending her days outside, bringing a wealth of knowledge about the flora and fauna that's native our area. She has been an outdoor educator for over eight years from ages ranging from preschool to teens. Christy is passionate about children and their connection to nature and loves the opportunity to help foster that.

Outside of work she enjoys taking ballet and tap classes and spends time with her husband, daughter who attends 3P, and Dora the dog exploring new and interesting places in our state. Christy is so excited to continue fostering wonder and curiosity with Three Pines Project

Dylan Kormanik

Assistant Facilitator

Dylan is originally from West Virginia, and moved to Wilmington with his family in 2020 to be closer to the ocean. He is a high school senior homeschooler and plans to pursue an associate degree in nursing at Cape Fear Community College after graduation.

Dylan started with the Nature Explorers program as a teen apprentice in 2020 and then joined the staff team as an assistant facilitator in 2022. Dylan loves animals and has lots of pets, including 4 dogs, a cat, a turtle, a lizard, 2 birds and lots of fish!

Stephanie Duncan

Facilitator

stephanie@threepinesproject.org

Originally from Northern California, Stephanie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in liberal & civic studies in 2003 and a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2006. In her 10 years of practice as a pediatric occupational therapist (from 2007-2017), Stephanie had the privilege of working with children of all ages and abilities, while also partnering with their families to help them achieve their therapy goals.

More recently, as a homeschooling mom of two nature loving kids, Stephanie creates and looks for opportunities to foster her children’s curiosity, love, and respect for the natural world whenever possible, which is why their family joined the Nature Explorers program in 2021. From observing her own children, as well as from her studies and work experiences, Stephanie has seen the way that exploring and interacting with nature can facilitate play and positively impact sensory, emotional, and physical growth in all children. She feels honored and grateful to be a part of a program that has made such a positive impact in the lives of so many families, including her own.

Sarah Brintle

Facilitator

Sarah grew up in the Piedmont of North Carolina, spending summers at the beaches of the Carolinas, where her love for the ocean began. She later attended UNC Wilmington, earning a B.A. in Special Education in 2006.

She has taught in a variety of settings with learners of all ages. In 2016, Sarah completed her 200-hour yoga teacher certification. Since then, she has shared inclusive mindfulness and yoga practices, often incorporating art, music, and play to inspire the mind–body connection.

Sarah joined Nature Connect in 2022 and is passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces where children can be their authentic selves and explore the natural world with curiosity.

She lives by the sea with her two children and their new puppy. Outside of work, she loves cheering on her kids in sports, enjoying live music, and traveling.

Erin Gross

Facilitator

erin@threepinesproject.org

Erin first worked with Nature Connect in 2022 while completing her degree in Recreation Therapy. She is now a licensed Recreational Therapist and supports people with disabilities. With a background in marine biology, Erin has fostered curiosity in many minds as a previous educator at the Fort Fisher Aquarium where she particularly enjoyed leading groups on marsh explorations.

Erin loves exploring nature and believes spending time outdoors is the best medicine. Her favorite animals to observe in the wild are snails and fox squirrels. She loves to laugh, especially at jokes with animal puns!

Oana Duma

Community Coordinator, Facilitator & Administrative Assistant

oana@threepinesproject.org

Oana worked as a facilitator for Nature Connect from 2018-2023 and has nearly 7 years experience planning and leading nature-based programs for children of all ages. To her, outdoor education is more than just learning outside, it’s about building a deep connection with the natural world, strengthening relationships, and discovering more about ourselves along the way.

Oana grew up in Romania exploring the Carpathian Mountains and moved to USA with her family in 2013. She holds degrees in Journalism and Communications, and is a certified Nature-based Educator through the Association for Nature-Based Education (ANBE).

Britt Carpenter

Consultant & Substitute Facilitator

Britt has lived in and around the Wilmington and Topsail areas since the age of 4, and grew up regularly exploring the nearby woods, marshes and beaches. She has been facilitating outdoor programming with children and adults since 2016.

Britt recently obtained a masters degree in Social Work and is currently working as a clinician with a community mental health agency as she works toward full LCSW licensure and pursuing her dream of providing nature-informed mental health in the community. While her current schedule does not allow for consistent time with 3P, Britt remains on staff as a consultant for working with families and community, and as a substitute facilitator when needed.

Meet The 3P Team

all staff are CPR & First Aid certified and receive annual in-service training to include childhood development and behavior, naturalist knowledge, primitive skill building, hazard awareness and risk management in the outdoors

Let's keep in touch!