New Faces at Merck Forest

My name is Daniel Kaufman, and I have been working as an intern on the farm since mid-May 2021. You are most likely to find me fixing fences, feeding the animals, haying, mowing, just about anything in and around the farm. I’m working on everyday chores on the farm and thinking about long-term land management goals as we begin formulating the new 10-year farm management plan. An exciting project we are working on is expansive soil and forage testing to help create a baseline to judge future projects and determine their feasibility. We also are beginning multi-species grazing and an evaluation of the carbon sequestration potential of different grasses and legumes. My hands and brain are full; there is so much to learn and do. Soil is frustratingly complicated. If anyone wants to learn more about the work going on on the farm, please contact me.

A bit about me, I’m a recent graduate of New York University hailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, but I also have family in Weston, Vermont, and know the area well. I studied a medley of Computer Science, Political Science and Philosophy at NYU. I’m passionate about food, technology, and sustainability and hope to find some way to accommodate all my interests after my lovely summer at Merck comes to an end.

My name is Bella Reed, and I am a camp counselor for Merck’s plethora of summer camps. I’m from Saratoga Springs, New York, and I am a rising junior at Vassar College, where I am studying a medley of economics and education. I feel so lucky and grateful to work with Cara and Chris in opening young minds (or just making a fun day)! We’ve been up to some super cool things so far this summer (i.e. a brand-new, studentconstructed connector between the Burke and Discovery Trails, some very radical pond exploration, and a ton of learning for everyone involved — if the kids have been able to learn even a fraction of what I have, I would call it an overwhelming success), and there’s so much more to come. Being able to explore Merck, learn about things traditionally outside of my wheelhouse (from both the kids and everyone else at Merck) AND hang out with kiddos all day has been the highlight of my summer, and I hope to be able to further my experience in field education to potentially develop a career that incorporates it in some form! Every day at camp is eye-opening and outstanding in some super little ways, and in some genuinely life changing ones, and I’m so excited for the rest of the season.

My name is Tyler Hughes and I hail from a town around 30 minutes north of Boston, Massachusetts! I am 22 years old and will turn 23 at the end of the year. I recently graduated from the University of Vermont up in Burlington, Vermont. During my time at university, I studied forestry as well as geospatial technologies. Being outdoors, especially in the forests, is one of my favorite places to be. As part of my capstone projects at UVM, I worked with Merck Forest to help begin to develop interpretive material to educate visitors about Vermont’s landscape. Following this, I was hired as a recreation technician and you might see me working all around the property doing anything from clearing trails, fixing cabins, or performing general maintenance wherever it may be needed. Hopefully, I will have time on machines like the tractors, excavators, bulldozers and dump trucks and learn the ins and outs of operating these machines. These hours and skills are crucial for furthering my career because they can be very difficult to gain.

To date, my proudest achievement is graduating from college in four years and being able to have a job coming out of school. This summer, the main focus of my projects include improving and constructing drainage and water control structures around the properties to ensure the longevity of the trail network at Merck. One thing that I am particularly excited for besides driving all the cool equipment at Merck, is the possibility to assist Tim Duclos in conducting his forest inventory for Merck Forest!

My name is Max Miley, and I’m the Conservation Intern here at Merck Forest this summer under the direction of Tim Duclos, our Conservation Manager. I grew up in Bloomfield, Michigan (about 45 minutes from Detroit), and I graduated from the University of Michigan with a major in Environmental Sciences and a minor in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity in April of 2020. My position at Merck focuses on three major projects: forest bird monitoring, Merck’s Annual BioBlitz, and conducting forest inventories to inform Merck’s next 10-Year Forest Management Plan. Check out the articles in this Ridgeline issue about bird monitoring, and the BioBlitz to learn more about those projects! Otherwise, I spend my time contributing to Merck Forest’s iNaturalist Biodiversity Project by exploring the property and identifying wildlife, and I’ll be working on smaller projects to protect and restore Merck’s beautiful natural resources wherever I can. After my time at Merck this summer, I’m returning to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I work as a Conservationist for the city’s Natural Area Preservation Department. I hope to engage my new skills from Merck Forest and bring a bit of Vermont charm back to Michigan!

Full-time

Tyler Hughes - Recreation Support Technician

Daniel Kaufman - SCA Intern (farm)

Max Miley - SCA Intern (forest)

Isabella Reed - Camp counselor

Part-time

Shterna Gordon - BBA Intern

Juliette Mestel - NG:D Intern

Ali Millette - Camp counselor

Shterna, Juliette and Ali attend Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, The Hewitt School in NYC and Arlington Memorial High school respectively and are assisting us with land management, BioBlitz promotion, food systems distribution and messaging and summer camp. We really appreciate their help!