A True Trust TrailBlazer- Bud Danis

By Shelley Wigglesworth

Born and raised in Arundel, and a resident of Kennebunkport for the past 40 years, George “Bud” Danis is a dedicated steward of the Trust lands. He began volunteering for KCT in 2004, joining the board of directors in 2005. He is the owner and an active worker in his popular Perkins Cove, Ogunquit restaurant, Oarweeds. Bud is also a commercial pilot, avid birder, and fisherman. “The Trust allows me to be to be involved with nature in both a passive and active fashion by managing and protecting areas in Kennebunkport for present and future generations,” he said.

The creation of Trust Trails is Bud’s main focus, building twenty-five miles of trails on Trust land thus far with Dave Jourdan, Steve Emmons, Jim Steele, and the late Peter Sargent. He also works closely with fellow KCT board member Pam Morgan who facilitates the ongoing UNE/ KCT partnership through internships and class projects including invasive plant species monitoring and preservation of rare plants, vernal pool monitoring and other conservation focused programs. 

Bud described the basics of creating a trail. “First, we walk the property several times to eyeball a good route, paying close attention to protect vernal pools, wetlands and such. We use GPS to mark a trail and flag the route before we begin cutting. We are careful not to overcut, we go with the flow of the land and remove only what is necessary to create a trail. We then build bridges over wet areas. I am a part of an excellent group of volunteers, and we do all of this all by hand.”

He continued, “What I love most about the people I work with at KCT is that we are so diverse. Most of us would never meet one another in social settings. You never know who you may be working alongside, the fact that we all share an appreciation for the land and the mission of the Trust is the common denominator. To me the Trust is therapy. When I work, it does not feel like work because I enjoy it so much. I particularly enjoy the camaraderie of all Trust volunteers.”

He concluded “The time and effort we put into the Trust properties is an investment on many levels. “It’s great to acquire and have the land, but more important is the fact that this land it is open to all to use and enjoy it respectfully and recreationally.”