Amy Burt (she/her) joined the Wildlands staff late last month. Read on to get to know our new Programming Coordinator! And be sure to say hello when you see Amy on the trails this fall.

Amy studied adventure therapy in college, a testament to her belief in nature's power to heal, restore, and connect people of all ages and backgrounds. As Wildlands Trust’s Programming Coordinator, she is excited to find creative ways to engage new audiences in outdoor learning, recreation, and conservation. 

Amy spent her childhood haying fields and enjoying the cows on her family’s land and exploring local wildlands with her mom, a volunteer hike leader at the Blue Hills Reservation. Through these experiences and a brief 4-H season earning blue ribbons with her show cow Nancy, she learned to appreciate the diverse benefits of local open space. 

Despite growing up "painfully introverted,” Amy knew early on that she wanted to help people, especially kids. By fourth grade, she was already a classroom helper for her first-grade teacher. At Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School, volunteer work and dental assistant training bolstered her vision for a career of service to others.  

Amy set her sights on social work, but a presentation from Unity College (now Unity Environmental University) in New Gloucester, Maine, opened her eyes to an alternative path that melded her passions for people and nature. She earned her Bachelor of Science in adventure therapy and adventure-based environmental education, with a minor in environmental interpretation and education. After graduation, Amy joined the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England as the Program Manager of Outdoor Experience and STEM, leading youth programming with local and regional partners.  

At Wildlands, Amy is excited to reconnect with her undergraduate field of study through hands-on environmental programming for learners of all ages. She is eager to serve her home state, expanding Wildlands’ educational reach across Southeastern Massachusetts. “If people leave our programs feeling more comfortable to explore nature on their own, or inspired to bring a friend next time, I'll have done my job,” Amy reflected. 

In her free time, Amy enjoys playing the acoustic guitar, singing karaoke (go-to song: “Love Shack” by the B-52's), and playing with her pet guinea pig, Caterpillar (Catter for short). During college, Amy held several roles in youth education, including at Wind-in-the-Pines Girl Scout camp in Plymouth, elementary schools in Maine and Somerset, MA, and 4-H camps with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension—where, after a last-minute staffing change, she helped guide two campers up Mount Katahdin!