June Volunteer Spotlight

Originally from New Jersey, Hobbit currently resides in North Reading where he has lived for 30 years. Hobbit enjoys working with computers and all things tech. He was in the computer and network security space for many years and is also interested in areas such as laser-show tech, theater lighting and sound, and electric cars. In 2005, Hobbit bought his first hybrid car and has been driving a hybrid or full-electric car ever since.

Hobbit is also a long-time barefooter. “I simply don’t need or want shoes anymore because my feet have reached a state that nature wants them to be,” Hobbit says about walking barefoot. One of his favorite things about walking without shoes in the woods is what he calls the “rich symphony of textures underfoot.”

Hobbit got involved with Friends of the Fells (FOF) just under a year ago, when he started leading hikes. Before leading hikes with FOF, Hobbit had previous experience leading hikes with the Friends of Harold Parker State Forest. He has been volunteering with Friends of Harold Parker for six years now, where he helps lead hikes every Wednesday and has helped with their annual 5k trail race.

Some of Hobbit’s favorite parts of leading hikes are meeting new people and getting to show folks parts of the Fells they have never been to before. He cares deeply about preserving our forests and greenspaces, and he wants to help teach others how to enjoy and protect them. Hobbit’s favorite spots in the Fells are the high rock peaks. He loves scrambling over big rocks, so he spends a lot of time on the Rock Circuit and Skyline trails. Hobbit is also interested in the historical aspects of the Fells and tries to remember what he learns and share it with his hike participants.

Amanda Treat moved to Malden seven years ago. She works as a project manager for Wilson Sporting Goods and supports their Wilson Pact sustainability committee and different initiatives to help get folks together outdoors. Running, gardening, hiking, writing, and rock climbing are all activities that Amanda enjoys.

“Coming out of COVID, I really wanted to get out there and do something that gives back to the community and do things with other people,” Amanda says about her motivations to join the. Friends of the Fells’s Communications Committee. She writes blog posts and helps get information out to Fells community members.

Before joining the Communications Committee, Amanda volunteered at invasive plant removal work days. After attending these events and learning about invasive plants, she noticed large areas of black swallowwort near the Oak Grove T stop. She got in touch with the Fells DCR staff and asked about scheduling an event to remove invasive plants near the T stop. Members of groups like Friends of the Malden River and Bike to the Sea also joined in this event. “It was a cool way to expand something Friends of the Fells repeatedly organizes and spread it out into the community.”