White Pine Programs is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1999. We provide exceptional nature-based programs that renew connections to the earth & deepen awareness of place through nature- based learning.
Our Philosophy
To learn more about the roots of White Pine programs, click here.
Our Place
We have 16 acres located in the heart of the Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region of southern Maine - the largest intact coastal forest between Acadia National Park &the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Home the most diverse forests in Maine,
To learn more about this amazing natural treasure, click here.
Our Core Staff
Dan Gardoqui Co-Founder, Executive Director & Trainer
Dan lives in the Mt. Agamenticus region of the Maine Seacoast with his family. In addition to directing White Pine, he serves as science faculty at Granite State College, where he teaches natural history and winter ecology. He has been studying naturalist skills, wildlife tracking, and mentoring since 1990. Dan holds a Master's Degree in Natural Resources, is a Certified Wilderness First Responder, Certified in Wildlife Track & Sign (level III), and is a Registered Maine Guide. Dan likes to spend quality time hunting, tracking, and being a dad. Click here to view resume/CV.
Dan Hansche Senior Instructor & Trainer
Dan has been practicing wildlife tracking, naturalist, and survival skills for the past decade. He has taught at various wilderness schools. His achievements include graduating from the Kamana Naturalist Training Program and earning a Wildlife Track & Sign Specialist certificate through Cybertracker Conservation. He is an active member of the International Society of Professional Trackers as well as the New England Chapter of The Wildlife Society . Dan has been involved in many conservation projects involving endangered wildlife including Canada lynx, Blanding's turtle and black racer. He enjoys listening to old delta blues, driving German automobiles, playing guitar, and traveling.
Caren Vigneault Office Manager & Instructor
Caren grew up in New England and has been a strong presence in many little ones’ lives from when she was an adolescent. After being inspired by baskets, fires and wildlife tracking in her early twenties, Caren has studied with many wilderness and survival schools and organizations including: The Tracker School, Wilderness Awareness School, Vermont Wilderness School, Maine Primitive Skills School, Paul Rezendes, and continues to be a student of White Pine Programs. She is a Kamana II graduate as well as graduate of the Sterling Institute of Relationship Woman's Weekend. Her roles at White Pine as well as Council Member for the Maine Primitive Gathering allow her the privilege of working with many incredible people- strengthening connections to self, others and the earth.
Kate Gardoqui -Co-Founder & Development Staff
Kate has been working with young people in the outdoors since she was a teenager. A twelve-year veteran as a wilderness trip leader for Northwaters Wilderness Programs , Kate co-founded an all-girls canoeing program. As a public school teacher, she has worked with grades 7-12, college freshmen, and adults. Kate was a founding Board Member of Deepwaters , a foundation which provides support for young people to attend wilderness programs. She has been involved with White Pine in numerous roles, and remains inspired by its vision of connecting people to the earth.
Brie Moulton - Youth Programs Staff
Brie has had a profound love of nature for her entire life, having been brought up fishing, camping, living and playing in the forests of Maine. Over the past several years she has been teaching wilderness education and community studies to elementary school students. She earned her degree in community studies and holistic health from the University of California, Santa Cruz, focusing specifically on indigenous rights and sovereignty, which she continues to be actively involved in. Brie also spends her time playing guitar, fly fishing, spinning fire poi, cooking, gardening and creating art.
Our Board Of Directors
Amy Martinez Beal - (2004-Present)
Amy lives with her husband, Andrew, and three children on a small farm in Cape Neddick. She divides her time between homeschooling children, Dylan, Asher, and Lilia, teaching Sunday School, caring for the family’s goats and horses, tending vegetable, flower and herb gardens, and serving as a Board Member for White Pine Programs. Amy’s professional background includes twelve years of experience with the New Hampshire Foundation raising funds for scholarship, capital projects, and academic programs. Amy is also a regular volunteer staff on our Youth Programs.
Bob Eckert (2004-Present)
Bob has a long-standing interest in the outdoor world and education. He has been University of New Hampshire faculty for 25 years, where he teaches tree identification, courses in sustainable living, and conducts ecologically related research. His great interest in tracking and all aspects of the lives of animals and plants led him to be student in the Kamana and Shikari training programs. Bob lives with his wife in a small opening in the woods of Barrington, New Hampshire. He greatly enjoys the antics of his granddaughter Beatrix.
Kim "Raven" Dufort (2006-Present)
Raven has lived as far north as the Yukon and south to North Carolina. Raven prefers wooded areas near open land, or coastal regions. Her behavior is related to nature, her family and the arts. Raven denies all rumors of stealing and releasing the sun, or of tempting the first humans out of a clam shell. Raven is honored to serve White Pine, where she finds a kindred respect for the natural world.
Vince Dufort (2006-Present)
Vince was introduced to White Pine when he and his partner Raven were looking for activities for their daughter, India. A self-professed "office pansy", Vince is thrilled whenever he overcomes his challenges to learn gently through the White Pine adult programs and through mentoring from his daughter and partner. As an epidemiologist by day, he hopes to never forget that there is a real world beyond his computer screen.
Holly Grimes (2008-Present)
Holly has lived in this fine town we call York for 20 years. She is very excited to be a part of the White Pine family. She was drawn to the program while looking for a "cool thing" for her son to do. Well she sure found it. Along with her husband and 3 children, she looks forward to expanding the program to reach others so they to can reconnect with the wilderness around us. Hopefully along the way she will experience some life lessons which may only be taught by Mother Nature and perhaps even overcome her fear of frogs...
Our Supporters
Individual Support
Thorough our Annual Appeal, sent out in late May of each year, White Pine solicits the generosity of our greater community. We're continually humbled by the generosity of our donor base, whether they give $10 a month or write a $1000 check to say "We value White Pine." The true costs of running our programs exceeds that which we charge - we look to our donor base to make up that difference. So far, they've risen to the occasion each year.
Business Support
Tom's of Maine - In the Spring of 2008, White Pine Programs received a leadership grant from Tom's Of Maine charitable giving program. Founded on a heritage of philanthropy, Tom's of Maine recognizes the importance of reconnecting families with the natural world. By awarding White Pine with a leadership grant, they're helping fuel the growing 'No Child Left Inside' movement sweeping North America.
To read a news article about this award, click here.
Kennebunk Savings Bank - Through their Community Investment Program, this local financial institution supports White Pine Programs by allowing their thousands of customers to check off White Pine on their annual ballot. To learn more about this program, click here.
Foundation Support
In the spring of 2008, White Pine received an advised grant from the Tupelo Fund of the Maine Community Foundation . We're honored to have one of the most important foundations in Maine reward our work without even asking! Since 1983, Mainers have relied on the Maine Community Foundation to help them turn their charitable passions into meaningful and effective philanthropy.
Our work depends on the generosity of people who value what we do. Please consider making a secure online donation today. Just click the button below.
| DMG Curriculum Vitae 2008 | (DMG 2008 CV for Web.pdf 147.23 KB) |
