

Our Board of Directors
Leading the Barn Nature Center is our Board of Directors, a group of dedicated individuals motivated by our mission. With varied backgrounds and expertise, they provide valuable guidance to our organization.

President
Jaime Dawson
Jamie Dawson is a science teacher at D.H.H. Lengel Middle School in Pottsville Area School District and the former Director of Education at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the world’s first refuge for birds of prey. Jamie is also the co-founder and Board President of the Barn Nature Center Foundation. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Science from Gettysburg College and her master’s in Biology from Miami University’s Global Field Program, with a focus on solutions to anthropogenic threats to biodiversity.
Jamie is the former Chief Operating Officer for Youth Services Agency (YSA) and the former Director of the Barn Nature Center and YSA Nature Center. Jamie served on the YSA Executive Board of Directors for 14 years and on the Northern Lehigh Community Center board for six years. Jamie is a TEDx Lehigh River speaker and has published research demonstrating the powerful impact animal interactions can have on empathy development within at-risk youth.

Treasurer
Reginald (Reggie) Rytter
I joined the board since we re-opened in 2021. My love for the Barn was at least partially driven by my two sons, Collin and Andrew. They have always enjoyed the camps and animals here. So much so, that the Barn actually named one of the Chinchillas after my oldest son. I love the mission of the Barn and think it is a great treasure in Bucks County. My background is in Finance and Accounting primarily. I currently own UPS Stores in Doylestown, Warrington, and Warminster, PA. Fun fact for me is that my wife and I were engaged in Scotland at her favorite castle (Eilean Donan on the Isle of Skye) and we love to travel. We have two dogs, Allagash (Alllie, Chocolate Labrador) and Corryvreckan (Corry, labradoodle).
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Guest Services
Melissa Rosevear
Melissa Rosevear is the Director of Guest Services. Previously she was the former Director of Electric
City Aquarium and former Operations Director of Lehigh Valley Zoo.