We are sad to share that former Chewonki Executive Director, Harwood Ellis, Jr., known as Tim, died on May 18, 2025, in Missoula, Montana. Tim was an innovative educator who influenced thousands of people through his leadership and love of the natural world. He believed individuals grow fully in community, living, learning, and working in simple settings close to, or in, the outdoors. “He recognized people’s gifts, often before they did,” said his daughter, Jennifer Ellis. “He challenged them to become their best selves, and nurtured them as they developed. And he always emphasized ethics and service to the greater good.” Ellis’s charisma amplified his teaching. He was tall and strong, with a wide smile, a resounding baritone singing voice, and a lively touch on the banjo. His formula of challenge (and second chances), authentic work, and engagement with the natural world empowered young people and colleagues alike. Many became his lifelong friends, crediting him for personal and professional transformation. He was prescient in his commitment to environmental sustainability, women leaders, and a more inclusive audience for outdoor learning. Ellis spent much of his career and his life at the Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset, Maine, where he arrived in a