I’m Jeff Senterman, a conservation leader and outdoor advocate based in New York’s Catskill Mountains. As Executive Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, I work to protect the lands, waters, communities, and cultural character that make the Catskills exceptional.
My work brings together advocacy, land stewardship, visitor education, and regional collaboration—because a healthy future for the Catskills depends on both protected landscapes and thriving communities.
Outside of work, I am an avid hiker, a New York–licensed hiking guide, and co-owner of Hike On Guides with my husband, Moe. Together, as the Hiker Trash Husbands, we share outdoor adventures and advocate for greater LGBTQ+ visibility in the outdoors.
My work in the Catskills
Since 2015, I have served as Executive Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. My work focuses on land protection, forest-preserve stewardship, visitor education, community resilience, and public policy that supports the environmental, cultural, and economic future of the Catskills.
I believe the strongest conservation results come through collaboration: bringing together local communities, public agencies, nonprofit partners, elected officials, donors, and outdoor users around a shared responsibility for this remarkable region.
I believe lasting conservation happens when public lands, local communities, visitors, and decision-makers are all part of the work. Here are a few ways that commitment has taken shape in the Catskills.
| Focus | Impact |
|---|---|
| Public-land advocacy | Helped build and lead advocacy coalitions that secured a dedicated $10 million annual New York State budget line for the Catskills and Adirondack Forest Preserves. |
| Land stewardship | Guided the stewardship of more than 2,000 acres of important Catskills land through direct ownership and conservation easements. |
| Visitor education and safety | Helped grow the Catskill Stewards program, which provides on-the-ground visitor education, Leave No Trace guidance, and safety information to more than 50,000 people each year. |
| Regional collaboration | Convened and strengthened partnerships among dozens of nonprofit, community, government, and outdoor-recreation organizations to advance shared conservation and policy priorities. |
Why the outdoors matters to me
I grew up in the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mountains, and the outdoors has shaped both my life and my work. From early seasons as an Assistant Forest Ranger in Greene County to years spent hiking throughout the Catskills, Adirondacks, and New England, I have seen how public lands can build connection, confidence, and care for place.
I believe outdoor spaces should be protected, responsibly enjoyed, and welcoming to more people. That belief informs my work in conservation and my life on the trail.
Guiding and outdoor community
My husband, Moe Lemire, and I co-own Hike On Guides, where we help people build confidence and skills for meaningful outdoor experiences. We are also the Hiker Trash Husbands, sharing our adventures and supporting greater LGBTQ+ visibility in the outdoor community.
Whether someone is planning their first hike, learning to travel more responsibly outdoors, or looking for community on the trail, I want this work to reinforce a simple idea: the outdoors belongs to all of us.
Background and public service
I earned a B.S. in Environmental Science, with concentrations in geology and biology, from Lyndon State College in Vermont. During summers while I was in college, I served as an Assistant Forest Ranger with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Greene County. That early experience deepened my connection to the Catskills and helped shape my career in conservation and outdoor recreation.
After college, I worked in environmental planning and permitting in Maine and Massachusetts before moving into trail-program leadership with the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference.
My commitment to conservation, public lands, and outdoor access also extends through board and community service. I previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Hiking Society, including as Secretary of the Board. I currently serve on the Catskill Watershed Corporation Board as the environmental community’s representative, following appointment by the Governor of New York.
