Eli Marienthal

Co-Founder, Guide

Eli is a lifelong learner and educator. He is Co-Director of Back to Earth and a founding faculty member of W.I.L.D., where he guides wilderness rites of passage adventures for teens and young adults. He is trained through The Tracking Project in Corrales, New Mexico, a non-profit led by John Stokes devoted to peacemaking, nature awareness and cross cultural respect. He is a NOLS alumnus and a certified Wilderness First Responder.

Eli holds bachelor’s degrees and a master's degree in comparative literature and international development studies from Brown University, and is an “all but dissertation” PhD candidate in the Geography Department at UC Berkeley. He has conducted research in Haiti, India and the United States.

Eli is also a poet, songwriter and spoken-word performer. He is a former Youth Speaks slam champion and a national youth slam team member. As a young person he worked extensively in regional theater, including at Berkeley Repertory Theater, ACT and The Magic Theater, as well as in film and television. Notable credits include The Iron Giant, Slums of Beverly Hills and American Pie I and II.

Contact him at eli@backtoearth.org

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