Brian Renfro, Forestry/Stewardship Technician
Brian hails from Hartland, Vermont and is currently a forestry and surveying double major at the University of Maine in Orono. He has been a crew member for conservation projects with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) and has also worked for UMaine's Forestry and Recreation departments cruising timber and working on trails. In high school, Brian helped start a maple sugaring operation at his school, and he enjoys spending time in the woods. His assessment of this summer's work: "The best thing about working at the Forest Society is that I get to be outside, walking and exploring so many different cool places in the state. I'm never doing the same thing in the same place twice."
Luke Bevins, Forestry/Stewardship Technician
Luke Bevins is a graduate of the UNH Thompson School Forest Technology Program and is currently pursuing his bachelor's degree in Forestry at UNH. He has worked as a lumber salesman at the UNH Sawmill, as well as at a nursery in the Seacoast Region. Luke also started his own landscaping and plowing business, Black Birch Equipment, which is based in Newmarket, NH. Luke's passion for New Hampshire's woodlands was the driving factor in his decision to pursue forestry as a career. About the Forestry/Stewardship Technician position, Luke says, "This job has exceeded even my lofty expectations. I spend every day exploring parts of New Hampshire that very few people ever see.Ten-hour days walking through swamps and up mountains with an axe may not be everyone's idea of a dream job, but I could not be happier."
Joseph Doran, Grafton Pond Ranger
Joseph Doran is a retired educator who remains active in education by substitute teaching for the Lebanon School District, as well as teaching skiing at the Dartmouth Skiway. Joe holds a masters degree in Education from Plymouth State College and he also puts his teaching skills to work at Grafton Pond, talking with visitors about loons, invasive aquatic weeds, and recreational guidelines. He lives in Enfield, NH, within three miles of Grafton Pond, where he often paddles upwards of 100 days per year. Joe is also a volunteer with the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) and has written a children's book about loons.
Francoise Crowell, Grafton Pond Ranger
Francoise Crowell has been a Grafton Pond Ranger for the Forest Society for two summers. Francoise is a retired director of collections for academic libraries, a job in which she traveled all over the world helping libraries develop their collections. She loves quiet morning paddles in her kayak but equally enjoys more frenetic time with her grandchildren.
David Burrill, Grafton Pond Ranger
David Burrill lives in Grafton, NH, less than three miles from where he works weekends as a Grafton Pond Ranger. Dave was an executive salesperson for a Fortune 500 company but is now retired and spends his time substitute teaching at Mascoma Regional High School and managing the "Welcome to Snow" Program at Ragged Mountain Resort, teaching beginners how to ski. He enjoys fishing and canoeing on Grafton Pond, as well as talking to visitors about protecting this valuable community resource.
Chris Monroe, Floodplain Ranger
Chris Monroe has worked as a Floodplain Ranger on the Merrimack River Outdoor Education & Conservation Area (MROECA) for three summers. Chris has lived in East Concord for most of his life, and is an avid hiker and outdoorsman. He has a degree in Addiction Counseling from New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) and has a full time position at Riverbend Community Mental Health in addition to working part-time on the floodplain. Chris is also an Eagle Scout, and attributes many of his leadership, team-building, and outdoor skills to his involvement in scouting. His Eagle Scout project was the construction of an observation deck overlooking the MROECA floodplain.
Jarrett Dodge, Floodplain Ranger
Jarrett Dodge is currently pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) in Manchester, NH. Jarrett is very active in the Outing Club at SNHU, coordinating and leading adventures and trips throughout New Hampshire. In the past, Jarrett has been employed as a buildings and grounds maintenance worker for Wilks Elementary School in Amherst, Mass., his hometown. About his Floodplain Ranger position, Jarrett says, "My job as a Floodplain Ranger has been an amazing opportunity. I get to meet and interact with a lot of great people who share the same passion for protecting the forests as I have. An outstanding part about my job is that I get to show and teach people how to respect the forests and use them with as little impact as possible. "
Calvin Wiles, Video/Communications Volunteer
Calvin Wiles hails from Merrimac, Mass., and is currently a student at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., working on his bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy. Calvin is passionate about the environment, and also enjoys writing, photography, and video production, which makes him a great fit for our communications seasonal volunteer position! Calvin recently completed an internship with Environmental Clearinghouse of Schenectady (ECOS), a small environmental non-profit. This summer, Calvin has been collecting video media at many of the Forest Society's events and editing these into short clips that can be shown on our website or other social media.
Isaac Rader, Communications Volunteer
Isaac Rader is an English major at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. He lives in Conway, NH. In his Communications Seasonal Volunteer position with the Forest Society, Isaac has spent his time visiting Forest Society properties and writing about his experiences, as well as adding additional content to our website and organizing media. Isaac comes from a very conservation-minded family that has supported the Forest Society’s work for many decades. He is a descendent of the Heald family, members of whom donated land for the Heald Tract in Wilton, Temple, Greenwille and Mason.