Our Founder
Meet Margaret
In the winter of 2007, Margaret started The Elements D.C. so her four kids and friends could get outdoors and avoid cabin-fever. They were delighted to be amongst a group of friends, exploring the winter woods, playing new games, and experiencing activities that don’t happen in organized sports or on screens.
As the founder and the director, the special angle Margaret brings is the perspective of a mom. As a mother of four, she's always aware of safety. She also knows what parents want in a top-notch program.
Margaret was raised in Richmond, VA where her happiest childhood memories are of playing kick-the-can with her sisters and brother or hacking, on horseback in the woods with her parents. Many a summer day were spent clearing stone walls, digging post holes and swimming in the pond on a family farm in the mountains. She acclimated to colder climates during her years at the University of Vermont. While there she worked as a dairy-maid on Shelburne Farms and then went on to earn a degree in Landscape Design at George Washington University. It was through these experiences and parenting her children that she realized the importance and impact of time spent outdoor and experiential learning. She is Wilderness First Aid trained and certified. She now lives in NW Washington with her husband and kids.
Margaret Rietano
Founder, Director, Site Leader
mrietano@theelementsdc.com
Margaret is also a Guide!
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