Foothills Equestrian Nature Center welcomes its newest Americorps volunteer Hannah Andersson. Andersson grew up amidst the Amish hillsides of Lancaster, Penn. but over the last three years has traveled near and far across the United States for various environmentally focused jobs.

In 2010, she earned her bachelor of arts in natural history and conservation from Sterling College, a small outdoor and experiential-based college in northern Vermont. Since graduating, Andersson has backpacked in Alaska, worked as a naturalist/outdoor educator in northern Wisconsin and the coastal redwoods of California, helped reintroduce Aplomado Falcons in southern New Mexico and volunteered through AmeriCorps on a biodynamic farm in Vermont, living and working with special needs adults. She said she is excited to now be in western North Carolina volunteering as an AmeriCorps education assistant at FENCE this year, and looks forward to immersing herself in the natural history and culture of the area.  Among other things, Andersson brings her value of community, hard work and dedication to educating on the importance of environmental sustainability to the area with hopes of networking and joining the WNC community for more than a year.

In her spare time, Andersson loves to knit, develop her ornithological skills and play guitar.

– article submitted by Tracie Hanson