By Patricia Platt

After 36 years as a teacher and IT director at Cornwall School in Cornwall, Conn., Vicki Nelson serendipitously found a position this August as office manager at Great Mountain Forest (GMF). It has turned out to be a perfect fit. “I’m very excited that I can bring my expertise in technology and education to Great Mountain Forest to help them with their existing programs and to develop some new projects for schools,” said Nelson.

Joining at a time when GMF is working to increase their connection to elementary and middle school education programs, Nelson is actively helping to develop curriculum with Botelle School that will introduce students to different aspects of the forest. The program will use existing GMF programs that explore topics like maple syrup production, tree identification and the historic impact of the iron industry on the forest.

Nelson is also assisting with community projects such as the upcoming stargazing event with the Norfolk Library on Nov. 14. All ages are invited to stop in for a look through a telescope and to chart the stars. She is also helping to plan the annual wreath-making workshop at GMF the first weekend in December and will lend support to GMF’s upcoming annual appeal.

Nelson volunteered with the Cornwall Consolidated School Fund for Excellence for many years. Grants from the fund bring authors and artists to Cornwall School, help students pursue special projects in the arts and support teachers in creating special educational projects. Nelson received funding to travel to Italy, where she developed teaching materials.

Nelson raised her four children in Norfolk and, as a family, they enjoyed many outdoor activities, including hiking, bird watching, gardening and caring for nine pet chickens. She enjoys golf, she says, but “mainly to listen to the birds along the way.” She added that “One of my all-time favorite places in the world, other than my own backyard, is Tobey Pond, and we spend as much time there as we can during the summer.”

Nelson says she is looking forward to learning more about GMF’s expansive forestry programs and to generally pitching in with the wide range of GMF projects that promote awareness of forest stewardship, sustainable forest management and outdoor education and research.