Join Our Board

Friends of the Blue Hills (FBH) is looking for people who love the park to join its Board of Directors. This is an incredible opportunity for people who care deeply about preserving our natural spaces and want to turn that care into action.

Be part of our vision for 2025

2025 is shaping up to be an impactful time to join the FBH board. Jen Klein, our Executive Director of one year, is excited to roll out her fresh vision to make the Blue Hills Boston’s preeminent green space. This includes first-class trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use, engaging recreation and education programming for all ages, and ecosystems that are vibrant and healthy.

The staff team has been energized with Melissa Nelson moving into a full-time Director of Advancement role, the essential operational support of Membership Coordinator Mary Timilty, and most recently, the arrival of John Harrell from the United States Forest Service in Montana to oversee stewardship of our beloved trails and programs. Finally, we are so proud to share that thanks to our 1,400 members and generous supporters, our strong financial position coming out of 2024 has set the stage for continued success in living the FBH mission in 2025.

The FBH mission

We are a 1,400 member, non-profit organization devoted to preserving and protecting the Blue Hills Reservation’s natural beauty, diverse natural habitats, and many recreational opportunities. To accomplish this mission, FBH acts to:

• Advocate for actions that will enhance the reservation and serve as the watchdog of activities that might adversely affect it.
• Guide enthusiasts in exploring the nearby remoteness of the Blue Hills Reservation through educational, historical, and nature hikes.
• Encourage involvement in the protection and preservation of the reservation by all users.
• Work with the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to maintain the quality of the reservation and provide public input for its management.

What to expect as a board member

New board members will be fresh eyes and vital contributors to our upcoming strategic planning process that will guide FBH in executing on our vision and mission. The FBH board is currently a working board. That means board members assist and support FBH staff in running programs and raising funds, and partnering with our Executive Director to expand efforts to create access to and advocate for the park. You’d be expected to:

• Attend at least 9 of the 11 regularly scheduled board meetings, the annual celebration, and an annual board retreat.
• Take a leadership role in one committee and participate in one other committee totalling approximately 8 hours per month.
• Volunteer at events in a variety of ways: setup and breakdown, tabling, lead hikes, serve as an ambassador.
• Support FBH financially. While there is no minimum financial commitment, board members are asked to become a Blue Hills Champion – making a monthly contribution that is significant to them.
• Help build our network by introducing us to people in your communities who can support the organization financially, join the board and or committees, and make connections for us with people who care about preserving our natural spaces.

What we’re looking for

We are interested in hearing from anyone who feels a calling to serve on our board and are particularly seeking people who represent:

• Towns surrounding the park (Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Milton, Quincy, Randolph)
• The wide range of people that use and love the park
• The variety of ways that people engage with and/or support the park
• A wide skills base and professional background, including the following specific areas:
  • Climate Science/Justice
  • Community Building
  • Ecology/forest expert/trails
  • Finance/Budgeting
  • Fundraising/Donor relationships
  • Law
  • Local and town government
  • Organizational leadership/Governance

By joining the Board of FBH, you would be gaining a new family of friends who love and care for the Blue Hills. We are a friendly and dedicated group who love to roll up our sleeves to help this small organization do great things. As a vital contributor, you will have the opportunity to be impactful in the future direction of the Friends.

We hope to hear from you soon!