Larry Kuser
Executive Director
Larry Kuser, third generation owner of Fernbrook Farms, has been actively running the farm since 1982. Prior to farming, Larry was a high school math and science teacher and coach. From 1976-1981 he served as Dean of Students for Princeton Day School, Princeton, NJ. Larry has never given up his love of teaching or his involvement in the community. He has been an adjunct teacher at Mercer County Community College, Rutgers University School of Continuing Education and the New York Botanical Gardens. He has given lectures for the Master Gardeners programs and the New Jersey Association of Landscape Architects.
He serves on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, a past member of the Burlington County Board of Agriculture, past president of the Chesterfield Township Environmental Commission and is a member of the New Jersey Community Forestry Council. Larry is a graduate of Cornell University and has a Masters degree in Education from Fordham University. He has been married for 33 years to Susie, has three grown children and two grandchildren. His vocation and avocation are the same: to live close to the earth and share the farm with as many people as possible.
Brian Kuser
Summer Camp Director
Brian Kuser, son of Larry Kuser, has been involved in outdoor education since 1996. During his years at Bates College in Maine, Brian spent his summers working at Keewaydin Camps in Vermont where his love of experiential education was founded.
After graduating Bates with a degree in mathematics, Brian started teaching at New England boarding schools while continuing to spend his summers at camp in Vermont. Brian took a couple winters off from the indoor classroom and spent several seasons teaching in the outdoor classroom at Keewaydin Environmental Education Center and Hulbert Outdoor Center where he focused on environmental education and teambuilding activities. He then married Tracy and they moved to Thailand to teach at an international school.
Since their return to the US in 2007, Brian has spent his winters teaching and his summers at Fernbrook as the Summer Camp Director where he truly enjoys being able to share his love of his childhood backyard with the campers as they get to experience the joys of the outdoor classroom at Fernbrook Farms.
Claire Wildermuth
Program Coordinator
Claire hails from Tafton, PA and spent a lot of time outdoors exploring and building forts growing up. She graduated from Dartmouth University where she earned a BA in Environmental Studies. Since her college days, she has led hiking and other outdoor trips, taught at a YMCA residential environmental education center in South Carolina, and coordinated programs for the Delaware Highlands Conservancy in northeast Pennsylvania and New York. Claire has lots of experience with children and enjoys helping students of all ages realize the tremendous realm of possibilities and new discoveries our planet has to offer if you take time to observe.
Jennifer Totora
School Coordinator
Jennifer has attempted to gain experience in as many divisions of Biological Science that she possibly could. This includes work in laboratories, doing field research, researching climate change and harmful algal blooms, protecting endangered birds with NJ Fish & Wildlife, being an aquarist, teaching in classrooms, and teaching out of the classroom. She has a degree in Biological Sciences from Rowan University, attended Grad School for Marine Biosciences at the University of Delaware, and is a Certified Teacher of Biological Science in the State of New Jersey. After dabbling in so many sectors of science, Jennifer found her true calling in environmental education. During her free time, Jennifer enjoys kayaking, hiking, scuba diving, and being a self-proclaimed shark expert. She hopes her passion for the natural world will inspire students of all ages to strive to learn about and protect their home planet.
Marna Matthews
Administrative Assistant
Marna is an enthusiastic supporter of organic farming, children, ecology and science education. As a former teacher of elementary and middle school math, science, and computer she is an advocate for hands-on learning and getting children outdoors to learn to love science and being in the dirt. Marna is a trustee on the boards of Princeton Friends School, and Snipes Farm in Morrisville New Jersey. Here at the Fernbrook Farms Education Center she is contributing her expertise in education and community relations.
Summer Camp Counselors
Our summer staff is an eclectic group of educators and community leaders. All of our instructors have a great rapport with children and a deep interest in helping children discover the wonders of agriculture and the environment. Most instructors are certified teachers or Elementary Education students in their last years in college. Before the summer begins we have an extensive week of training and certification in First Aid and Red Cross CPR. Some of our staff are certified Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder. Here at Fernbrook we are extremely proud of the competence and compassion of our summer staff.