Don't Despair (Too Much), Lock In Locally!: Jen Klein, Friends of the Blue Hills

Guides Gone Wild

Last Sunday, I stopped doomscrolling long enough to make it down to the Boston Outdoor Expo, and I can't overstate how great it was to spend a few hours fan girling with many a pod guest, including today’s repeat interviewee, Jen Klein!

I first spoke with Jen back during the early months of COVID, when she was with the Trustees of Reservations in Massachusetts as the Director of Outdoor Experience. I realized I had to have her back on about six months ago, when I happened to see on LinkedIn that she had made a job transition, and was now Executive Director for the Friends of the Blue Hills. I have the utmost respect for smaller, member-funded non-profits that are enhancing conservation and stewardship efforts in public spaces - in this case for the Blue Hills Reservation, which is one of the largest parcels of undeveloped conservation land in the Greater Boston area.

So of course we are chatting all about the Blue Hills and the countless events and activities Jen and her team have been hosting there, as well as the super exciting new development that’s hopefully right around the corner. But we’re also digging deeper into the challenges of outdoor program administration and community engagement, the differences between statewide and local roles, and along the way, Jen drops a few kernels of hope and strategies for making an impact, even in the midst of the dumpster fire raging around us.

Regardless of where you live, I hope you’ll consider supporting the Friends of the Blue Hills with a donation or membership, or if you're local, please make sure to sign up for some programs or volunteer events over at friendsofthebluehills.org, or @friendsofthebluehills on Instagram and Facebook.
And don't forget to lock in to some of this local goodness!:

• Blue Hills Reservation (MA) - download guide & trail map
• International Women’s Day ‘Women’s Wave’ with Two Maine Mermaids - March 8, 2025
• The Trustees of Reservations (MA)
• Which Charles Eliot are we talking about?
• DCR (Department of Conservation & Recreation, MA)
• Elevate Youth (MA)
• NEMBA - New England Mountain Bike Association

Plus, more Outdoor Expo-related rock stars for your listening pleasure!:

• Jana Olenio, SupYo Adventures on GGW
• Traci Bisson, Golden Dog Adventure Co. on GGW
• Alicia Heyburn, Teens to Trails on GGW
• Mardi Fuller talks Winter Hiking for Beginners on NHPR
• Nicole Freedman, NEMBA on GGW
• Paula Burton, NEMB

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Chapters

1. What do the people want? (00:00:00)

2. The Community Engagement Journey (00:06:00)

3. Welcome to Guides Gone Wild! (00:15:00)

4. The Blue Hills Reservation Overview (00:22:00)

5. Jen's Transition to Friends of the Blue Hills (00:30:00)

6. The Year of Growth and Change (00:45:00)

7. Getting Involved: Volunteer Opportunities (01:00:00)

8. The Future of Blue Hills Reservation (01:12:00)

9. Closing Thoughts and Community Invites (01:20:00)