Who We Are
Earth Within (EW) is a non-profit organization founded in 2020 that helps women and people who experience cycles deepen their connection to their bodies and the natural world. Through accessible, prevention-based cycle education, we empower individuals and communities to cultivate body literacy, well-being, and lifelong reproductive health.
Across cultures and generations, many people have inherited shame, stigma, or silence around menstruation and reproductive health. Access to accurate, culturally relevant, and holistic education remains limited in many communities around the world.
Earth Within helps bridge this gap by offering accessible learning opportunities that encourage body awareness, cyclical living, and a deeper understanding of the relationship between personal and environmental health.
Everyone deserves access to menstrual health education
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Everyone deserves access to menstrual health education
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Everyone deserves access to menstrual health education ~ Everyone deserves access to menstrual health education ~
We believe that every person deserves the knowledge, tools, and support to understand their body's rhythms, make informed decisions about their well-being, and reconnect with the wisdom inherent in both nature and themselves.
Our Vision
We envision a future where women, girls, and all people who experience cycles feel confident, informed, and connected to their bodies throughout every stage of life.
We recognize that many people do not receive comprehensive, culturally responsive education about reproductive health through current medical systems, schools, or family networks. Earth Within works to fill these gaps by creating accessible learning experiences rooted in respect for diverse cultures, traditions, and ways of knowing.
Through partnerships with Indigenous communities, schools, youth-serving organizations, health advocates, and community leaders, we offer accessible programs that foster self-awareness, resilience, creativity, and connection. Whether through workshops, camps, community gatherings, or educational resources, we use nature as a teacher, helping participants understand the wisdom of cycles and their relationship to the living world.
Our vision is one where body literacy, environmental stewardship, and community knowledge are accessible to all.
“My daughter truly enjoyed the summer camps with Earth Within. While no single moment stands out, what I remember most is how she smiled and looked forward to going every day. We’re so grateful for the time she was able to spend in the program.”
Our Values
The following values guide our work as staff, board members, and community members.
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Cycles connect us across generations. We honor the wisdom, experiences, and stories carried by elders, caregivers, parents, youth, and community leaders. Our programs create opportunities for learning, mentorship, and connection across life stages, strengthening relationships and preserving valuable cultural and community knowledge.
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We believe meaningful change happens through partnership. We work alongside Indigenous communities, educators, healthcare practitioners, schools, nonprofits, and local organizations to co-create programs that reflect the needs, strengths, and knowledge of the communities we serve. We value shared leadership, mutual respect, and collective learning.
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Nature is one of our greatest teachers. We incorporate principles of sustainability, ecological awareness, and reciprocity into our curriculum, encouraging participants to build meaningful relationships with the natural world. By learning from plants, ecosystems, and seasonal cycles, we develop a deeper appreciation for the connections between personal well-being and environmental health.
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We are committed to creating welcoming, accessible spaces where diverse experiences, identities, cultures, and backgrounds are respected and celebrated. We recognize that experiences with menstruation, fertility, and cyclical living vary widely. Our programs honor the many ways people relate to their bodies and cycles, ensuring participants feel seen, valued, and supported in their unique journeys.
“Nellie had a wonderful time with you this summer!! She participated in the flower and root medicine camps. She loved all the projects and crafts. The counselors were so kind. She is looking forward to next year!!!”
Melissa Lafontaine
Our Story
Earth Within (EW) was founded in 2020 by Melissa Lafontaine, who was inspired by her journey in healing hormonal imbalances through plant knowledge and self-care. The organization emerged from her Master’s program in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana, where she focused on educating children through plant-based learning. Initially part of the DIY community workshop series offered by her sustainable floral design business, Earth Within Flowers, EW quickly gained traction after hosting its first guardian-daughter workshop, which coincided with International Women’s Day and received media attention.
Recognizing the growing demand for educational content about hormonal health and menstrual cycles, EW expanded its offerings to include after-school programs, summer camps, and workshops. The organization emphasizes the importance of cycle literacy, aiming to empower adolescent girls and women by connecting their internal cycles to the natural environment. EW advocates for a future where young girls are confident stewards of their hormonal health and provides a safe and inclusive space for diverse participants, including female-identifying and non-binary individuals.
“She had an absolute blast, still uses all of her products that she made. As a parent, it was a great course and I felt like I was learning alongside of her as we used homemade sunscreen, body care products and tracked the moon cycles in her period journal”
Trina Fyant
Our Staff
Trina Fyant is currently working part-time with EW to assist in leading our Arlee after school program. She is the founder and owner of Qene’s Catering. Qene is a Salish word for paternal grandmother.
t̓l čkʷlkʷiltn u či sqʷelixʷ, či Seliš
Trina is a child of the Red Top Mountains, currently known as the Bitterroot Valley. She is Bitterroot Salish, Qlispe, Pikuni, Kainai, and Mohawk. She’s dedicated to feeding others and honoring the ancestral foods, plant and other relatives who nourish them. Lemlmtš (Thank you).
