Zoë Smiarowski

Stewardship Programs Manager - ☎️ 📧

Growing up with parents who were actively involved in their local, volunteer-run land trust, Zoë was inspired from a young age by the amazing work that can be accomplished when you have a cohort of people who are invested in healthy ecosystems in their community. Though her passion for conservation was certainly fostered by involvement with the Branford Land Trust in Connecticut, she also grew up visiting Acadia National Park every summer. Dreaming of working in the outdoors, she spent her time in Acadia hiking and tide-pooling any chance she could, going on lots of ranger programs, and swimming in the very, very cold Gulf of Maine. With this love of all things outside, Zoë went on to work with professors and graduate students researching how Connecticut residents interact with and perceive their natural resources during her undergraduate studies.  

Since graduating from college, Zoë’s moved around quite a bit! She spent 4 seasons working with stewardship volunteers and visitors with Friends of Acadia, spent a winter developing resources about women’s history at Acadia NP, worked as an outdoor educator in the San Bernardino National Forest in California, and as a Trails Specialist with the Montana State Parks AmeriCorps program. Her passions center around learning and understanding the connection of people to place. In her free time, Zoë loves all things outdoors. Hiking, camping, backpacking, novice plant ID’ing, kayaking, biking, and rock climbing are all on her rotation of activities. On quieter days, Zoë loves reading, learning about history of all kinds, trying new teas and craft beers, hanging out at coffee shops, and napping (hopefully outside in her hammock)! 

Zoë joined Wildlands Trust in November 2022 as the Stewardship Coordinator. In 2023, she became the Stewardship Programs Manager, reflecting her added responsibilities overseeing the Stewardship Training Center. Zoë also manages Wildland’s stewardship volunteer programing, including the Adopt-a-Preserve program. She spends the rest of her time helping with day-to-day land stewardship and management related projects. Zoë attended the University of Connecticut, majoring in Natural Resources with a focus on social sciences.