Wilton Wildlife Elects New Board Members at Annual Meeting

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park held its annual meeting on Monday, February 2. Staff and board members gave presentations on 2025’s educational programs, recreational offerings, public outreach, conservation, and the successful completion of Phase I of the Larry Gordon Outdoor Education Center with the opening of the Welcome Cabin. For more information on the status of the Larry Gordon Outdoor Education Center, please visit wiltonpreserve.org.

At the meeting, the 70 volunteers who donated their time in 2025 were honored for contributing 2,964 hours in trail work, program support, office tasks, conservation efforts, public outreach efforts, and other tasks to further the mission of Wilton Wildlife. 

Special recognition was given to the volunteers who have collected lifetime volunteering hours between 250 and 1,500 hours, with their names added to the volunteer plaques, which are on display at the Welcome Cabin. The following individuals were added to the plaque with 250 hours: Dave Matteson, Thomas McNamara, Steve Wilcox, and Rowan McKinney. Howard Lester moved up to 500 lifetime hours, and Jeff DeJesus was added at 500.

At the meeting, elections took place with Bradley Birge elected as Treasurer and Larry Dana elected as Vice Chair. Steve Wilcox is continuing in his role as Board Chair, with Marne Onderdonk and Nina Russo continuing for another term as co-Secretaries. Two new community members were elected to serve on the board: Maisie Wright and Karen Kellogg.

Maisie has a 20-year career in education, where she has worn many hats–from teacher to administrator–and currently serves as Chief Academic Officer for KIPP Capital Public Schools. In her role, she oversees academic strategy and impact, so she will bring a wealth of experience in governance and community-centered leadership to Wilton Wildlife’s Board. A native of southern Vermont, Maisie grew up exploring the Green Mountains every season in hiking boots or on skis.

Since moving to Wilton in 2021, Wilton Wildlife has been an anchor for her family; she especially loves bringing her two young toddlers out to investigate the lupine, lady slippers, and horsemint. Maisie believes that early education and exposure are the keys to future conservation. She holds a BA in Anthropology and Africana Studies from Cornell University and her master’s in education administration from National Louis Academy. She joined the Board to champion the intersection of conservation and education, ensuring it remains a vibrant resource for local families and future generations.

Karen Kellogg is the David H. Porter Chair & Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Skidmore College. During her 26 years at Skidmore College, she has taught courses focused on sustainability, renewable energy, and environmental engineering. Karen works with Skidmore students on research topics such as the barriers to renewable energy deployment, bioremediation, and campus sustainability. She also helps them engage in research and internships in the broader community, including many over the years with Wilton Wildlife.

Karen has a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the Pennsylvania State University. She has seen Wilton Wildlife grow from a small parcel to the multifaceted conservation organization it is today, and as a Wilton resident, she is excited to spend more time on the trails of this incredible treasure.

For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Wilton Wildlife website at wiltonpreserve.org or follow on Facebook or Instagram @wiltonpreserve.