VYCC is fueled by an energetic team of talented individuals

Breck joined the VYCC team in 2008 and became Executive Director in 2016. Helping every young person learn from the beauty, mystery, and challenges of the natural world drives Breck in his work. He finds inspiration in the creativity, resolve, and corps spirit that young people bring to VYCC. That VYCC focuses on enrolling traditionally underserved populations is especially compelling. Prior to VYCC Breck was an outdoor educator and Director at Keewaydin Camp, a classroom teacher and Dean of Students at a small prep school, and a development professional in higher education. He also spent three fun years adventuring out west and traveling the globe before returning to his east coast roots. Breck holds degrees from Lawrence University and Saint Michael’s College. Outside of work, he lives in the hills of Huntington, where he and his wife Margaret try to keep up with two daughters. Hockey, running, apple trees, good books, and fresh powder are all areas of keen interest.

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Hapy joined VYCC in 2015 with over 20 years of finance and operations experience managing Small Dog Electronics, an Apple Computer sales and service company he founded with his father. Hapy has degrees from Northwestern University in Philosophy and Economics. He lives with many rescued dogs in Fayston. Hapy is a USA Hockey Ice Hockey referee and competes as a professional “heavy” athlete in the Scottish Games. Any spare time outside of that, he is honing his craft as an artisan blacksmith at his shop in Fayston.

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Had Leah spent her teenage years in Vermont, she would have found her way to VYCC earlier in life.  Growing up in New Mexico, Leah explored and made peace with adolescence among the ridges and canyons of the Rockies.  She moved to Vermont to attend Middlebury College and fell equally in love with Vermont.  It’s Leah’s belief that young people seek a sense of belonging to place and community and are eager to contribute and build skills. With this in mind, Leah co-founded Vermont Commons School, where she learned along with students in the classroom, on the trail, and in the community.  Leah’s love of the natural world as habitat and classroom led her to a master’s degree in Ecological Planning at UVM. Each morning, Leah cracks the shades and begins dreaming about the days’ adventures.  Joining VYCC and its mission feels like both coming home and looking at each day’s possibilities.

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Mary is so excited for her first season as a Summer Farm Crew Leader. Mary hails from Weybridge, Vermont and is set to finish her last semester at Middlebury College this fall.  At Middlebury College, Mary’s major is Regenerative and Just Food Systems and she minors in Education Studies. Therefore, Mary is so excited to combine both of her interests this summer while leading a crew! Mary’s passions for farming started young and she has worked on several farms in Vermont, including a cut flower farm! In her free time she can be found playing guitar, making flower arrangements, doing yoga, trying new recipes, and swimming in rivers! She can’t wait to meet her crew and start a great summer farming! 

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Kyle returns to VYCC after serving on a Production Crew in 2023. After graduating from Middlebury College with a major in environmental studies/geography and a minor in food studies, he is excited to be back on the farm! Having volunteered at a handful of small farms in the past, Kyle is passionate about connecting with local food systems and enhancing food access and is thrilled to share this experience with his crew. In his free time, Kyle loves to go hiking, cook, and use/maintain analog technology.  

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Marley is very excited to be serving as a Production Leader at VYCC this season. She has spent the past few years working on organic farms and completing a social work degree at the University of Connecticut. She is passionate about learning new growing techniques, getting to know the plants around her, swimming in rivers, and helping feed the Vermont community! 

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Pearl is starting her first season at VYCC. She has years of experience with farming. As a teenager, she raised her own sheep and cattle through a local 4-H program. In college, Pearl has worked on a number of New England farms and has greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn about livestock rearing, gardening and environmental care from experts. She has also worked as an Education Intern at Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership and knows that some of the most valuable education anyone can get comes from learning in the outdoors. As a student at Middlebury College, Pearl studies creative writing and loves bringing creativity and storytelling into her work. 

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Kelly is so excited for her first season at the VYCC! In the past, she worked at a teeny tiny education farm performing ground maintenance, instructing school groups, and leading environmental education programs at a nature summer camp! In her free time, she loves spending time with her elderly cat and five roommates! This summer she is excited to explore the whimsy of Vermont and learn more about production farming! 

