Each summer, Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) employs two caretakers to spend 10 weeks on Damariscove Island Preserve, one of the most popular land trust properties. They live in a small, rustic cabin and are responsible for monitoring recreational activity, providing stewardship services (such as trail maintenance), and educating island visitors about the island’s cultural history and natural resources.

We are excited to introduce you to this year’s caretakers, Kate Davidson and Jacob Goldstone.

Kate and Jacob are eager to return to their New England roots after spending some time in Chicago, where they met in 2011.

Kate grew up volunteering on a land management and conservation project on Naushon Island, Massachusetts. At an early age, she was working to combat invasive species and navigating small boats in all types of weather. She attended college in California and Chicago, studying religion, politics and social movements. Since graduation she has worked in a variety of education positions while maintaining her connection to the outdoors by completing her wilderness emergency medical training.

Jacob grew up in Cambridge, New York. He attended Deep Springs College in California, where he worked on the school’s cattle ranch and alfalfa farm. He was then hired to monitor cattle in the White Mountains while living off the grid. Two years later, he began studying philosophy of education in Chicago, where he spent his spare time coaching soccer, exploring the plains of the Midwest, and working with leather. After graduation, Jacob chose to stay in the classroom as a special education teacher in a public elementary school.

After four years of urban living, Jacob and Kate are looking forward to getting back to the land on Damariscove Island. We hope you can drop by and say hello. To learn more about Boothbay Region Land Trust and its other public preserves, please visit bbrlt.org.