Introducing DNRT’s New Land Steward!
BY JAMES WARNER
Hello I am James Warner! I hope this allows some of you to learn a little about me and how I ended up at Dartmouth. I grew up in New York in the Catskill Mountains. A majority of my early life was spent playing and exploring around a 300 acre piece of property. From catching critters in ponds, swimming in rivers, or playing in vast forests, I spent a lot of time outdoors for the betterment of my upbringing as well as my parents’ mood!
As I became older I still enjoyed the outdoors but a lot more was going on. I went on to become an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. I also took leadership roles in academic spheres, some of which led me to do team building with peers. I was interested in exploring the United States outdoor recreation areas, which led to me learning more about the Northeast. This all culminated in me attending New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire for Outdoor Education.
My degree balanced the outdoor hard skills like tying knots and the interpersonal skills of leading people into the backcountry. I loved all of it. I began to explore New Hampshire on my own. The more I saw, the more I wanted to keep exploring. Once I finished my undergraduate, I decided to do summer seasonal work while pursuing my Masters in Education during the school year. While completing my Masters I was given the opportunity to teach a couple of courses. This led me to be an adjunct professor for two years while managing the college’s ropes course and school programs.
My seasonal outdoor work brought me all over. I ended up in the Adirondacks two separate seasons. I guided in Yosemite for a whole summer, cut short by wildfires. With New England College I lead students on trips to Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon National Parks. Most of my time was spent with the Appalachian Mountain Club working for their Backcountry Caretaker Program. Two summers I lived in a large canvas tent for over a week at a time caring for backcountry campsites. Also, for two six-month stints, I cared for a section of the Appalachian Trail in Maine and New Hampshire called the Mahoosucs.
Besides my work life I try to take time to adventure. I have taken time to go to Acadia National Park. I have also taken yearly weekend trips to go fishing in Buzzards Bay on my friend’s boat. Besides the outdoors, I love museums, from art to historical, learning about the world around me is a pastime. I enjoy sitting with a good fictional book at the end of the day or playing Dungeons and Dragons with my friends. Every year my family gets together in Newport, Rhode Island, which has allowed me an enjoyable vacation. We tour the mansions, visit local parks, and enjoy delicious food. My winter holiday season is usually spent in my hometown in the Catskills, where it is always nice to see where I started.
After living in New Hampshire for 10 years I look forward to calling the sea coast my home! There is so much to look forward to these upcoming years. It is exciting to hear about all the new places to see and activities to do. I look forward to meeting you all.