A self-proclaimed “nature nerd” is taking up the helm at New Hampshire Audubon.
Doug Bechtel, a 49-year-old birder, environmental scientist and organization leader, will become the nonprofit’s new president later this month. And what he’s most looking forward to, he said, is connecting with New Hampshire residents through what pretty much everyone appreciates around here: the outdoors.
“I’m as excited about the people as I am about the nature in New Hampshire,” Bechtel said during an interview last week. He spoke outside the McLane Audubon Center in Concord, sitting at a picnic table dappled in warm sunlight and tree shade within earshot of critters scurrying in the nearby woods.
“New Hampshire,” Bechtel added, “is blessed with a great environmental and conservation community.”
Though he’s lived in Bennington, Vt., for two years while working as the executive director for Audubon International environmental education and land management program, Bechtel has spent the majority of his career within the New Hampshire nature community. For 15 years, he managed the New Hampshire Nature Conservancy’s science program in Concord.
“My background is as a naturalist, ecologist, science person,” said Bechtel. While working for the Nature Conservancy, he focused on regional climate change modeling and aquatic conservation.
Bechtel began playing and exploring in the Granite State long before he was of working age. His family started visiting the Lakes Region when he was 10 years old.
“I probably have spent the majority of my life in the natural habitat of New Hampshire,” Bechtel said.
He also has some early history with the National Audubon Society. Bechtel worked his first job as a high school intern at the Rhode Island Audubon sanctuary, which was when he first discovered that you could “go out and stomp around in the mud” with kids and get paid for it.
Now, Bechtel said he’s looking forward to coming full circle, with both the Audubon and exploring the New Hampshire outdoors. For the latter, Bechtel plans to take his 5-year-old daughter Myrica – the Latin name for the bayberry plant – exploring around New Hampshire’s trails, mountains and swimming spots.
“She’s just getting to the age where she can start climbing mountains,” said Bechtel. He added he’s also eager to go birding at Turkey Pond.
And as the New Hampshire Audubon’s new president, Bechtel plans to continuing embracing the organization’s four key missions: environmental policy, environmental education, wildlife science and land management and conservation.
“The Audubon name just represents nature in people’s minds,” Bechtel said. After the organization has built itself up for over 100 years – it started in 1914 – he added, “I feel so excited to bring this organization into the next century.”
Bechtel has some ideas for how the nonprofit can strengthen the work it’s already doing. Sitting just outside the McLane Center’s entryway, where a large flat-screen television monitor shows a live-feed from the Peregrine Falcon webcam set up in Manchester, Bechtel said he wants to find more ways to use technology at New Hampshire Audubon.
While devices like smart phones and tablets are often seen as interrupting or opposing nature experiences, Bechtel wants to see how devices, social media and the internet can enhance environmental education.
“How do we take advantage of that technology to connect kids?” he asked.
Bechtel said he also wants to connect more people to the outdoors in general, and get more organizations involved with New Hampshire Audubon. Through some sort of sustainability effort, he said, he envisions working with businesses and other traditionally non-environmental stakeholders.
“How do you celebrate nature if your business doesn’t include nature?” Bechtel said.
He gave an example of encouraging car dealerships converting open space to green space, and advertising themselves as being environmentally conscious.
“I’m excited about connecting all audiences to nature here in New Hampshire,” Bechtel said.
He added, “One of the things I love about New Hampshire and one of the reasons I’m so excited to be back is the diversity of habitat, from the top of Mount Washington over to the seacoast.” Those areas are conserved by a diverse array of environmental organizations, he said, and in turn, they’re enjoyed by a diverse group of Granite Staters.
“Everybody can tie themselves to nature in some way,” Bechtel said.
Bechtel will begin his new post on June 20. He replaces retired president Mike Barlett, who began serving in 2008.
(Elodie Reed can be reached at 369-3306, ereed@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @elodie_reed.)