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Nico is excited to start their first year at VYCC as a Food and Nourishment Leader. They will graduate from The University of Vermont this May with a degree in Gender Studies, and they are very excited to finally put down their laptop and be fully immersed in the farm community! Nico is a certified Yoga Teacher and often teaches “drop-in” and Queer Affinity classes at Sangha Studio, the only donation-based yoga studio in the state. Facilitating accessible movement and learning is incredibly important to them, and they look forward to bringing that intentionality into the kitchen as well this season. Having worked in different kitchens for years, they are especially excited to teach others how to slow down, be present, and prepare nourishing, feel-good food! When they are off the clock, you can catch them nerding out about foraging or swimming in the local watering holes. 

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Kayden is joining VYCC because of his passion for both cooking and farming (especially when the ingredients are coming straight from the ground) and because of the much-raved-about Vermont summers. As a current Middlebury College student, he is looking to take advantage of all the opportunities to learn about Vermont farming and food systems while in the area. Having spent last summer working at a suburban farm in Mahwah, New Jersey, he is excited to work on the more culinary side of things. As a big-time foodie and cook, he’s excited to share new recipes and cooking techniques but also learn from everyone he meets. During their free time, you can find Kayden playing the guitar, perfecting his kombucha flavors, or getting lost in a good book.

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Kathryn returns to VYCC after serving on a farm production crew in 2023. After graduating from Arizona State University in December with a degree in sports journalism, she is incredibly excited to be back on the farm! Kathryn is passionate about sustainable farming and food access, and can’t wait to dig deep into the Post-Harvest position. In her free time, Kathryn loves to read, stand in rivers (or swamps or bogs), and figure out how to acquire as much garlic and onion as possible.

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Sophia is brand new to Vermont and so excited to get to know this beautiful place! She will be serving as a Farm Crew Leader this season. Sophia graduated from SUNY ESF in May 2023 with a degree in environment biology and since then has been traversing this wonderful world from Alaska to Argentina! She is thrilled to be able to learn more about farming and spend all summer outside here at VYCC. In her off time you can find Sophia biking around Vermont, jumping into as many bodies of water as possible, and probably dancing. She’s greatly looking forward to spending the summer with all the amazing people of VYCC!

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Isabel was lucky to grow up in beautiful central Pennsylvania, with abundant access to delicious local food. After college, Isabel moved to New York to pursue a career in film production, but found much more satisfaction working with her neighbors in her community garden, growing and sharing vegetables. Following this instinct, she left Brooklyn and moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, where she served with AmeriCorps on a non-profit urban farm. She’s thrilled to keep growing and learning about community-focused, sustainable agriculture here in Vermont, and can’t wait to watch the farm come to life with the help of our awesome members! In her free time this summer, you will find Isabel swimming as much as she can, cooking and eating with VYCC produce, and stargazing.

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Charlotte has been itching to spend a full season on a New England farm and is thrilled to have the opportunity to do so with VYCC! She is psyched not only to get to learn about farming but also to understand the Health Care Share program and to get to know young people who are interested in farming also. As a former ecology educator and naturalist, Charlotte is passionate about sharing what she knows and learning alongside other humans. When missing, Charlotte could be found biking, running, lying on the forest floor, relaxing or gossiping with the layer hens (mood dependent), or pacing back and fourth playing sloppy licks on her guitar.

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Teddy has eaten nothing but food for their entire life, so he understands the power food holds to build communities and nourish bodies. Originally from South Carolina, Teddy was raised growing, foraging, and cooking local produce. This passion for local and sustainable flavor translated into studying equitable food access and sustainable food systems at Warren Wilson College. After graduating with their Social Work degree in 2022, they did community outreach work with a local hospital system. Now, Teddy is excited to combine his love for farming with his community engagement experience. In their free time, Teddy can be found mending, thrifting, or meandering around the woods in search of edible mushrooms.

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Lindsay is joining VYCC because of her passion for plants and her interest in how they can bring joy into our lives in the form of food! She comes from a background in plant ecology research from her experiences at the University of Oregon. She particularly enjoyed learning about plant-soil interactions and this ignited her interest in the agricultural world! Lindsay is excited to join the VYCC family and cultivate a community of kindness, resilience, and compassion for each other and the land. When she is not on the farm, you can find her running, biking, climbing, or crocheting! Lindsay is looking forward to exploring all that Vermont has to offer and meeting lots of new friends here at VYCC!

