Katherine Barton

Experience

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  Salem-Keizer Education Foundation

  Aug 2015 - Apr 2016

  Urban Gardens Program Coordinator

  Managed urban garden programs across 13 Title 1 neighborhoods; partnered with local teachers to teach garden classes to youth, organized volunteers and work parties to maintain garden spaces, planned fundraising events.Planned, organized, and led multiple 6-week long free horticulture classes to engage people of all ages and backgrounds.

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  Growing Gardens

  Jul 2018 - Apr 2021

  Garden Educator and Coordinator

  Organized diverse stakeholders, planned events, and led outreach campaigns to engage the community in sustainable agriculture; created timelines and managed projects through all phases. Tracked and analyzed detailed quantitative and qualitative data from multiple ongoing projects; used data to inform project management decisions and measure success.Built partnerships and relationships with school administrators, collaborating organizations, government agencies, and community members to increase community sovereignty and program sustainability.Spearheaded the design, creation, and construction of a new urban garden and nature space reflecting input collected from the community through surveys, community events and individual contacts.Recruited and supervised over 34 volunteers that contributed a total of 489 hours during the 2019-2020 school year as well as coached and oversaw environmental education interns.Partnered with Oregon State University extension to plan, write and teach a 30-hour online School Garden Coordinator Certificate Training.Researched, planned and wrote 72 sustainability-focused outdoor lessons; managed classroom behavior while teaching curriculum to over 500 K-6th grade students per year. Show less

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  MT. ADAMS RESOURCE STEWARDS

  Apr 2021 - Dec 2021

  Stewardship Crew Member

  Worked as a team with crew members to implement strategic thinning, prescribed burning and tree planting to achieve forest improvement and fuels management objectives in a variety of ecosystem types. Accurately identified tree and vegetation species and independently altered prescription plans based on forest characteristics. Collaborated with officials from the Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Dept. of Natural Resources, and landowners to implement restoration and fuels management work across ownership boundaries.Used a compass and GPS to grid through prescribed burn units and identify old growth legacy trees, record them on Avenza, and remove surface and ladder fuels. Collected, analyzed and reported scientific forest data while completing timber stand exams in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and on Mt. Adams Community Forest land. Tracked, recorded and shared geospatial data using Avenza, navigated steep off-trail terrain to locate and mark plots. Served on a 20-person USFS hand crew during two 14-day fire assignments; worked collaboratively in hazardous and dynamic conditions. Assisted with hiring and outreach for next year’s crew with the goal of increasing diversity. Supported the executive director with public outreach and education through video production. Show less

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  American Forests

  Jan 2022 - now

  Senior Manager, Southern California Reforestation

  Manage a portfolio of cross-boundary, climate-smart reforestation and recovery projects in high-severity wildfire areas in the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Assess site conditions, write prescriptions, prepare request for proposals, and manage contracts to complete a variety of treatments including mastication, biomass utilization, vegetation control, and tree planting. Identify seed bank needs, work with public nurseries, survey for and assess viable cone crops across boundaries, and contract with tree climbers to collect high-priority seed species to address shortages. Leading a whitebark pine recovery project to collect needles and cones for genetic testing and conservation, managing logistics to collect from sites located in remote backcountry locations. Independently manage a budget of around $2.5 million per year, prepare progress reports and invoices, request amendments as needed, and maintain relationships with funders. Coordinate with US Forest Service and National Park Service officials, CAL FIRE staff, and Tribal leaders to plan, seek funding for, and implement forest health treatments on public & private land. Serve as lead forester on NEPA projects as needed by the Sequoia National Forest. Prepare and integrate innovative research design and monitoring protocols into reforestation projects to better inform future management decisions. Participate in and provide thought-leadership to coalitions including the Southern Sierra Leadership Forum and Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition. Supervise and provide direction to a year-round team of forestry professionals to complete contract management and inspections, unit layout and mapping, surveying and monitoring.Develop partnerships with other non-governmental organizations to strategically and collaboratively increase the pace and scale of forest health objectives across the region. Show less