Blog and News

When Elsa Goebel-Bain was 11 years old, her family moved from Springfield, Illinois, to Winthrop, Maine. That move opened a world of outdoor recreation opportunities. Inspired by her…

Mike Cherim has loved hiking for as long as he can remember. He started early, ascending mountains in a pack on his father’s back until he was big enough to hike on his own. After a…

Brett Butler pursued a career in forestry because he loves being in the woods, but during a research trip in college, he started to realize that forestry is as much about people as it is about…

A self-proclaimed “tree geek,” Joanne Garton is the technical assistance coordinator for Vermont Urban & Community Forestry, a role that has her traveling the state to…

Siblings Jim Robbins, Alden Robbins, and Catherine Robbins-Halsted are the fifth generation of their family to run Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine. The Robbins kids grew up around the…

For Nancy Baker, tending to the region’s woodlands is “all about caring well for the forest.” She manages land that has been in her family since 1861, and over the years has…

As the director of trails for the Appalachian Mountain Club, Alexander DeLucia oversees the professional and volunteer crews responsible for maintaining some 1,800 miles of trails from…

When she graduated from high school, Mariah Choiniere wasn’t sure what type of career she wanted to pursue. Rather than diving right into college, she took some time to determine her…

In his work as a timber frame builder, David Bowman seeks out trees specifically suited to the structures he’s creating. He harvests from his own woodlot in western Massachusetts and…

As deputy director of the Forest Stewards Guild, Amanda Mahaffey supports programs including Women Owning Woodlands, Foresters for the Birds, and the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange.…

After earning a college degree in English, Conrad Baker entered the news field and worked for four years generating daily, local online news content. He found himself increasingly drawn to…

The first time Karin Tilberg came to Maine’s North Woods, she felt like she was home. Following a childhood in Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey, Karin attended the University of…

Forester David Govatski’s three-decade career with the U.S. Forest Service included assignments in Colorado, Vermont, Michigan, Oregon, and New Hampshire. In 2005, he retired from his…

Jillian Bell grew up in the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama, and has been fascinated with the natural world since she was a child and noticed flowers growing through the cracks of a sidewalk.…

Since 1995, Mark Isselhardt has been immersed in maple sugaring research with University of Vermont Extension and the Proctor Maple Research Center. He is currently the Maple Specialist with…

Todd Spire says he has been something of a fishing addict since he was a kid, but only relatively recently did he turn that passion into a way to make a living. After studying at various art…

Given her early introduction to nature-based education, it’s hardly a surprise that Dylan Kinsella Alden has pursued a career that puts her outside and includes educating others about…

Lonnie Jandreau grew up in St. Francis, Maine, on the St. Johns River, close enough to Canada that he could – and did – swim across the river from Maine to Canada as a kid. He has…

In 1976, when Francie Von Mertens was on the hunt for a place “with room to roam for wildlife and children,” she landed in Peterborough, New Hampshire. In the years since, Francie…

With parents who are involved in land stewardship and foster a keen appreciation for working and playing outside, it’s no wonder that Siler Russ is growing up with a strong understanding…