A Native by Definition and Then Some
By Charlie Taber
Hike in the Woods
“Native” is commonly defined as “the place or environment in which a person was born.” Rachel Berg exemplifies that definition as a member of a rapidly growing younger generation that call themselves Eastman natives. Not only has she lived here all her life, she is familiar with and knowledgeable about Eastman as she considers it her backyard and continues to seek out and take advantage of the many opportunities that Eastman offers to both the young and old. Rachel truly loves everything about Eastman; she learned how to swim, ride her bike, fish, ice skate, ski, and make friends within the boundaries of Eastman and says that she couldn’t imagine growing up anywhere else.
As a youngster, Rachel found that participating in planned activities for youth in Eastman was a great way to make friends and experience challenging new activities; starting with Kid City, All Day Gang and Adventure Group in the Summer Youth Program, playing Capture the Flag, Gold Rush and other games outside The Barn at the old South Cove, enjoying Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat, being challenged with the after-school cross-country ski program, taking kayak day trips, experiencing the annual yard sales, participating in the Splash, Mash & Dash Triathlon and the boat demos.
Splash, Mash & Dash Triathlon
Middle school years provided opportunities to volunteer, and it wasn’t long before Rachel was assisting with many Recreation programs and events. Nordic Nibbles, chicken BBQs and the end of season dinners rank as some of her favorites. Food may have something to do with it, but she also sees these events as involving the entire community as opportunities to meet new people and visit with others she doesn’t see as often.
High school age opens more doors for those seeking employment and Rachel quickly took advantage of those offerings. She considers working at the Cross Country Center her first official job and the greatest one she could have asked for. Being an avid cross-country skier and Nordic racer, Rachel easily connected with customers and offered valuable knowledge of the trail system and helpful tips on technique. As a member of the initial group of students running Peppermint Patty’s, she found it challenging that first summer, gaining a greater appreciation of what needs to be done behind the scenes to make a business successful and learning life skills that she now uses every day. Without a doubt, Rachel feels Eastman Lake is one of Eastman’s greatest assets and one of the reasons why she loves this community. Acting as a Lake Host on the weekends and protecting the lake have provided additional opportunities to meet people and educate boaters about why it is so important to protect the lake from invasive species.
10-Year-Old Rachel with Zoe
Within Eastman, Rachel has yet to discover a place she doesn’t like—whether it was building forts or bridges around the pond in their backyard, cross-country skiing along the miles of wooded trails in winter, riding her bike on the dirt roads during mud season, reading a good book while adrift in her kayak in the middle of the lake or using the smooth rocks in the brook by the Troll House as a waterslide on a hot summer afternoon. It is very clear that as a native, Rachel has truly embraced the environment she lives in and continues to uncover and absorb the endless opportunities Eastman offers to everyone. If you see Rachel at the boat launch this summer, be sure to say hello, or stop at South Cove because Rachel is serving as the Special Events Program Assistant before returning to the University of New Hampshire for her sophomore year.
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