Ellen Kwiatkowski - Executive Director

Ellen brings 20 years of diverse professional experience working in the field of conservation to her work at BRC.  Experienced in land protection and non-profit management, Ellen served on the Conservancy’s Board of Directors prior to her work as Executive Director, and was a member of the Land Projects Committee since her arrival in Bayfield in 2024.  Prior to moving to Bayfield, Ellen worked with The Nature Conservancy for 10 years where she held a variety of positions, most recently as the Director of Conservation Programs for The Nature Conservancy’s Delaware Chapter where she oversaw land protection and science and stewardship on TNC’s Delaware preserves.  Prior to that she applied herself internationally for the Latin American Division of the Nature Conservancy where she helped build in-country capacity to evaluate and manage biodiversity in protected areas and as a consultant for organizations including The World Bank and Conservation International, where she facilitated strategic planning for conservation corridors in South America.  She began her service to the environment as a Peace Corps forestry extension volunteer in Paraguay.   Ellen currently resides in Bayfield where she and her husband Eric own and manage an organic blueberry farm, Blue Vista Farm, which is one of four farms protected through The Town of Bayfield’s Farmland Preservation Program.

Lynda Nedden - Durst - Outreach Coordinator

"I grew up in Merrill, Wisconsin and spent a lot of time in what we called “Northern” Wisconsin camping, swimming, canoeing, picnicking and hanging out in my early years.  We also lived in the woods, so exploring was never too far away.

I graduated from Northland College in 1992 with a degree in Outdoor Education.  After spending a few summers during college as first a life guard and then a Naturalist at Council Grounds State Park in Merrill, I decided the DNR was not for me and moved to where the real money was- camp counselor and environmental education instructor!

I worked at Camp Hiwela in Wild Rose Wisconsin, Camp Courage in Maple Lake Minnesota (where I met my husband, John), Audubon Center of the Northwoods in Sandstone Minnesote, Camp Saint Croix in Hudson Wisconsin and Camp Little Cloud near Dubuque Iowa, where I was assistant camp director.  I also had various jobs as a daycare worker, library assistant and adult development director for the Girl Scouts.

I currently live in Cornucopia, the “real” Northwoods of Wisconsin, with John and our two sons, Dylan and Ryan.  We moved to the area in 1996 and I worked the summer at Bushwacker Camp at the end of Beaser Avenue as Assistant Director to Kathy Logan.  When Dylan was 18 months old, I helped start the Women and Kids Outdoors (WAKO) group with my friend Kathy Wright, WAKO schedules outdoor activities and field trips for parents and young children to grow an appreciation of nature.  I am happy to say the group continues today, although my kids outgrew it a few years ago.

In addition to being the Outreach Coordinator for Bayfield Regional Conservancy, I serve as the Town of Bell Treasurer, make stained glass for Mosquito Farm, my gift store which is never open, volunteer and teach after school/community ed programs at South Shore School, fill in at the Village Inn on occasion and help organize Corny Day for the Volunteer Fire Department.

I enjoy being a part of Bayfield Regional Conservancy to help protect the land I love and hopefully share that love with others around me."