April 03, 2008 issue
Carol Coulter—New Leadership for High Country Conservancy
Story by Sam Calhoun
A new talent is sitting behind the executive director desk at High Country Conservancy and she brings with her a wealth of outdoor and outreach experience. Carol Coulter took over the reigns at High Country Conservancy on February 17 and is already hard at work on programs to further the nonprofit’s mission.
Coulter comes to High Country Conservancy after serving 11 years as director of the Ashe County Partnership for Children at Family Central. Coulter was also the driving force behind the creation of Family Central, obtaining grant money to convert the abandoned high school into a home for multiple service agencies. The agencies at Family Central provide family support services for families and children in Ashe County. Coulter organized and implemented everything from domestic violence programs to economic development task forces to affordable housing programs to a commercial food kitchen. In her last eight years with the Ashe County Partnership for Children, Coulter raised more than $5 million.
“I’ve been a little busy,” said Coulter.
Born in the Bronx in New York City, Coulter attended SUNY Cortland, completing an undergraduate degree in natural resources management and a master’s degree in experiential education. After college, Coulter took a job at UNC-Charlotte in the university’s outdoor program, specializing in student leadership development. After six years at UNC-Charlotte, Coulter took a job with North Carolina Outward Bound—a state affiliate of the international program that takes youth into the wilderness to inspire them to discover and develop their potential to care for themselves, others and the world around them through challenging experiences in unfamiliar settings. Coulter stayed with North Carolina Outward Bound for 10 years, meeting her husband Lonnie and reveling in the inspiring experiences she encountered while teaching, leading and educating the youth involved in the program.
“I’m very much about connecting people to the land,” said Coulter.
Her love for teaching youth brought Coulter to the Ashe County Partnership for Children, where she jumped at the chance to help younger children and perhaps nurture their connection to nature. The job move also provided a chance for her and her husband—whom she refers to as “Mr. Green Jeans Farmer”—to move to a 20-acre farm in Ashe County, where they grow fruits and vegetables, raise goats and make goat-milk cheese.
Coulter decided to go back to her roots when she accepted the job at High Country Conservancy.
“My roots are in land conservation, and I thought I did what I could do at my other job, so I took the job at High Country Conservancy,” said Coulter. “I got a little sidetracked with youth in various forms on my way here.
“[High Country Conservancy] has a number of projects going on right now and I’m getting my feet on the ground,” added Coulter.
Coulter is currently working on new fundraising plans for High Country Conservancy and is hoping that the current slump in the real estate market will open the door for more easements on area land rich in natural resources.
She also hopes to “strike a balance” with development in the High Country.
“Development is going to happen; we just need to balance it with some green space,” said Coulter. “I hope to impart on developers to be thoughtful when [they develop land] and thoughtful when they lay things out.”
Coulter is excited about the future of High Country Conservancy and invites community members to stop by the nonprofit’s office, located at 577-5 George Wilson Road in Boone, to meet her and the other staff members.
For more information, click to www.highcountryconservancy.org or call 828-264-2511.
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