Native Beeology

Tim grew up on a farm in the Adirondacks where his love for the outdoors and bees took root.  He was allergic to bees (probably wasps) as a child, yet somehow was drawn to them with a deep fascination.  His  involvement in backyard beekeeping opened a door to the world of native bees and their role in a healthy environment.

Tim earned his BT in Agriculture at SUNY Cobleskill in 1995 and an AAS in Forestry from SUNY ESF in 1997, after which he served as a Forest Ranger for the Maryland Forest Service.  In his role as Forest Ranger, he most enjoyed teaching Smokey Bear programs, preparing high school students to compete in the state Envirothon and working with landowners to create stream-side buffers.

Since 1999, he has worked for The Fresh Air Fund and currently serves as the Director at Sharpe Reservation.  He was instrumental in redesigning the Fresh Air Farm program and developed a comprehensive farm and nutrition program for New York City youth.  The program not only introduces farm animals and husbandry to the campers, but also engages them in best practices in agriculture while combining a garden-to-kitchen component that encourages healthy eating choices. During his tenure at Sharpe, he introduced a camp-wide composting initiative in which all campers participate, integrating environmental awareness into their everyday activities.

He considers himself not only an educator but a lifelong learner and in 2011 enrolled in Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Naturalist program. Since enrolling, he has collected data on migrating eels with the Hudson River Estuary Program and given public presentations in several counties on “Beaver: Meet the Neighbors” and “Native Bees: The Unstung Hero”.

Tim is a Past President of the New York State Outdoor Education Association that has been promoting education in the outdoors since 1968.  Currently, he serves on the President of the Stony Kill Foundation Board of Directors.

Canoeing an Adirondack lake on a sunny August day, surrounded by water and wilderness, he feels at home. There, he is reminded that we are truly just a small part of something huge, natural, and special, and life just makes sense.