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Abby Vincent returns to VYCC after being on the Pro-Stewardship Conservation Crew in 2022, and graduating from the University at Buffalo with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. Through her experience doing work trades on organic farms, she gained hands on experience farming and an appreciation for the work. Her conservation experience combined with her time farming sparked her interest in working outdoors and working with the land. In her free time Abby likes to go on hikes, play the guitar, and bake! She is excited to be working with so many amazing people at VYCC and to make a positive impact on the land and in the community!!

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Zoey began farming in 2021 and has been hooked ever since. Growing food to feed the community and create beautiful meals is her passion. After WWOOFing and traveling, Zoey studied Agriculture and Horticulture in Missouri, before moving to Vermont for the UVM Farmer Training Program. There, she dove into every facet of vegetable production and found she loved sharing experiences with the groups who visited the farm. She is looking forward to working alongside so many people learning together about the earth and engaging in our food system. She is also looking forward to watching the beauty of the changing seasons in this new place. Zoey also enjoys cooking absurd recipes, watching Jeopardy, and dancing her heart out. She is so excited to connect with so many humans and this land!

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Christine believes in the transformative power of food and farming to connect communities and create positive lasting change. From working with farmers in New York State and Oregon, to leading food security programs in India and Africa, to working with Indigenous youth entrepreneurs in the Arctic, Christine led a variety of youth development and agricultural training programs before her path led her to VYCC. In her role as Director of the Food & Farm Program, she is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to hone their skills while engaging in meaningful service work. She believes the best learning often happens when in the field or kitchen through the alchemy of working with the land and with one another towards a common goal. In her free time, Christine loves adventuring outdoors with her family, learning new languages, and teaching herself to play her ever-growing collection of musical instruments.

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Lily is passionate about building community relationships around food, especially if it involves garlic. A transplant from Rhode Island, Lily appreciates how food fosters close knit communities in Vermont. They worked in Middlebury for several years before joining the VYCC, focusing on growing a more resilient food system through harvesting surplus produce and supporting Addison County’s poverty relief efforts. With an education and background centered on food justice, access, and education they are excited to manage the VYCC’s Health Care Share program. Supporting the nexus of youth development, agriculture and holistic health care is a natural fit in their desire for a more equitable food system. When not gushing over a love for food justice, Lily is usually attempting to improve upon their homemade bagel recipe or consuming all things sci-fi and fantasy.

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Katie finds the best way to build community and form relationships is over a delicious meal.  Her passion for growing, cooking, and eating food stems from her childhood growing up on a farm in Iowa. Shortly after graduating from undergrad at Iowa State University, she began her first Conservation Corps experience and was hooked! This eventually led to serving an AmeriCorps term in Montpelier, where she quickly fell in love with Vermont’s natural beauty, agricultural landscape, and food culture. Knowing the hard work and growth that come from an AmeriCorps term, she is excited to watch the impressive accomplishments made by the VYCC team each season. With an MS in Food Systems from UVM and a background in nutrition education, food security, and food access, Katie is ready to share her passion for food with anyone willing to listen. When not in the kitchen, you can find her spending time with her partner Zach and their two dogs, Arlo and Sage. Katie served a 1-year staff position as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors in 2023.

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Christopher is driven by a passion for connecting people through good food and stewardship of the land. Christopher grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, and graduated from Clark University with a degree in Environmental Studies. They worked on multiple organic vegetable production farms around New England before joining the Regional Environmental Council in Worcester, where they managed a large urban community garden program and worked to increase food access for members of underserved communities. More recently, Christopher worked for Burlington’s Parks and Recreation department as the Conservation Project Manager, where they supported community gardeners and conservation site volunteers. Christopher believes that when we choose to invest in our relationship with the natural world, everyone benefits, and they are dedicated to increasing opportunities for people to grow and share food. Christopher enjoys practicing martial arts, cross-country skiing, herbalism, and gardening. They live in central Vermont with their wife and their dog, Darwin.