Our Board Members
Through its dedicated team of board members, who bring a wealth of knowledge in education, health, and wellness, EW continues to foster community wellness and resilience. The organization remains committed to using nature as a model for cycle education and promoting inclusivity within all of its programs.
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Carter Daume
After graduating from college in Washington, Carter moved to Missoula to be closer to her family and the mountains. Carter has a background in early childhood education and program coordination and is a certified Reproductive Health and Fertility Awareness Educator. She teaches body literacy classes for girls and women from menarche through menopause, as well as courses on the Sympto-Thermal Fertility Awareness Method both for contraceptive purposes and family planning. As an avid trail runner, mountain biker, and skier, Carter has developed a special interest in female specific exercise physiology and its interplay with the menstrual cycle.
Carter became interested in this work when she realized just how little she knew about her own body and how disconnected she felt from it. Her dream is to empower women of all ages and walks of life by sharing with them some tools and knowledge to understand and connect to their own bodies.
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Dana Solge
Dana, originally from the bustling East Coast, happily landed in Missoula after hopping around gradually further and further out West.
She enjoys empowering individuals to build strength, confidence, and self-awareness through movement. Dana has focused her career in pelvic health physical therapy, offering hope and relief in a typically vulnerable realm. Her passion for learning a holistic approach to women's health has led her to explore ways to connect identifying women and girls to their deep-seated bond with nature's restorative powers.
Dana is in her element rotating between Montana’s seasonal activities such as trail running, backpacking, gardening, and skiing. Yet, she is equally fulfilled slowing down to bask in the sun with her dog, Frankie.
Her education includes a B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of New England. She is certified as a pelvic health specialist through Herman & Wallace Pelvic Health Institute and is a Wilderness First Responder.
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Kara Stansbury
Kara is a Somatic Family Therapist and has been working in the therapeutic field for nearly 20 years. She got her start guiding wilderness trips for at-risk youth and their families in the mountains of western North Carolina and deserts of eastern Utah. In 2010, she pursued her masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Appalachian State University. Since then she has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings with adolescents, adults, couples and families. She holds additional certifications in Somatic Experiencing, Perinatal Mental Health, and Trauma Informed Yoga.
Currently, Kara has a private practice, Birthrite Healing, where she specializes in somatic trauma work and supporting women and their families in the perinatal period. Kara loves EW because it blends many of her favorite things- education, community, nature, and supporting women and girls throughout the lifespan.
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Jillian Wagner
Jillian was born and raised in Flagstaff, AZ and moved to Montana after falling in love with Glacier National Park.
She is passionate about sustainability and connecting with nature--two things she believes are the cornerstones for our future. As someone with many incredible mentors, she knows the importance of role models and how crucial it is for generations to pass on the torch and teach young people about themselves and the world around them.
Jillian earned her B.S. in Environmental Sustainability Studies from Northern Arizona University and has a rich history serving different nonprofits. She is a freelance marketer for women+ owned organizations and is on the road to grad school where she will get her Masters in Social Work. She hopes one day to be a grief counselor, where her passion for connection can serve others in a deeper capacity.
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Breezy Love
Breezy brings a rich background in music and education, having spent three years working with youth ages 5–18 in community centers, schools, and outdoor programs across the U.S. and internationally—from North Carolina and Montana to California, Costa Rica and Switzerland.
After experiencing how cycle-tracking and herbalism transformed her relationship with her body, she felt called to share this knowledge with others. Her passion for women's health, the natural world, and facilitating magical programs for youth drew her naturally to Earth Within. She's a certified Wilderness First Responder and Red Cross lifeguard.
An avid singer-songwriter releasing music as Breezy Love, she also enjoys hiking, rafting, dancing, and studying. Her education includes graduating from Interlochen Arts Academy, studying professional music at Berklee College of Music, and currently pursuing a B.A. at the University of Montana.
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Jacquelyn Davis
Originally from Great Falls, Montana, Jacquelyn moved to Missoula to pursue her bachelor's degree in English and has called it home ever since. Jacquelyn's experience spans teaching, marketing, and fundraising across animal welfare, K-12 education, and higher education. She earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Montana in 2024 and now works to promote wildlife conservation.
Jacquelyn is dedicated to combining the art of storytelling and data-driven approaches to inspire positive change. As a former educator and lifelong nature lover, she was drawn to Earth Within’s mission of empowering girls and women through accessible, inclusive education and connection with the natural world.
In her free time, Jacquelyn enjoys hiking and running on Missoula's trails, painting, and spending time with her two cats.
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Jaden Sparrow
Jaden is a certified menstrual cycle coach & educator and yoga teacher based in Missoula. Through her business, Find Your Flow, she helps women and girls build real relationships with their bodies, their cycles, and the natural rhythms they move through every day.
She studied Health & Human Performance at the U of M, then spent six years traveling the world and deepening her knowledge and experience in women's health. She has hosted several international retreats and is deeply passionate about bringing more cycle awareness to her Montana community.
When she's not teaching yoga or working with 1:1 clients, you can find her running the trails around Missoula, at a dance class, enjoying the outdoors, or cozied up at a local cafe.