Meet the 2026 Class of Coverts Cooperators
The 2026 NH Coverts Project Workshop was held from May 6-9, when twenty-five attendees from all over New Hampshire spent time in the classroom and in the field together learning about wildlife habitat, forest ecology, conservation, stewardship, and effective outreach. The new group of Coverts volunteers (Cooperators) includes landowners, conservation commission members, and educators, among others. Here's a brief introduction to the new Coverts volunteers from the 2026 training and some of what they hope to do:
Wendy Gibbons from Antrim wants to create an area of young forest habitat on her land and work to control invasives.
Emma Laham from Brentwood plans to purchase a tractor to conduct various land management activities.
Jeff Donald from Brentwood wants to explore and identify vernal pools on his property.
Gino Infascelli from Campton wants to walk his property with a new perspective and meet with his neighbors to discuss the topics and resources from the workshop.
Cassie Bernyk from Concord plans to incorporate wildlife and habitat information into the volunteer newsletter at the conservation organization where she works.
Jeffrey King from Contoocook wants to implement management actions recommended by UNH Extension specialists.
Ben Phelps from Durham will continue working with his town’s Conservation Commission and share wildlife and forestry concepts and resources with his fellow members.
Erin Farrell from Gorham wants to partner with more schools and youth groups through her work at a conservation organization to spread awareness about land conservation to the next generation.
Ken Lai from Hollis wants to meet with his neighbors that own abutting properties to discuss potential land management opportunities.
Sam Greene from Jaffrey hopes to volunteer to steward land for several conservation organizations.
Michael Byrnes from Keene plans to make a map of his property that identifies habitat blocks and features and meet with his County Forester.
Tom O'Steen from Kingston wants to conduct a natural resources inventory and map vernal pools on the property he helps to manage.
Alex Greene from Lancaster wants to collaborate with his grandfather to understand his goals and objectives for the property he oversees, in order to implement management that honors his legacy.
Shannon MacKay from Littleton plans to use information from the workshop in her work in youth education.
Linda Spring-Andrews from Londonderry wants to meet with her County Forester to revisit several objectives outlined in her current forest management plan.
Mark Mulert from Mirror Lake wants to initiate a Natural Resources Inventory in his town.
Laurie Schive from New London is going to meet with her County Forester to walk her property and discuss a forest management plan.
Chris Doyle from Nottingham plans to walk her family’s land with their Extension County Forester to discuss different ideas for management.
Dewey Clark from Peterborough plans to continue the presentation series he coordinates at the town library focused on nature and natural resources.
Eliza Evans from Strafford wants to develop a management plan for her property, involving her family in the process.
Craig Smith from Thornton wants to explore options for a conservation easement on his association’s property.
Konrad Wagner from Thornton plans to review the wildlife habitats on his property and identify opportunities for habitat management.
Maxwell Goddard from Thornton wants to meet with his county forester and determine management opportunities for his property.
Mary Schillereff from Wolfeboro plans to follow up with her County Forester and attend the next meeting of her town’s Conservation Commission.
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