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Jake believes that to be interested in food but not in food production is clearly absurd. Luckily, he gets to work with aspiring young farmers to explore that interest and produce delicious food for the Health Care Share. It’s his hope that these young farmers will go on to build a food system that is sustainable, just, and equitable. Jake spent the 2016 growing season with VYCC as a crew leader and was blown away by the dedication of the corps members and their development into an efficient, knowledgeable farm crew. In the few years since Jake has been learning more about growing good food and building good soil on farms all across the Country. After the work day, Jake spends his time volunteering as an EMT in Richmond and trying to get his dog to behave.

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Natalie finds joy in exploring curiosity, learning, and growing alongside others and finds that working outside in the dirt is the best way to create this environment. Growing up she grew snap peas and green beans diligently, and this passion slowly transformed into a love of farming. After studying environmental-sociology with a focus on rural food networks, Natalie went on to gain experience in backcountry caretaking, guiding, herbal farming, and environmental education. Through these experiences Natalie grew her passion for developing relationships with folks over a shared love of the land. She is excited to get her hands dirty and grow with everyone and everything around her! When not at the farm, Natalie can be found exploring Vermont by foot, bike, or swimming hole, eating sweet potatoes for every meal, and strumming around on her mandolin and fiddle.

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Claire loves finding joy in a day and so far, farming is where she has found the most! She loves the way the work brings people closer to themselves and each other. Farming has been her passion since high school in Connecticut, where she was lucky to participate in her school’s agriscience program. This led her to completing a degree in Environmental Science at Saint Michael’s College. She has worked on several farms of different systems and scales, from fruit farming in Hawaii, market gardening in Maine and rotating herds of cattle and sheep in Vermont. Claire was a crew leader at VYCC in the 2023 season and is so excited to continue to build soil and community here. Away from the farm she loves bird watching, dancing in her kitchen, watering her plants and playing with her cats Raccoon and Possum.

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Justina is a true lover of all things food: growing it, sharing it, learning about it, talking about it and sitting around a table eating it with others. She loves building strong relationships with folks through the food that she grows, both in and out of the fields.  For the past five years, she has worked on a variety of different farms around the U.S, from Washington State to Long Island. When she is not weeding with her beloved scuffle hoe, you’ll probably find her baking up a storm in the kitchen, working on a crossword puzzle, or running.

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Emma is overjoyed to work her first season with VYCC as a Conservation Crew Leader. She spent the last few years working on farms and studying environmental science and agroecology at the University of Michigan. After graduating, she continued to explore her love of the outdoors working as an Outdoor Educator in Glacier National Park and a Park Ranger in New Zealand. These experiences shaped her passion for conservation and community building, which she can’t wait to build upon with VYCC this season. In her free time, you can find Emma wandering through the woods looking at plants, working on a craft (usually involving yarn), and playing guitar.   

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Coming soon…

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Coming soon…

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Allen is motivated by a deep respect for all life and the planet everyone shares. He studied forestry at SIU Carbondale and has worked in forest restoration, campground maintenance, the ski industry, and more. 2020 was not an easy time to start a career that begins with seasonal work and short-term housing, but Allen’s adaptability and supportive friends have helped him push through adversity. He hopes to pay it forward this season and support fellow VYCC members on their own paths. Having spent a year in Stowe, VT, he is excited to be back among quartz-veined mountains, tumbling waterfalls, and birch-pine forests. In his free time, he likes gardening, foraging, crafting, and getting quality rest. 

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Evan is excited to join VYCC as a Crew Leader for the 2024 season. After graduating from Williams College in 2021 with a degree in Environmental Studies, they worked on a trail maintenance crew in Colorado, led a youth conservation crew based out of the Chicago suburbs, and worked in the education field as a preschool teacher and special education staff member. She is excited to move back to the east coast after three years away! They bring with them a love of life and a deep knowledge of conservation, education, and justice issues. 

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Skylar is thrilled to be working with VYCC this season! As a civil/environmental engineer, Skylar finds meaning in expanding the accessibility of clean water, food, shelter, nature, sustainability, and community. She has an unwavering confidence in the ability of all people to create whatever they set their mind to and can’t wait to see her crew learn to work together! Skylar has led teams in completing construction projects and loves to volunteer – foraging and farming fresh produce to donate and helping kids get into running and hiking. She can be found making paintings, clothes, and delicious foods, reading and playing cards, and climbing, biking, and playing ultimate frisbee in the great outdoors. 

