On an early spring day in March, with snow still blanketing the trail, Colleen Cataldo skied along the Catamount Trail in Adams Forest, using the loppers in her backpack to clear branches and small trees that had fallen over the winter. Unable to clear the rest by herself, she knew who to ask to lend a helping hand.
When Colleen told her dad she was volunteering as a land steward for Stowe Land Trust, he jumped at the chance to work alongside her. Not only because he was proud of his daughter for giving back to the community, but also because it meant another way for them to spend time together. “Caring for this forest has quickly become a family affair,” says Colleen.
Colleen is new to land stewardship, but her deep connection to the land began at a young age. She spent much of her childhood outdoors—swimming competitively, running gravel roads, and skiing at Stowe’s Mount Mansfield Academy. When she got her first job picking berries at Sweet Roots Farm in Charlotte, Colleen discovered how much she loved working with her hands and spending long days outside.
“I love being outside. It allows me to connect with my spirituality—I know it sounds a little cheesy, but the outdoors is my church.”
Even while studying microbiology in college, Colleen never strayed far from the land, working on farms most summers. After graduation, she found her perfect job at Sage Farm Goat Dairy in Stowe, combining her love for the outdoors and the science part of her brain. There, she makes cheese and cares for a small herd of goats, “It’s beautiful being a part of the process, start to finish.” The job also allows her to be close to her family.
“These lands are a huge part of the community, and it’s awesome that I can help care for a place that brings people joy.”
Colleen takes pride in stewarding a place where so many people walk their dogs, spend time with their kids, get exercise, and clear their heads. The opportunity to ski along the Catamount Trail and spend time outdoors with her family during stewardship visits aren’t bad perks either.
Volunteer land stewards are the eyes and ears of the Stowe Land Trust. We could not do our job without them! Interested? Visit stowelandtrust.org/support/volunteer.