Branden Garner
Front Desk Support
branden@blandfordnaturecenter.org
616-735-6240 x 10

It seems odd that while so many people lose themselves in the woods that I should find myself in them.

After graduating from Grand Valley State University in 2010 with a BA in Secondary Education, with History and English Dual Majors, I joined AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. While in NCCC I traveled all over the South West, from Arizona to Kansas, Colorado to New Mexico; completing service projects in each community we stayed in. I was exposed not only to new locations but also to new ways of thinking, learning and teaching.
After completing my year of service with NCCC I looked for opportunities to take the things I had learned and apply them to my community in Grand Rapids. After one hike in Blandford's woods on a Tuesday afternoon, I was hooked and started volunteering soon after. In October of 2012 I became an Education Intern and led a collaborative effort between Blandford and C.A. Frost, a Grand Rapids Public School. I was then hired in December of 2012 as the office assistant, and am looking forward to helping Blandford run as smoothly as possible. Be sure to stop in and say 'Hi'!
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