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Ren joins the VYCC as a first-time Crew Leader from Providence, RI. They have a background in art fabrication, carpentry, farming, landscaping and industrial welding/machining. Over the past two years, they have taught adolescents the principles of sculpture-making at the community studio where they worked their first post-college welding gig. Through college they took biology and ecology courses, and much of their art practice has been informed by the natural world and micro-ecologies of the cities in which they’ve lived. They have a huge passion for fostering community, especially ones that revolve around outdoor activity, and have been part of several food co-ops and thru-hiking groups across RI and MA. 

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Samantha Moran just graduated this May from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a minor in biology. This is her first season with the VYCC. During her time at SUNY New Paltz, Sam was able to participate as both a leader and member of the Sustainability Ambassadors where she organized group projects, managed schedules, and helped the campus create a more sustainable campus. Hiking, bouldering, and kayaking are all activities that Sam enjoys in her time off. With a deep passion for the outdoors and conservation, Sam is very excited to be working with the VYCC this season! 

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Tess brings conservation experience to the VYCC from the 2023 season. After spending their first conservation season as a Crew Member last summer, Tess found their passion in protecting and maintaining outdoor spaces for future generations. They are currently an education and French student at Mount Holyoke College and are preparing to pursue a career in outdoor education. Outside of class, Tess enjoys backpacking, working in classrooms with local students, and playing on the college’s rugby team. They are looking forward to bringing their experience in education and the outdoors to the VYCC this season! 

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Kayleigh discovered their passion for outdoor education and leadership after joining their college outing club, at UMass Amherst. Overcoming challenges in outdoor settings strengthened Kayleigh’s confidence and supported their mental-health. With a goal of helping people access these benefits, they became a backcountry trip leader for the club. The following summer, Kayleigh became a backpacking trip leader and naturalist at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm. In 2021, Kayleigh transitioned from recreation to conservation, by joining Northwest Youth Corps as a Crew Lead and fell in love with trail-work, crosscutting, and backcountry hitches. This led them to work as a Youth Women’s Affinity Crew Lead and Chainsaw Crew Member at Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. In Kayleigh’s free time, they love to read, write, listen to live music, and spend time with their family. 

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Mac is entering his fourth season with the VYCC Conservation program, and third as a Leader. He will be co-leading the Burlington Crew. In the winter, Mac teaches ski lessons at Stowe, and loves to dip into the glades and side country whenever he can. In his free time, Mac loves to sing, run, and spend time with friends outdoors.  Mac is excited to commute to work on the Burlington bike path and learn new corners of the little city that he has called home for three years. 

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Jenn is an avid collector of seasonal experiences and the long-term friendships that come with it. This led her across the country, joining various Conservation Corps and affordable housing projects in conjunction with obtaining her Architecture Degree from North Carolina State. For the last two years, she has worked on a carpentry crew focused on historic renovations in Durham, North Carolina, with values of respecting the land with thoughtful construction. Jenn is excited to return to VYCC and meet another great crew who she hopes shares her love of muffins and coffee. 

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Hank grew up in New Jersey but found Vermont home for his undergraduate studies at Saint Michael’s College. Hank graduated in May of 2023 with an Environmental Studies and History degree. Shortly afterward he moved to Des Moines, Iowa to work with Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa as an AmeriCorps Crew Member in the Iowa Water Trails Crew. As a part of that crew, he worked to cut out and clear logjams, map boat accesses, and aid in disaster relief efforts. While working with CCMI he aided in the disaster efforts for Super Typhoon Mawar in Guam and the Maui Wildfire in Hawaii. After his term with CCMI Hank returned to the Green Mountain State to work with VYCC. His experience in Vermont throughout college beckoned for him to return. Hank is excited to lead his crew to success out in the field and continue his work in conservation!

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Saoirse is excited to set up roots in Vermont by serving as a Year-Round Crew leader for VYCC. Having studied Anthropology and Global Health, she is interested in the interactions between humans and nature and how we can best work with the land. Before accepting a position at VYCC, Saoirse was working seasonal jobs around the country, volunteering for Worldwide Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF), and serving as a leader for the Wisconsin Conservation Corps. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, swimming in rivers, playing ukulele, and climbing on rocks in the forest.

