A Note from our new Recreation Technician

by Rachel Batz, Recreation Technician

No day at Merck Forest is the same. As a Recreation Manager, each week presents new tasks that can range from trail clearing to repairing cabins to outhouse demolition! This summer, we replaced four outhouses at cabins in need of new commodes: Ridge cabin, Clark’s Clearing cabin, the Barn cabins, and Dunc’s Place. Merck staff often help me to complete big projects, regardless of their job title. We are truly a collaborative team.

Oftentimes I work with volunteers to maintain all the recreational needs of Merck. Without our volunteer network, many tasks would take much longer or be impossible to complete. I teamed up with one local volunteer for over 30 hours to repair all the bridges on the beautiful Wildlife trail. The larch boards used for the bridges were sourced from trees in Merck Forest using sustainable forestry practices!

The best part of my job is spending all day in the glories of nature. I have the world’s best office: over 3,000 acres of ecological diversity in southern Vermont. Each day brings new challenges, expands my naturalist knowledge, and gives me the opportunity to learn new skills: like operating an excavator! I’ve spent three weekends exploring Merck during my days off! I’ve gathered berries, tent camped in the wilderness, and hiked up Antone Mountain to watch the sunrise.

Some jobs are less fun than others, like cleaning cabin chimneys to prevent dangerous fires, but everything we do services an important purpose. Merck Forest is a place of natural stewardship, ethical farming, sustainable forestry, biological diversity, and outdoor education. There is deep satisfaction in the work we do here. Whether I am building outhouses or repairing trails, each task is a vital part of Merck Forest. I hope to see you soon along one of the trails!