Meet Mary

Mary is a native Adirondack woman and NYS Licensed Guide #4381. She grew up in the tiny Adirondack town of Olmstedville and graduated from Minerva Central School in 1971. She went on to college and graduated with a teaching degree from SUNY Potsdam. She began her teaching career in the fall of 1975 at Long Lake Central School and retired at the end of the 2009 school year. While at Long Lake she taught kindergarten/title one reading and math, taught 26 years in third grade and combined 1^st & 2^nd grades. She has also coached girl’s basketball, assisted with the modified soccer team and outing club, been a class advisor, president of the teacher’s association, Student Council Advisor and has served on the school’s key team.

Mary’s interest in nature and the outdoors has always been a part of her. She has led summer youth groups as a counselor and assistant director. She is a former Water Safety Instructor and maintains current certifications in First Aid, CPR and Water Safety. As an adult Mary loves kayaking, camping and any sporting activities. Other interests include oil painting, drawing, hiking, birding, exploring natural habitats and traveling to new places (and old favorites too!)

Mary serves as a volunteer at the Adirondack Park Agency’s Visitor Interpretive Center in Newcomb helping with special programming and covering the front desk. She was the volunteer coordinator at the VIC for three years before deciding to return to volunteer status so she could pursue other interests and spend more time with her grown children, Jason and Mary Ellen.

As a part of the Adirondack Connections Team, Mary is indispensable. She helps with the planning, purchasing, packaging and preparation of meals for camping and backpacking trips, earning her the title “camp mom.” Mary also assists as a sweeper on many hikes and paddles and also helps shuttle vehicles, people and equipment around when pick-ups and deliveries to trail heads or waterways are needed. She is also a co-host for our multi-day events and trips. “It’s all part of helping make a safe and enjoyable experience for our customers,” she says.

Mary lives in a cabin on the Raquette River, which she fondly refers to as “Pooh Corner." The location gives her the serenity of nature she loves and easy access to the kayaking and water sports she enjoys so much. Once a teacher, always a teacher... Mary is always looking for new educational opportunities to share with visitors and guests on and off the trail.