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David is excited to be starting as a Year Round Crew Leader with VYCC this season. After graduating from the University of Maryland in 2021, he spent two years serving with the Maryland Conservation Corps. In this position he gained an appreciation and love for conservation work, having the opportunity to dig trail, chainsaw, respond to wildfire incidents, and work with different crews across the state of Maryland. He is now excited to live, work, and explore in Vermont and looks forward to all the different projects he will get to work on this year. David loves spending time outside, and in his free time he enjoys running, biking, and backpacking.

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Alexandria is fresh off a service year with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, where they renewed their love of conservation with several environmental projects. These ranged from participating in several prescribed burns with the NICHES Land Trust, to removing literal tons of honeysuckle and other invasive flora from Indiana’s native habitats with her NCCC team at the Mishawaka RES. Hailing from Florida, Alex is ready to continue their environmental adventure with a VYCC crew in Vermont’s beautiful landscape, living, working, and having fun with amazing people in a place with actual seasons! She has held a wide variety of management roles and is excited to expand upon her leadership experiences as a Year Round Crew Leader. Alex enjoys listening to other people’s passions and dreams. They love to dabble in a wide range of creative hobbies, from jewelry-making to acrylic painting, often drawing inspiration from the great outdoors!

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Katie Vartenigian is new to VYCC this season as a Year Round Conservation Crew Leader. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Biology in 2021, Katie joined a trail crew as a corps member for Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps to gain backcountry camping experience. From there, she launched a career in avian field biology, working as a field technician to research and conserve birds in California and Virginia. She’s excited to return to the corps world with a fresh perspective and to apply what she’s learned about ecosystems to her crew’s projects this season. Katie loves the community aspect of a conservation corps, and hopes to foster connections within her crew and help corps members gain confidence in their ability to do impactful work. When she’s not in the field, Katie enjoys reading, craft projects, and of course, birding!

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Bill is passionate about stewarding healthy and resilient forests while assisting corps members in developing skills that will enable them to become future conservation leaders. He brings with him experience from a diverse array of outdoor fields including wildland fire, search and rescue, land stewardship, and guiding. In his free time Bill can be found snowboarding, rock climbing, and exploring the backcountry.

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Stephen is inspired by the idea that young people can learn and grow through experiences that expand their horizons and push the edges of their comfort zones. VYCC provides safe opportunities for people to do this and grow as individuals and as a community. Stephen graduated from Georgia State University with a Sociology degree and began his own journey to push his comfort zone. After a variety of trades work and developing a raw dairy goat farm that served the Atlanta area, he voyaged on to Vermont where he served as a VYCC Crew Leader, and subsequently, a Conservation Program Coordinator. After a hiatus from the corps to explore new trades and technical skills, Stephen brings his diverse toolkit to a diverse organization and role. He resides in Montpelier with his wife and small domestic herd. Stephen spends his free time trail running, rock climbing, skiing, and working on his “antique” home.

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Kalyn comes to VYCC with a well-rounded perspective of what it is like for every new AmeriCorps member. She found her love for the outdoors during her time as an AmeriCorps crew member in Alaska. After her internship she worked on the National Park Service trail crew at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Some of Kalyn’s favorite memories during her time at Rocky were getting to work with the youth corps, while teaching them the skills and knowledge it takes to complete various projects in the backcountry. Kalyn is passionate about conservation and is excited to help new crew members find their own paths, while gaining confidence in themselves and the work they are doing. Kalyn is from Florida so summer is her favorite season. After work she can be found camping, trail running, dancing to some live music, singing, or visiting a local swimming hole.

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Jenn believes that we can all make a difference through stewarding the land in our community. Jenn’s first job was with a youth conservation corps crew where she spent summer days swinging picks and shovels. This experience took her to Vermont where she studied Natural Resource Management and Environmental Studies. Jenn has since worked all over New England stewarding conserved land. She has worked for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, The Nature Conservancy, and served with Kestrel Land Trust through AmeriCorps. When she is not in the woods you can find Jenn playing volleyball or exploring new recipes.

