The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is hiring a Communications and Partnerships Manager. The position is part-time and pays $50-60k. Link below.
I an not affiliated with the organization, I just get the emails.
www.northernforestcanoetrail.org
A Fond Farewell
It’s with excitement and sadness that I share the news that I will be moving on from the Northern Forest Canoe Trail this winter. I can say with zero hesitation that I’ve never worked for a better organization. It’s been a great privilege, and I am grateful.
About seven years ago, I sat down with Karrie Thomas on the balcony at the Hotel Saranac to discuss an open position with the NFCT. I had only heard of the canoe trail through an old colleague of mine — Mike Lynch — who completed his thru-paddle in 2011 and produced a short film about his trip. What intrigued me most, to be frank, was the ability to paddle and call it “work,” but I soon learned that paddling was just a small — albeit quite important — part of the job. Talk to any current or former employee, intern, board member or volunteer, and they’ll all tell you some variation of the same thing: that more than anything else, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is about fostering connections and community.
There’s the literal, physical connectivity of the trail — the network of rivers, lakes and portages that have helped people move across the woods and waters of the Northeast for centuries. But even more important is the way it connects people. There are homeowners along rivers in far-flung, rural communities who leave a mini-fridge stocked with beverages, on the off-chance a thru-paddler passes by — the two people might never meet, but that small act forges a connection. There’s locals in the Allagash who turn their truck around to buy a portaging thru-paddler an ice cream cone — a few dollars spent on a hot day, but a gesture the paddler will remember for the rest of their lives.
So much of what the NFCT does is about bringing people together. Whether it’s volunteers teaming with stewardship staff to haul boulders up a steep bank, a last minute substitution on a 90-Miler team or a sunset paddle with friends, the common denominator is community. There’s something special about people from different walks of life forging friendships on the water. In a tragically divided world, stoked by social media algorithms and internet doomscrolling, these opportunities to share a quiet moment floating downriver with someone who may have wildly different opinions and world views are vital. You can call that idealistic or wishy-washy; I don’t care. The alternative is much, much worse.
To the countless people I’ve met in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine: thank you for welcoming me into your businesses and communities. To Karrie, Noah, Marthe, Alex, Will, Nick and every intern and field coordinator I’ve worked with: thank you for being some of the best colleagues I have ever, and will ever, work with. My time with the NFCT coincided with some tough life circumstances: a major health scare and the passing of my father. You were all so supportive and empathetic — when I needed others to help carry my metaphorical gear, you grabbed it and ran with it, and for that I will be forever grateful.
Paddlers know that water is ever-changing, constantly moving — it’s unpredictable, just like life. I’ve learned that the best way to enjoy it is to go with the flow and not fight the wind or the current more than you have to. I’m excited for what lies ahead, and I know I’ll see you on the water again sometime soon. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Chris Morris
Outgoing Communications & Partnerships Manager
PS — This is an AWESOME job. If working for the NFCT and telling stories sounds fun to you, click here to view the job description and apply! And speaking of jobs, we have a few more openings for the 2026 season. Click the button below to view open positions!
PS PS — I'll be with the NFCT through Feb. 6. If you'd like to get in touch, email me at chris@northernforestcanoetrail.org.
I an not affiliated with the organization, I just get the emails.
Communications & Partnerships Manager - Northern Forest Canoe Trail
Communications & Partnerships Manager Position Description The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a 740-mile paddling trail tracing historic travel routes from the Adirondacks in New York across Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire and Maine. As the longest inland water trail in North America, the...
www.northernforestcanoetrail.org
A Fond Farewell
It’s with excitement and sadness that I share the news that I will be moving on from the Northern Forest Canoe Trail this winter. I can say with zero hesitation that I’ve never worked for a better organization. It’s been a great privilege, and I am grateful.
About seven years ago, I sat down with Karrie Thomas on the balcony at the Hotel Saranac to discuss an open position with the NFCT. I had only heard of the canoe trail through an old colleague of mine — Mike Lynch — who completed his thru-paddle in 2011 and produced a short film about his trip. What intrigued me most, to be frank, was the ability to paddle and call it “work,” but I soon learned that paddling was just a small — albeit quite important — part of the job. Talk to any current or former employee, intern, board member or volunteer, and they’ll all tell you some variation of the same thing: that more than anything else, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is about fostering connections and community.
There’s the literal, physical connectivity of the trail — the network of rivers, lakes and portages that have helped people move across the woods and waters of the Northeast for centuries. But even more important is the way it connects people. There are homeowners along rivers in far-flung, rural communities who leave a mini-fridge stocked with beverages, on the off-chance a thru-paddler passes by — the two people might never meet, but that small act forges a connection. There’s locals in the Allagash who turn their truck around to buy a portaging thru-paddler an ice cream cone — a few dollars spent on a hot day, but a gesture the paddler will remember for the rest of their lives.
So much of what the NFCT does is about bringing people together. Whether it’s volunteers teaming with stewardship staff to haul boulders up a steep bank, a last minute substitution on a 90-Miler team or a sunset paddle with friends, the common denominator is community. There’s something special about people from different walks of life forging friendships on the water. In a tragically divided world, stoked by social media algorithms and internet doomscrolling, these opportunities to share a quiet moment floating downriver with someone who may have wildly different opinions and world views are vital. You can call that idealistic or wishy-washy; I don’t care. The alternative is much, much worse.
To the countless people I’ve met in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine: thank you for welcoming me into your businesses and communities. To Karrie, Noah, Marthe, Alex, Will, Nick and every intern and field coordinator I’ve worked with: thank you for being some of the best colleagues I have ever, and will ever, work with. My time with the NFCT coincided with some tough life circumstances: a major health scare and the passing of my father. You were all so supportive and empathetic — when I needed others to help carry my metaphorical gear, you grabbed it and ran with it, and for that I will be forever grateful.
Paddlers know that water is ever-changing, constantly moving — it’s unpredictable, just like life. I’ve learned that the best way to enjoy it is to go with the flow and not fight the wind or the current more than you have to. I’m excited for what lies ahead, and I know I’ll see you on the water again sometime soon. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Chris Morris
Outgoing Communications & Partnerships Manager
PS — This is an AWESOME job. If working for the NFCT and telling stories sounds fun to you, click here to view the job description and apply! And speaking of jobs, we have a few more openings for the 2026 season. Click the button below to view open positions!
PS PS — I'll be with the NFCT through Feb. 6. If you'd like to get in touch, email me at chris@northernforestcanoetrail.org.
