Welcome (Back) to TerraCorps Members!
Mount Grace is very excited to host two TerraCorps members this year – May Grzybowski and returning member Julia Fitzpatrick. For more information on the history of the TerraCorps program at Mount Grace, visit our TerraCorps page.
We asked them both a few questions to help everyone get to know them better, please offer them a warm welcome and a big “thank you” for all the amazing work they’re doing this service year.
May Grzybowski:
What projects are you working on this year?
Monitoring visits (both remote and in person), making a tree health guide, and using the eBird app data to learn more about the birds on Mount Grace lands, building a stewardship volunteer network.
What are you most excited to be working on?
I am excited to work with volunteers – volunteering has been an important part of my life, so I’d love to help others get involved. The site monitoring process is also interesting to me, I enjoy learning the systems Mount Grace uses (landscape, upstream, etc.), getting out into the field and meeting landowners. I’m lucky to get to visit so many beautiful sites as part of my service!
Do you have a favorite conservation area & why?
Richardson Overlook in Northfield, it is close to home and a great place to sit and relax. A wonderful view without a long hike.
How’d you end up at Mount Grace?
I grew up in the area and have hiked Mount Grace sites with my family, so when I was looking for a TerraCorps position and saw one at Mount Grace I was excited to apply. I felt like being able to serve in the area I grew up in and the woods I knew was important to me.
What’s something you’ve been enjoying learning more about this year?
I am interested in what is impacting tree health in Massachusetts, getting to learn more about the various factors has been fascinating. I’m taking home what I’ve learned and noticing more when I’m out in the woods. Obviously, some of that means I notice more trees in distress, but I think it’s important to realize that, so we can be more proactive to protect our forests.
Another part of working here is realizing how Mount Grace is involved in places I already visit/enjoy, like Quabbin Harvest Food Co-op and Red Apple Farm.
Julia Fitzpatrick:
What projects are you working on this year?
Some of the primary projects I will be working on are (1) organizing the 8th annual MA Open Space Conference, a free conference that aims to provide resources, peer to peer learning and networking opportunities to members of Open Space Committees; (2) helping to coordinate the North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership; (3) helping with landowner outreach programming in collaboration with our UMass Amherst partners.
What are you most excited to be working on?
I am most excited to be organizing the conference. Last year I organized the 7th annual Open Space conference along with two other TerraCorps members. We had an excellent turn out last year, and had webinars that featured topics such as climate-smart forestry, accessible trails, and landowner outreach among others. Despite being a virtual conference, we had really interactive Q&A segments for each of the webinars which truly highlighted the enthusiasm and excitement around protecting open space in Massachusetts.
Do you have a favorite conservation area & why?
Last year I was able to visit Richardson Overlook with the other TerraCorps members. I really enjoyed visiting that conservation area as the view was incredible!
How’d you end up at Mount Grace?
In May of 2021 I graduated from Worcester State with my BS in Biology and Environmental Science. I heard about the TerraCorps program from my university and decided to apply, as I was curious to learn more about the conservation field. I was thrilled to get the Regional Collaboration Coordinator position last year at Mount Grace and am so excited to be doing a second year with Mount Grace as the Land Conservation Coordinator. I’m looking forward to continuing to gain experience and learn more about land trusts and the broader conservation field!
What’s something you’ve been enjoying learning more about this year?
Something I have been enjoying learning more about this year is remote monitoring! It is exciting to learn the protocol for it, and get to see how the technology is being applied for conservation purposes.