Meet stewardMRV Volunteer Michael Ware
Volunteer and Mad River Valley legend, Mike Ware, has stewarded Warren Falls since the inception of the stewardMRV program. With the popularity of that location, it is no small feat to keep it clean and looking neat and orderly. Mike reports that he has seen a drastic reduction in waste left behind at Warren Falls. Proving that one of our main concepts, “if they find it clean, then they will leave it clean”, really works!! Great job, Mike, and thank you for three years of stewardship at Warren Falls.
What town do you reside in?
Mike resides in the beautiful town of Warren
What brought you to the Valley and how long have you been here?
It’s a very long story, but I can summarize it with “wanderlust”. I came to the Valley in January of 1961!
Where are you from originally?
The United Kingdom
What do you love most about the valley?
Without question, the amazing people, the amenities and the wonderful variety of theatrical terrain sets, the changing scenes and in particular the ever changing lighting and special effects. I will never get tired of our amazing valley.
Why did you join stewardMRV?
It was, and still is, a great fit for me. It’s an amazing opportunity to do something good for the Valley, to give back. It also provides an opportunity to have input and be hands at a recreation spot that I love.
What do you find most personally rewarding about being a steward?
Seeing less and less trash and litter. Keeping a public area picked, tidy and groomed, truly does make a difference to how visitors treat it. Since I started stewarding the Warren Falls area what I find mostly is forgotten personal items, or what is obviously inadvertently discarded stuff. Even when garbage is left on purpose it is usually packaged up in some way and left in a conspicuous place, presumably with the thought that some public official/employee will take care of it!
What is your favorite story/find/moment being a steward?
One Monday this summer, during a particularly high-water event, I found a copy of the novel “Deliverance” left on a rock just below the falls. However, I did not find a body!!
What do you hope to see improve in the valley?
Understanding the absolute delicacy of our environment, our snowfall, and our dining choices.
