Midcoast Conservancy is delighted to welcome Zoe Thomas as its inaugural Nature Based Program Manager at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. She joins HVNC Director Tripp Henderson and Trails and Facilities Manager Joe Chapman as the HVNC-based staff team. While Hidden Valley already sees a steady stream of 4th grade school groups and offers a number of educational opportunities, Thomas will  oversee K-12 programs, programs for adults, and educational partnerships and work closely with local schools, volunteer educators and staff of Midcoast Conservancy to continually enhance programming and the visitor experience at HVNC.

Thomas says, “My family first encountered Midcoast Conservancy when we rented Pond Cabin at Hidden Valley Nature Center the month before we moved to Whitefield five years ago. We hiked in with an eight-month old, a two-year old and a three-year old in tow and spent the weekend hanging out on Little Dyer Pond. It was amazing! As the kids have grown we’ve made it a point to visit as many preserves managed by Midcoast Conservancy as possible. Last year I started a Whitefield Outing Club, which hikes every Wednesday after school. So when I heard that Midcoast Conservancy was looking for an Education Manager for Hidden Valley, the same year my youngest started Kindergarten, I knew it was the perfect job for me.”  

Thomas grew up in Vermont, where her parents ran a children’s summer camp and instilled in her a love of the outdoors and a passion for outdoor education. After working as an environmental educator for several years, Thomas found her way to Maine for graduate school, completing a master’s in American and New England studies from the University of Southern Maine. She lives in Whitefield with her husband, three children, two dogs, two cats and nine chickens. 

Of her vision for her work at HVNC Thomas says, “I love that Hidden Valley offers such quality programming, led by Maine Master Naturalists, for local 4th grade classes. The fact that each 4th grade class gets to visit once a month for the entire school year is fantastic. It results in students developing a stronger appreciation for ecology in the changing seasons and a new level of comfort in the woods. My vision is for our school programs to grow from one grade level at five local schools to multiple grade level visits from many more schools.  It would be great for students in 5th grade to return to Hidden Valley to try Mountain Biking or 6th graders to come for winter ski programs. Why not offer overnight environmental education programs for outing clubs, or wilderness field days at the end of the school year for younger classes? Basically my vision is to have groups of students, of all ages, using the property and our gear regularly all year round. I’d also love to expand our offerings to individuals both young and old with more guided walks, talks, classes, summer camps and vacation week programs. We have the Bezon Barn to utilize as an indoor space and a thousand acres to play on, not to mention fleets of bikes, skis and canoes, so I really look forward to growing our education and recreational offerings in the coming years.”