Elk Johnston (They/Them)
Staff Mentor
B.A. Arts Education, UVM ('19)
US Archery Instructor, CPR, RTE
The first time Elk felt at home was at the VT Renaissance Faire, where they saw a sword fighting demonstration and thought: “Yeah, I could do that.” They inquired with the person behind the adjacent table about where they could sign up, and the rest is history. Elk is now an awarded rapier fighter in the East Kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), an international medieval reenactment and living history organization.
In addition to the sport of stick ’em with the pointy end Elk participates in recreating medieval manuscript pages illuminated with gold and calligraphy, as well as traditional longbow archery, which is another skill they love to teach to anyone willing to learn. Just after graduating UVM, Elk taught archery at an overnight Girl Scout camp in the Adirondacks, which married their love of archery with their love of nature, camping, and outdoor living, inspiring them to pursue nature education.
When they’re not living in the 13th century, Elk is fighting for social justice in the 21st century. They’ve worked with local organizations trying to level the playing field for minoritized groups through education, community events, protests, and outreach. Elk is a lifelong student – they are always ready to learn more about the world they live in and do their best to make it a safe and welcoming place for everyone.