2021 Staff Accomplishments

• appreciation from parents, teachers and the interns/seasonal staff for their rich experiences at MFFC this summer

• completion of a comprehensive financial audit of 2020

• continual improvements to our yurt, base camp and surrounding trails, which staff and campers and student volunteers all helped to make happen!

• completion of “Foresters for the Birds” baseline assessment on 750 acres, gathering bird population data for future research and our next forest management plan

• continued work on the new Welcome Kiosk and renovation of the entrance area

• deft handling of a public space during Covid pandemic including building the skills and confidence to welcome visitors and offer camps and events once Vermont’s Executive Orders were lifted

• eight weeks of safe and fun summer camp, the busiest camp season that I’ve been a part of so far at Merck Forest

• full forest timber inventory of 750 acres for the next forest management plan

• full updated inventory of the American Chestnut plantation

• improved facility with MFFC online and computer systems

• multi-channel promotion of maple sugaring season and BioBlitz

• our most successful BioBlitz to date by the number of participants and the number of species documented for the property (we broke past 1000 mark!)

• Rupert Food Pantry

• Smokey House Center

• SOLO Wilderness First Aid

• Student Conservation Association

• Sunderland Elementary School

• University of Vermont

• VT Center for Ecostudies

• VT Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation

• VT Land Trust

• VT Woodlands Association

• VT Youth Conservation Corps

• Williams College

• providing professional development to teachers at Mettawee Community School to help them facilitate outdoor experiences with their students and creating the Ecology Cache with lessons and materials for teachers for use with their students

• redesign of the road near the Visitor Center to improve access for snowplowing, turning around in tractors and trucks, and visibility and safety for visitors

• repair of water diversion structures

• repair of structures like water bars and culverts that help move water off the trail and therefore improve the health and longevity of the trail network

• second year of forest/spring ephemeral pollinator research, bat monitoring, forest bird monitoring, and vernal pool monitoring

• series of 5 digital workshops compiled and launched in a new format

• solid season of maple sugaring

• spearheaded community projects that introduced Merck Forest to new people and organizations

• successful internships and seasonal hires to help with land management and conservation projects

• successful second year of grassland bird monitoring

• timber harvests on 25+ acres