2010 NFCT Interns - Northern Forest Canoe Trail

We would like to cordially introduce you to the 2010 NFCT Interns!

Stewardship Interns

After casting a wide net into a very deep pool we have been very fortunate to pull together a great group of 5 Stewardship Interns, lead once again by Noah Pollock NFCT Field Coordinator.  This year we will have continued support by LL Bean, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters,  and the Adirondack Watershed Alliance.  We have been very fortunate to have gear provided by Delorme, Malone Auto Racks, NRS, Eureka!,and  Old Town to name a few.

This year we will combine our New York and Roving Crew to have one large 5 person crew (One member of the crew is acutally a 2009 NFCT Through Paddler!).  To prepare for the season we will have two weeks of very intense training, followed by 7 weeks performing projects and leading Waterway Work Trips across the trail, having an impact in every state the NFCT flows through.  And did I mention that the Stewardship Crew will be designing the NFCT float for the 10th Year Anniversary Celebration in Rangeley, ME?  Just one more reason to join the festivities.  Here's a brief glimpse of the people who will make it all happen out there this season:

Noah Pollock: Field Coordinator

Noah hails from Delmar, NY, and graduated from Cornell University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources. In 2007, he earned a Master's degree from the Rubenstein School for Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont, where he studied sustainable community development and ecological economics. His thesis examined the economic impact of paddler tourism and recreation along the waterways that make up the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.Since earning his degree, Noah has continued his work with the NFCT, first as an intern, and then as the NFCT Field Coordinator, assisting with intern and waterway work trip programs, building on his experience leading trail crews with the Student Conservation Association. When not on the NFCT, Noah works on projects for the Vermont River Conservancy, the consulting firm Spring Hill Solutions, the Gund Institute of Ecological Economics, and the Wild Rockies Field Institute.

Sam Brakeley

Sam Brakely and Andy Rougeot after paddling the NFCT in 2009

Sam grew up in North Andover, Massachusetts where frequent camping and hiking trips with his family kindled his passion for the outdoors. He was a graduate from Pingree High School in 2006, running cross-country and playing lacrosse and basketball while there. In May, 2010 Sam aims to graduate from Colby College with a major in Environmental Policy. It was here that he played rugby for four years and was captain for one year. He is an avid hiker and canoeist, having thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2008, and thru-paddled the NFCT in 2009. Sam greatly looks forward to being part of the 2010 NFCT Stewardship Intern Team!

Allison Warring

Allison recently completed her junior year at SUNY Plattsburgh where she studies environmental science and expeditionary studies. Originally from Long Island, Allison grew up spending her summers camping and hiking in the Adirondacks and National Parks across the country. She brings with her to the NFCT a background in paddlesports leadership through the British Canoe Union, Wilderness First Responder training, and experience with trail construction and maintenance via the Student Conservation Association. Allison is ecstatic to be spending this summer working hard, getting dirty, and of course cooking up some good food.

Brendan Jackson

Brendan Jackson is a native of Delmar, NY. He is a graduate of the Paul Smith's College, where he received a degree in Forestry with a concentration in Recreation Resource Management. While a student at Paul Smith's, he was president of the Outing Club and active in the local student chapter of the Society of American Foresters. His prior work experience includes two seasons as a Wilderness Instructor for Adirondack Leadership Expeditions, a wilderness therapy program in the Adirondack Park, two seasons as an Assistant Forest Ranger with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area (also in the Adirondacks), one season as an Environmental Educator with Georgia 4-H, and one season as a Naturalist Intern at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in Delmar, NY. He is looking forward to spending this summer working on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

Brianna Baker

Kevin J. Large has completed his second year of studies at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, where he is an Outdoor Education major. Kevin has a love of the outdoors, and in particular, enjoys paddling the lakes and rivers of New England. Kevin has worked closely with NFCT member, Professor Laurie Gullion, at UNH, and was a student in her whitewater canoeing class this fall. He has been a member of the staff at the Wanakee United Methodist Center for the past three years, serving as their Adventure Programmer in 2009. While a student at Bow High School, Kevin was responsible for the construction of a Zip Line, used by students and faculty in their educational programming. When not in the outdoors or at UNH, Kevin spends time in Bow, NH with his parents, Christine and Terry Large, and his sister Sarah.  Kevin will also be co-leading one of our Youth Program trips this year. 

We are also fortunate to have a pre-season intern who will help lay the foudation for a sucessful 2010 season:

Susan Molzon

Susan is from Monmouth County, NJ. She is pursuing an undergraduate dual-degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Saint Michael's College and the University of Vermont. In the past she has worked as a lifeguard on the Jersey Shore and as a crew member for the Maine Conservation Corps along sections of the Appalachian Trail. She is also an Instructor with the Saint Michael's College Wilderness Program which facilitates outdoor pursuits for faculty and students of the college. Susan enjoys most any outdoor activity including hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and relaxing at the beach. She is  looking forward to a great season on the NFCT.

We also have the pleasure of announcing our highly qualified 2010 Program Intern:

Erin Quigley

Erin Quigley is from Lee, NH but most recently has been living in Portland, ME. She is looking forward to starting a PhD program in the fall at the University of Maine in the School of Forest Resources. Over the past several years she has worked for a forestry consulting firm, monitored conservation easements, assessed the health of wetlands, worked on farmland preservation issues, helped bring a food co-op to Keene, NH and received a master's degree from the University of Vermont. In her "free time," she enjoys hiking, paddling, writing, skiing, traveling to visit friends, and attempting to play old-time music on the fiddle.

so, if you see them in the field, or at one of our 10th Anniversary Celebrations, please say "hi" and thank them for their dedicated work.  (I did a survey, and they all like chololate chip cookies-hint, hint)