PAUL JAHNIGE LEADS THE STATE ’ S OUTDOOR RECREATION VISION
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Betting BIG on the
OUTDOORS
With over 103,000 jobs and $ 13.2 billion in state GDP at stake , Massachusetts is betting big on outdoor recreation . Leading this ambitious initiative is Paul Jahnige ( pronounced JAN-a-gee ), whose journey from an urban forester to the first director of the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation ( MOOR ) reflects the growing recognition that nature isn ’ t just an escape — it ’ s an economic engine .
Jahnige was born and raised in Williamsburg , located in neighboring Hampshire County . Growing up in a family that valued exploration , he developed a deep appreciation for the state ’ s natural beauty through childhood adventures , Scout expeditions , and college bike trips . “ As kids , we recreated in the Berkshires a number of times ,” says Jahnige . “ I canoed on the Housatonic with family and neighbors , visited Bartholomew ’ s Cobble , and hiked Monument Mountain .” His mother led a Girl Scout troop and brought the young Jahnige along , including a campout at Camp Bonnie Brae in Otis . These formative experiences , among others , would later shape Jahnige ’ s professional trajectory and passion for accessible outdoor recreation .
His professional path is a testament to his commitment to environmental stewardship and community development . After graduating from Yale with a BA in psychology and an MA in Forestry and Environmental Studies , Jahnige worked internationally — in Kenya , studying wildlife management , and in Ecuador , focusing on the value of non-timber rainforest products . These global experiences have informed his approach to local conservation and recreation efforts . Ultimately , though , he felt he needed to come home .
“ I was interested in international conservation development and then rethought that ,” Jahnige explains . “ What do I bring to international conservation and development ? I should focus my attention on U . S . communities of need .”
Jahnige worked as a community forester in Baltimore , where he helped plant trees and founded the urban environmental nonprofit Community Resources , now DC Greenworks . He returned to Massachusetts to work with the Department of Conservation and Recreation ( DCR ), first as a forester and then as a trail planner for nearly 17 years . As a volunteer , Jahnige has served on various community boards , including the Williamsburg Woodlands Trails Committee , and has been an active youth soccer and ultimate frisbee coach . These community connections have given him a grassroots understanding of how outdoor recreation can bring people together and enhance local life .
A Visionary Role for Outdoor Recreation
As the inaugural director of MOOR , Jahnige is tasked with a groundbreaking mission . Launched in September 2023 with an initial budget of approximately $ 200,000 , the state office aims to coordinate outdoor recreation policy across governmental bodies and the private sector .
The idea for an office dedicated to outdoor recreation was long in the works , an effort spearheaded by former State Senator Adam G . Hinds ( Berkshire , Hampshire , Franklin , Hampden ). The person who now holds that seat , Senator Paul Mark ,
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