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're 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. To learn more about this natural treasure, click on the Agamenticus logo to the right.
Forest Learning Shelter in Winter
Our Core Staff
Dan Gardoqui Co-Founder & 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 & Youth Programs Instructor
Caren lives amidst the sweet fields and forests of York, Maine. She has worked closely with the many children in her life through long term nannying and mentoring experiences. Caren has been working as our Office Manager and instructor in our children's programs since 2001. She is a member of the Maine Primitive Gathering Council, and is an active participant in ongoing education with the Sterling Institute of Relationship. Caren is a student of our adult programs and a Kamana II graduate. She enjoys spending time at the ocean, working a good animal hide, playing in the garden and most importantly being a good auntie.
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.
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 behaviour 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 honoured 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 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) |