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Patrick believes in the power of possibility. A common thread throughout Patrick’s career is the quest for possibility – whether in the mountains of Arizona managing forest restoration operations, launching multicultural community programs, or reimagining “waste” through research and entrepreneurship.  At all scales, from scrappy start-ups to multi-billion-dollar organizations, in private businesses and non-profits, and from abstract theory to manual labor, Patrick has worked to find alternatives to impossibility. Patrick gleaned this outlook during his first season with a Corps in the Southwest, observing how perseverance, teamwork, and creative thinking could overcome obstacles.  It was inspiring to see members rise to these challenges and gain their own new perspectives and pathways. As Program Director, Patrick creates these same types of experiences for youth through growing the program, building partnerships, and supporting a fantastic team to run the program each season.  Patrick enjoys exploring Vermont by ski and bicycle, and operates a small farm with his partner while restoring a 200+ year old farmhouse.

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Leona is thrilled to join VYCC and to be back in the Northeast. She is passionate about workforce development, leadership development, and conservation. Leona brings with her an extensive leadership background, graduating from the United States Military Academy with a degree in Environmental Geography and serving for seven years as an Army Engineer Officer during a challenging and complex time in our military’s history. Most recently, she has spent time raising her three boys, exploring alternative education models with her kids, and leading volunteer efforts in her community. She is excited to rejoin the workforce and hopes to use her work and life experiences to help grow the Parks Restoration Crew (PRC) program while supporting the missions of both VYCC and Forest Parks and Recreation (FPR). Leona enjoys hiking, running, family time, and good coffee. She is looking forward to cross country ski adventures with family and friends this winter.

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August Tallmadge has a long history with VYCC, first coming to the Richmond barn when he was five years old and his older brother was joining a Youth Camping Crew. Since then, August has had various roles from Crew Member, to Crew Leader, to Field Supervisor. Now, as Conservation Program Coordinator, August brings a diverse skillset and life experiences to the Conservation team. In addition to his work with VYCC, August has a degree in Economics with a minor in Arabic, has lived in Jordan, and runs marathons.  His passion for the outdoors shows through his love of hiking, fungi and gardening. In his free time August also loves to read, paint, and of course run. He is excited to bring his love of cooking and knowledge of trail work to Conservation crews and VYCC Staff.

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Tell us a story about something cool you keep at your desk and why! I have a dog bed underneath my desk for my pooch to ignore when he comes into the office. What’s special to you about living in Vermont? Cheese, mountains, gardens, community, biking, snow. What was your first job? Stocked shelves and pushed carts at a local grocery store. What is an everyday thing you do to lessen your carbon footprint?  I bike when possible, I eat mostly vegetarian, and I buy the majority of my clothes second hand. What was a recent favorite book of yours? What are you listening to? I just started reading Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein. I’ve recently been on a classical kick listening to all of Dmitri Shostakovich’s symphonies.

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Naomi joined VYCC’s engagement team in 2012. In working alongside crews and talking with alumni, Naomi is inspired by the deep and lasting impact VYCC has on each and every Corps Member. Naomi took a “gap year” of sorts from VYCC to dabble in the marketing agency world and returned to the Corps in January 2019. Her professional experience also includes nonprofit management in Vermont and beyond. Forever looking ahead to the next cohort of Corps Members, and looking around at the evolving needs of our youth, her work with VYCC’s remarkable community of supporters is at once purposeful and fun! She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University at Albany, is an avid snowboarder and music lover.

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Kate believes in the transformational power of learning and service experiences. In her role as the Director of the Serve Learn Earn collaboration between VYCC, VT Works for Women, Vermont Audubon, and ReSource, Kate is excited to connect folks to experiences that will build confidence, courage, and skills, while expanding opportunities for future careers. Before returning to her home state, Kate spent nine years in the Mississippi Delta working with young leaders at the Sunflower County Freedom Project—a nonprofit focused on social justice that connects students with educational opportunities. Before that, she paced the sideline as the women’s basketball coach at Grinnell College in Iowa. She loves volunteering, baking sweet treats, and hiking in the Green Mountains. She currently lives in Johnson with her partner, Mike, and is hoping to get a dog in the very near future.

