Welcoming Eric Rightor, New KSS Executive Director

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Dear KSS Families and Supporters,

I’m thrilled to have the chance to personally introduce myself and connect with you as I step into my new role at Keystone Science School. Our community of supporters means so much to this organization, and I can’t wait to get to know you and share my excitement for what’s ahead.

For over 15 years, the outdoors has been my classroom, workplace, and refuge. Ever since venturing on my first backpacking trip up Mt. Washington when I was a teenager, I’ve held that the backcountry is the best educator there is because of its ability to teach the valuable lessons important to one’s life no matter your subject of focus. You can only imagine my excitement when I learned about KSS for the first time, combining the power of education through recreation with a scientific lens for even better understanding of how the world works, and is why I am honored to serve our community as the next Executive Director.

If you have the chance to meet my mother, she’ll probably tell you the story of me, age 3, running towards big waves crashing on shore in Hawaii with beaming excitement, only to be caught by my father at the last minute. This instinct to ‘go for it’ has served me well over the years and led to some amazing experiences while also teaching some valuable lessons along the way. Growing up outside Boston, when my folks got tired of their wild child running around our small home and backwoods with little supervision, they suggested I go to summer camp for the first time. I didn’t hesitate. A month with no parents, new friends, and day after day outside on the lake or in the woods? I started packing my stuff in my brother’s Rubbermaid trunk that night. Still have it too.

Now, I thought it’d be fun, but I didn’t expect to fall in love and boy, I fell HARD. The freedom, the activities, the staff, the friends, the unexpected. There were sports, crafts, diving boards, boats, ropes courses, woodshops, songs, chants, ceremonies and a new all-camp activity every night. There were traditions that captivated me and forced moments of reflection I never experienced before. There were inside jokes that brought me closer to others, and jokes we didn’t even get that kept us up at night trying to figure out. I ate it up and only wanted more.

Then, there were the outdoor trips. From overnights on the lake to backpacking in the White Mountains of NH, these experiences stood out. They held a power over me – the physical and mental challenge, the real-time redefinition of priorities, the shared experience of supporting everyone’s individual experience – it was like I had discovered fire for the first time. We took pride in getting dirty and wore scars and splinters like badges of honor. It filled my soul to belong to these pursuits, to contribute, to have my role within the group, to support others who were having a hard time. The trips radiated energy and enthusiasm while also demanding preparation, respect, teamwork and reflection. Those trips tamed me and I simply couldn’t get enough.

I cried going home that summer. I had this hook of belonging in me and I’d have to wait a whole year to get back.

That was 28 years ago and I’ve missed only two camp summers since. Since then, the same passion that went into enjoying time with my friends went into learning to lead them. This evolved into becoming a staff member, leading a group of campers in cabins and on adventures. This same passion evolved further still into leading teams and organizations focused around building communities like the one I found nearly three decades ago.

As I love both tinkering in my garage and analogies, leading an organization is not like driving a car – just because the engine runs doesn’t mean everything is running as it should. Terms that apply to an engine – wrench, torque, tighten, etc. – can apply to a team but the human element is so much more nuanced than any piece of metal. The process of joining and tuning a team to perform at its best requires any leader to earn trust authentically and this process takes both time and engagement. My approach is simple and intentional – learn the goals and concerns, gather the data, and consult experts to form an achievable and inspiring vision to rally behind. The key word above is ‘learn’, which means asking questions, providing space for healthy debate, and engaging the community where they are to move forward together. This process is both hard and necessary to earn the trust and respect required to fuel the hard work behind the ‘heart-work’ we love. Doing this right has the power to forge an engine of impact that will last for not just a summer or two, but for generations to come.

This is where I’ll need your help.

I know the power of what a community like KSS can do because of what it did for me. The empowerment I got from programs like KSS led me to travel the world with friends and family, thru-hike the AT, become an outdoor guide and educator, volunteer in my community, and find my passion for leading organizations to further their impact. In short, the outdoors helped shape my life for the better and my mission has always been to give that gift back.

Thankfully, my life has become much more than just work. I enjoy the love and support of my wife Mel and we are enjoying our latest adventure of raising our daughter Siena, a wild child in the making. Our fuzzy pup Roscoe has been my sidekick for many years now, providing humor and comfort, whether it be from his home under my desk or on the many trails we’ve enjoyed over the years. There’s also Cinnamon the cat, though you’ll just have to trust me on her existence given her short list of approved humans to show for.

Whether it’s a long tour on my paddleboard on lakes and waterways or a full day blitzing through the trees on skis, the outdoors is the playground we can’t wait to share with Siena. We love to host friends and family for home-cooked meals and share toasts around the campfire. We love to travel the country and the world to enjoy its many sites and splendors. We love our sports teams, local events, live music and are always down for a trip to the farmer’s market. Needless to say, we are excited about our next adventure here in Summit and with KSS, enjoying and delivering on what we love most – creating community, spreading joy, and making an impact.

I am so grateful for your incredible support of KSS and excited for you to join us for the next chapter of our incredible organization. Already, I can feel the momentum building with new staff joining our team, new programs like Girls In Stem thriving, and a renewed focus on community impact we look to further in the coming years. With an amazing team in place and big plans on the horizon, get ready for what comes next.

I’ll close with a story – when I had graduated from college and was thinking about the daunting question of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, I shared my conclusion at the dinner table that I wanted to teach. My father, an executive recruiter and lifelong academic, was intrigued by this. I remember distinctly the deep stare, soft but intentional, that took over the kitchen as I waited for his response. I wondered what guiding wisdom the old man would impart, as he always had something to say. He asked me a simple question that solidified the direction of my career:

‘Where did you learn the most?’

It struck me. Sure, there was the quality public education and the 4-year college, but was that where I learned the most? I reflected on this for weeks and I thought about what mattered most to me. Where I learned to be confident in myself, to lead from behind, to challenge myself and not fear failure, to step into the unknown peacefully, to manage risk, to build connections with others, to slow down and reflect, to see problems as opportunities, to challenge the status quo, to care for others, to work hard, play harder, and find joy in the simple things – I learned these lessons in the outdoors and through communities just like KSS. That’s why I have dedicated my career to this mission ever since.

If you’d like to connect to share wisdom, perspective, or just want to say hello, please don’t hesitate to reach out with the information below. Thank you again for your support and look forward to serving you and our community to the fullest.

Sincerely,