Jane Dauster
Jane Dauster is a dedicated natural resource and recreation management professional with over eight years of experience at DuPont State Recreational Forest, where she has spent more than five years as the Recreation Specialist. In this unique N-of-1 role, she oversees a small team and coordinates a large volunteer workforce alongside nonprofit partners, managing trails, recreational facilities, and programs for thousands of visitors annually. Jane combines her technical knowledge of sustainable trail design and natural resource management with strong community engagement, ensuring the forest is both accessible to the public and protected for future generations.
Her career is rooted in a passion for the outdoors and the positive impact public lands can have on individuals and communities. Jane’s work emphasizes sustainable trail construction and maintenance, balancing high public use with long-term landscape protection. She regularly engages with visitors, addresses on-site challenges, and equips local volunteers to act as stewards of the forest, fostering a culture of community involvement and shared responsibility.
Jane’s professional philosophy centers on merging people skills with scientific understanding to make a lasting impact on both the environment and the community. She has been instrumental in implementing large-scale projects such as the DuPont Master Recreation Plan, which involved coordinating diverse stakeholders, nonprofit partners, and funding sources to enhance the forest’s recreational and natural resources. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Jane actively participates in organizations like Friends of DuPont Forest and Trout Unlimited, reinforcing her commitment to stewardship, education, and the long-term sustainability of public lands.
• UTV Operator Certification
• CPR & AED
• Wilderness/Remote Location First Aid
• Wofford College
• Virginia Tech- Master's
• Friends of DuPont Forest
• Trout Unlimited
• Habitat Restoration with Trout Unlimited
• Stewardship Projects on National Forest Lands
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the incredible support I get from the community. When I started, I focused on building accountability from the agency end and showing the community we were going to be a good partner. By building that goodwill and trust, the community has given back exponentially. The numbers of volunteers and volunteer hours are just going through the ceiling now because of building that relationship. What this community has done for me is astounding. Anytime I've ever faced tough times in the job or in the career, key community members have been able to go to bat for me and advocate out there. I am just incredibly grateful for this big team of people. That community support is so powerful because I'm an N of 1 in the agency. There's no one above me to call to get help, so I have to reach out. We only have one recreational state forest in North Carolina, and this is it, and within that, only one recreation specialist position. The initiatives I work on are not typical for this agency, so having that community partnership has been essential. At the end of the day, it's the people skills that make this job successful. It's not just the technical knowledge or leadership, it's the people skills that sealed the deal.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field are balancing heavy public use with protecting natural resources, managing a unique role with limited staff, and restoring habitat after major storm damage. At the same time, there’s a huge opportunity to expand volunteer stewardship and design sustainable trails that ensure long-term enjoyment and conservation.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are stewardship of public lands, conservation, and community engagement, ensuring that natural places are preserved for future generations. Outside of work, I recharge by hiking, fly fishing, and taking long walks in the forest with my dog.