Forest Society honors Fred and Gale Tobbe as the Trish Churchill Volunteers of the Year

Each year at its Annual Meeting in September, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests announces the recipient of its Trish Churchill Volunteer of the Year Award. This annual honor recognizes exemplary volunteers who have made an extraordinary commitment of their time, resources, and energy to advance the Forest Society’s mission.

At this year’s 125th Annual Meeting, the Forest Society proudly presented the Trish Churchill Volunteer of the Year Award to Fred and Gale Tobbe of Northwood. The Tobbes have served as dedicated land stewards since 2012, managing three key properties: Dame Forest, Ryan/Stawtell Forest, and the George Smith Woodlot.

Beyond their responsibilities as land stewards, the Tobbes regularly participate in workdays at the Forest Society Education Center at Creek Farm, Lost River, the Conservation Center in Concord, and the sign maker’s workshop. They also serve as vital public faces for the organization, representing the Forest Society at major community tabling events throughout the year, including Discover Wild NH Days and the NH Farm, Forest, & Garden Expo.

“About 35 years ago, we became empty nesters and saw a notice in the newspaper about a Forest Society hike,” said Fred and Gale Tobbe. “We showed up, met our trail guide, Dave Anderson, and absolutely fell in love with the experience, the camaraderie, and rolling around in the dirt with laughter. Dave and the many other exceptional naturalists at the Forest Society convinced us that preserving this land was a deeply worthwhile way to spend our free time.”

“This year’s Volunteers of the Year, Fred and Gale Tobbe, have been amazing ambassadors for conservation in New Hampshire,” said Carrie Deegan, vice president for recreation management & public engagement for the Forest Society. “Their 35 years of membership and decade plus of active volunteering have made a profound impact on our land stewardship efforts.”

The Forest Society Volunteer of the Year Award is named in honor of Trish Churchill, who perfectly embodied the spirit of volunteerism through her boundless enthusiasm, dedication, and compassion for others.