ANDOVER — For generations, Proctor Academy’s 2,500 acres of land have been accessible to the public and managed for multiple uses by stewards like Bob Wilson, Dave Pilla, and Jack Bronnenberg. As an actively managed forest, portions of which are research forest, Proctor’s Woodlands have a growing trail network, are becoming a destination for trail running and mountain biking, and remain Proctor’s largest laboratory for its academic classes. 

The land Proctor stewards stretches from the Proctor Ski Area (Parson’s Hill) on the south side of the Blackwater River, to Elbow Pond in the east, to the southern slope of Ragged Mountain and around Hopkins Pond. From wetlands, to alpine forests, to diversified habitats for all types of wildlife, much of Proctor’s land is intentionally not posted, to encourage the responsible harvesting of animals while in season. The philosophy of managing for multiple uses requires collaboration from each of the constituents to which the land is being managed. 

For decades, Proctor’s Forester Dave Pilla worked to actively manage relationships with local hunters who have hunted on the land for generations. Since Dave’s passing in 2018, Proctor has struggled to manage these relationships with the same intentionality and, in turn, occasional misunderstandings have emerged, causing friction within both the Proctor and Andover communities.

In an effort to rekindle productive multiple-use relationships, Proctor is in the process of hiring its next woodlands manager and will identify an individual within the Proctor community to help facilitate safe, productive relationships across all uses. In the interim, Proctor’s leadership asks that local hunters planning to hunt on portions of Proctor’s land communicate their intent with Kurt Croft, Chief Resource Officer, either via phone or email: croftku@nullproctoracademy.org. Proctor’s land boundaries are illustrated on the map.