In order from left to right, Dakota Ward, Aidan Black, & Alice Bragg
Meet the Staff
Aidan Black, Associate Director— Interning at the GLLT in 2016 under Tom Henderson’s guidance and mentorship sparked a passion for conservation work. I grew up spending summers on Keyes Pond and visiting my grandparents’ farm in Sweden, ME. In May, I graduated from Colby College with a BA in Environmental Policy. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and playing soccer—which led me to coaching the Fryeburg Academy boys’ Soccer Team this fall.
Dakota Ward, Stewardship and Systems Associate—I grew up on the Cold River in Stow. I was an intern at the GLLT in 2017 under the mentorship of Tom Henderson, Leigh Hayes and others, and returned for 2018. I graduated from Central Maine Community College with an AAS degree in Graphic Design and where, in addition to my GLLT duties, I’m now an instructor. I enjoy hiking, photography, and mountain biking.
Alice Bragg, Office Manager—I have always loved Maine and moved to Lovell from Massachusetts in 1980, looking for a rural setting to make a home and raise a family. I started doing work for the GLLT in 2005 and joined the team last winter. My favorite pastimes are spending time with my family, hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing and gardening.
Please stop by the office if you have questions, comments, or just to say, “Hello!”
The GLLT is supported by a great team of volunteers, and this year the hard work of these amazing people was felt more than ever.
Thursday Volunteer Outings was a summer feature at GLLT properties. We worked on trails, opened scenic views, and made needed repairs. The two-hour work sessions required hand tools, good attitudes, teamwork, and sometimes brawn to complete key projects.
Off the trails, we have worked on monitoring and mapping conservation easements. This has given us the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the conservation-minded landowners who have easements with the GLLT. Our first summer outing was to Chip Stockford Reserve, where we re-opened the beautiful view of Kezar Fen and Mt. Kearsarge. Next, we built Tom’s Path—in honor of our late Executive Director, Tom Henderson—at Five Kezar Ponds Reserve. Tom’s Path takes hikers on a wonderful excursion from the Mountain Trail to scenic vistas overlooking Middle Pond. At the Heald and Bradley Ponds Reserve, we rerouted the Flat Hill trail and opened a view of the White Mountains at the summit— on a clear day you can now see all the way to Mt. Washington! In addition, with the help of many volunteers over several outings, we created the Heritage Trail. The trail connects the Amos Andrews and Saddle trails, taking hikers along old stone walls, a colonial road, and several fascinating geological features along the south side of Amos Mountain. And for those who like to climb the Southwest View Trail, there is now a view of Kezar’s Upper Bay from the top of Devil’s Staircase. None of this work could have been completed without dedicated volunteers: GLLT board members Bob Katz, Brent Legere, Mike Maguire, Bruce Taylor, Heinrich Wurm, and significant contributions from Ken Angell, Ken Einstein, Ingrid Einstein, Jane Gibbons, Jay Gestwicki, Lila Gestwicki, Tim Gestwicki, Brian Hammond, Kevin Harding, Leigh Macmillen Hayes, Rick Klausner, Dave Percival, Anna Römer, Peter Ross, and Ryan Schutt.
GLLT trails are open year-round so strap on your snowshoes or skis and enjoy the views from the summits, and join us when we resume our volunteer outings in the spring!