August Volunteer Spotlight

Audrey Killion

Originally from Cape Cod, Audrey Killion has lived in Winchester for 47 years. She graduated from Boston University with a degree in nursing and was a nurse and nurse practitioner for 55 years. Audrey has been retired for five years now and loves being out in nature.

Growing up on the Cape, she spent a lot of time in the woods, on the shore, and in the apple orchard in the backyard of her childhood home. Audrey’s mother and aunt knew a lot about the local flora and fauna and passed that knowledge onto her. “I did learn a lot growing up with my family who were always walking and saying ‘oh look there goes an Oriole’ or ‘there’s a hawk up in that tree.’ They knew their trees and plants and birds,” she explains.

Audrey has been a walk leader volunteer with Friends of the Fells for the last few years and has guided walks with Winchester Trails for 40 years. She leads walks on plants and the history of the Fells. History has always been one of Audrey’s favorite subjects, and she loves learning about all types of history, especially Native American and natural histories.

During the pandemic, Audrey and other Winchester Trails leaders took participants on socially-distanced bird watch hikes.

One of Audrey’s favorite memories in the Fells centers around a family of wood ducks. This spring she was out on a walk and saw a mother wood duck with seven babies paddling behind her. “They were almost walking over the water. They were cruising Long Pond trying to keep up with mother duck,” Audrey says.

For Audrey, the most valuable part of walk leading is getting people of all ages into the Fells. “Your job is done if you can get people out into nature. They can have that experience and that appreciation and [you can] encourage them to learn more,” says Audrey to anyone interested in guiding their own walk.

Thank you, Audrey, for all that you do for the Fells!

If you are interested in learning more and getting involved, please reach out to friends@fells.org, complete the Volunteer Application, or keep an eye on our calendar here for upcoming volunteer events.