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Jens comes to VYCC with a background in environmental policy and corporate climate and environmental action. Focused on creating regenerative impact through his work, he is passionate about advancing climate resilience and environmental stewardship across various areas of society. Jens believes it is now more important than ever to bridge and strengthen local communities and their ecosystems while supporting and growing the leaders of the future – the core reason he was drawn to VYCC. Originally from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Jens fell in love with the outdoors from a young age, taking a deep interest in primitive living skills, ecological conservation, and outdoor recreation. After moving to Vermont in 2014 to study at Green Mountain College, Jens worked as an analyst and consultant in the energy industry, focused on climate technologies and strategies for clean energy deployment. He brings to VYCC a depth of experience in project management and stakeholder relations, and is excited to support the organization’s fundraising and development activities. Outside the barn, Jens is a musician, art lover, and culinary enthusiast.

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Bo is dedicated to creating opportunities for young people to learn and grow. He first joined VYCC as a Crew Member when he was sixteen. After four weeks building bridges on the Catamount XC Trail, he was a changed person. He knew he had to come back. Bo returned the following year for a season of trail-building, invasive species management and organic farming. Those two summers were a formative experience that have guided his path ever since. For seven years, he taught in public, private and therapeutic schools. He’s now back at VYCC where he builds partnerships that connect young people with the land and their community. Other interests include: reading, running, and performing in rock bands around Burlington.

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Kay believes spending time outside is the best way to learn more about the places we play, work and live in. She has followed her passion for hands-on experiential learning and access to the outdoors from the high peaks of the North Cascades of Washington to the Green Mountains of Vermont (and back again!). Kay is drawn to fostering curiosity and building community. She would consider herself a “Jill of all trades” with her diverse set of skills, a knack for creative problem solving, and positive outlook. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, split-boarding, camping, and adventuring outside in any way she can with her husband and dog.

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William seeks to use his 20+ years of business and book retail management experience to support VYCC’s mission and operations. After 17 years away, including working as the Business Manager at Linden Waldorf School in Nashville TN, he returned to Vermont – where his heart has always called home. William is passionate about outdoor recreation, books, americana music, maps, microbreweries, and is a longtime shareholder at Mad River Glen. Ask him about it!

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Believing in the magic of nature and the strength found in community, Jon’s path serendipitously led him to the role of Facilities Coordinator at VYCC. A lifelong love of growing food and flowers guided Jon to graduate from the Pennsylvania State University in 2005 with a degree in Agricultural Science and a minor in Horticulture. Since then, Jon has found himself working in various construction or farm-related industries on both coasts of the country, where he has accumulated a wide range of skills that make him a versatile member of the VYCC team. Growing as an individual and as a community member has always been a primary focus throughout Jon’s life and professional career. “The earth being our home and the youth being its future” is a sentiment that drives Jon to foster healthy and strong relationships with anyone whose path intersects with his. Jon deeply loves hiking mountains, dipping in streams, and hanging out around a fire especially when his three daughters are there as well.

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Excited to jump back into the Corps world at VYCC, AmeriCorps has had its hooks in Rosemary since her first year of service in the foothills of Appalachian Ohio. As a member of the Ohio Stream Restore Corps, her service was focused on strengthening localized food systems, building economic resilience, expanding access to outdoor recreation, and increasing landfill diversion. Rosemary was also a Chesapeake Conservation Corps Member from 2016-2017 in Baltimore, Maryland, where she got a crash course in managing restoration projects and writing grants. These experiences have shaped her enthusiasm about the transformative power of service on young adults’ personal and professional development, the invaluable benefits to the communities they serve, and just how much dang fun it is to be a Corps Member! Rosemary returned to her east coast roots this summer to WWOOF in the Shenandoah Valley after using her Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to earn her master’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Montana. She’ll likely share with you the most recent factoid she learned from a podcast or bring your attention to any cool birds flying nearby.

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Lane joins the VYCC team for the first time as the Program Equipment Coordinator. He began his conservation journey in 2018 right across Lake Champlain with the Adirondack Corps. Since then he hasn’t taken a season off from the corps! Lane has done everything from leading youth crews in the southwest, coordinating historic preservation projects in the Hudson Valley to teaching technical skills like chainsaw and wilderness medicine in Colorado. Lane is passionate about building community and increasing access and equity within the outdoors, as well as sharing his experience and knowledge with anyone that will listen. When he isn’t working, you’ll find Lane screaming on scary parts of the mountain bike trail, battling white water in his canoe or selling his most recent car. He’s excited to work and learn among a team of passionate experienced professionals.

Pronouns: he/him