Meet Elana: Jewish Roller Skater of the Week

Elana Kellner is a program assistant with the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education. When she’s not teaching and thinking of creative ways to develop environmental education programs, you can find her roller skating through Rock Creek Park or grabbing a coffee at Bump ‘n Grind following a morning at the Silver Spring Farmers’ Market. Read this week’s 1:1 interview to find out what’s at the top of her post-pandemic bucket list!

Rachel: What brought you to DC and what made you stay?

Elana: I grew up in Silver Spring, MD so I have lived in the DC area my whole life. I recently moved into the NoMa Moishe House in DC. I left DC to go to college at Brandeis University in the Boston area, but decided to come back because DC really has all the aspects of cities that I love with lots of outdoor areas and great hiking spots.

Rachel: I know this is the most DC question, but what do you do and how did you get into that? 

Elana: I’m a Program Assistant at the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education! I work in Environmental Education and love teaching and program development. I think that my love of the outdoors, science, and teaching is what got me into this field as environmental education combines all of that into one career.

Rachel: Describe your dream day in the DMV from start to finish. 

Elana: I think my dream day in the DMV in a non-pandemic time would start with a fun Saturday trip to the Silver Spring farmer’s market with friends. Then I would head to Bump ‘n Grind for some coffee. After that I would drive to the Chesapeake Bay and sit by the water, read, enjoy the sun, and go swimming if it’s warm enough! If there’s time, I would end the day by visiting the Portrait Gallery and eating dinner with friends in the atrium. 

Rachel: What do you do to relax or for fun at the end of a long week? 

Elana: My favorite weekend activities are roller skating, hiking, and going on socially distant walks with friends! I love exploring Rock Creek Park and finding areas with flat streets and no cars to skate on.

Rachel: With Purim just around the corner, what is your favorite flavor of hamantaschen?

Elana: My favorite flavor of hamantaschen is chocolate! I know that’s not one of the traditional ones, but you really can’t go wrong with chocolate filling.

Rachel: What’s at the top of your life bucket list or where are places you’d love to travel? Why?

Elana: I would love to go to travel to all of the National Parks in the US! The first one I want to go to after the pandemic is Acadia National Park in Maine.

Rachel: Complete this sentence – “When Jews of DC Gather…

Elana: …we make connections while wearing masks!

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