Midcoast Conservancy is delighted to announce the addition of Andrew Bezon to its staff. Andrew will take over the position of forest and recreation specialist from Andy McEvoy, who is leaving Maine.

“Andrew’s wealth of experience and talent is tailor made for Midcoast Conservancy, as we grow Hidden Valley Nature Center and continue to build bridges between people and the natural world,” says Executive Director Jody Jones. Andrew did his undergraduate studies at the State University of New York at Brockport and received a master’s in educational leadership/experiential education at Minnesota State University in Mankato. In Wrangell, Alaska, he worked with at-risk youth in a therapeutic wilderness program and as a wilderness consultant. Since 2012, Andy has worked for the Chewonki Foundation, most recently as the assistant director of outdoor classroom/summer wilderness trips. Andy has extensive experience as an educator of Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder, in rough carpentry and woodlot management, as an instructor of cross-country skiing and chainsaw safety, and is both a certified Maine Physical Education teacher and Registered Maine Guide.

As the forest and recreation specialist, Andy will be responsible for day-to-day oversight of Hidden Valley Nature Center, coordinating Timber Frame Construction and Chainsaw Safety workshops, outdoor furniture building and marketing, and forestry-related landowner education programs, as well as clinics, races and other HVNC events. In addition, he will oversee trail and building maintenance on all Midcoast Conservancy projects and properties and work to increase access to recreational opportunities for community members. 

“I am committed to helping people develop a relationship with the natural world, and am looking forward helping create even more recreation opportunities, so people of all ages can enjoy an active lifestyle,” Andy says. He is excited to be part of the Midcoast Conservancy mission, and to continue what has been started there. He is looking forward to putting down roots in the Midcoast community with his family. Andy and his wife Haley, who works at the Edgecomb Eddy school, have two young children and live in South Bristol.