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.
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,
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.
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, earning a Wildlife Track & Sign Specialist certificate through Cybertracker Conservation, and becoming a Regisitered Maine Guide. 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, playing guitar, and being with his baby girl, Veery.
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 allows her the privilege of working with many incredible people- strengthening connections to self, others and the earth.
Amy Martinez Beal - 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. Amy served as a Founding Board Member at White Pine from 2004-2010 and is excited to be a Wildlife Tracking Apprentice in 2010-11.
Youth Programs Staff
Chris Sommers
Youth Programs Staff
Youth Programs Staff
Annika Wisswaesser grew up in an intentional spiritual community in eastern New York. In the woods and fields surrounding this community, she spent countless hours exploring and connecting with nature. Annika attended fashion school before participating in a year long internship at White Pine in 2006. She has a B.A. from Bennington College in the arts and life sciences. In addition to leading multiple children's programs, Annika is an artist and lives with her husband and daughter in Kittery, ME.
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 toads...
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 , she 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.
Rob was fortunate to spend his late teen years in the hands of the talented mentors of Wilderness Awareness School. Learning alongside Dan Gardoqui, Rob had a strong interest in tracking, ecology and naturalist skills. He complimented these skills by pursuing a path as an Environmental Engineer. He works in the Boston Area and is actively engaged in estuary management &restoration and is an active member of Engineers Without Borders. Lucky for White Pine, Rob vividly remembers what it was like to be teenager inspired by those mentors who took a special interest in his development. He lives on the north shore of Massachusetts with his wife Alison. 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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) |
