January 2024 Volunteer of the Month
January 08, 2025
Kicking off 2025, the first Volunteer of the Month is long-time super supporter of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, Jennifer Ford! Resident of Guilderland, this local member of our community is active in multiple volunteer roles.
Thank you, Jennifer, for all your talents, skills, and years of dedication you’ve given to the Albany Pine Bush!
By Sarah Reilly
Beginning her volunteer service in 2004, Jennifer lends her skills as a program assistant, naturalist, and participant in multiple community science programs. Her favorite part of volunteering is the people she meets and getting to work alongside many other knowledgeable and interesting people who inspire her to keep learning about the natural world.
As a naturalist, Jennifer spends a lot of time on the trails- frequenting Great Dune most often. On one occasion, she recalled a day in spring that she spent observing some Karner Blue butterflies near the edge of the trail. “Some joggers stopped to see what I was looking at, and I was able to show them the first Karner Blue butterfly they had ever seen. They were amazed at how small it was, and grateful that they got to see one. I was so happy to have been able to share that with them.”
Well deserving of the Volunteer of the Month title, Jennifer was nominated by Lead Educator Jacqueline Citriniti. “Jennifer has been a volunteer and a Pine Bush advocate for decades! She has given her heart and soul to ensure our community and children know about the preserve, help protect the preserve and remember it for years to come. I appreciate all of her dedication and advocacy past, present and I have no doubt, will continue well into the future!”
Jennifer has been a science teacher at Farnsworth Middle School for 30 years. Her love of the Pine Bush extends even into her classroom- she enjoys getting students involved with Pine Bush projects such as Snowpack monitoring and growing Lupine.
Most of her free time involves the outdoors. Using trail cameras, she likes to see what wildlife is active in the woods around her home. Jennifer has grown fond of coyotes, seeing them as often misunderstood. Active outside year-round, she enjoys skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and kayaking, but also enjoys just curling up with a good book or nature journaling.
Thank you, Jennifer, for all your talents, skills, and years of dedication you’ve given to the Albany Pine Bush!
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