Deb Wade, husband Bob Breen and sons Patrick and Michael in June 2009.

Deb Wade, the park’s chief of interpretation, will retire on November 6th after 35 years of federal service, 32 of which were with the National Park Service.

While attending the University of New Hampshire, Deb volunteered and later held a student appointment at the USFS Northeastern Forest Experimental Station on the backcountry research project. Her first National Park Service position was in Everglades National Park’s Flamingo District in 1975 as a seasonal park ranger. Over the next five years, Deb divided her time working as a seasonal in fire, campgrounds, interpretation, wilderness patrol, and education on the Okanogan National Forest in Washington and Everglades NP.

Prior to assuming her current position as chief of interpretation and education for Acadia National Park and Saint Croix Island International Historic Site in 1987, Deb worked as a permanent education ranger at Everglades NP. During her tenure in the Everglades, Deb worked with the newly developed education programs at Fort Jefferson NM, Biscayne NP, Big Cypress Preserve, and every district of Everglades NP. She spent her last years at Everglades as the park’s education coordinator.

Some of Deb’s best memories from her time in the Everglades include the privilege of spending time with “old timers” who worked to create and shape the park and the “newcomer” rangers with whom she worked; Everglades and Fort Jefferson education trips with the incredible teachers and students of South Florida; opportunities to support research on sea turtles, alligators, and wading birds; and exploring the backcountry.

Deb’s memories from her 22 years at Acadia and Saint Croix Island include time spent in the company of great people – elders of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Parks Canada colleagues, Maine Acadians, and the incredible and diverse Acadia National Park family.

Deb and her husband, Bob Breen, will remain in Bar Harbor for the time being, as their twin sons are both attending college in Maine. They plan on using Maine as their home base and spending time catching up on projects, reconnecting with friends and family, and heading out on trips to places new and old. Deb can be reached via Facebook after November 6th. 

Contact Information
Name: Ardrianna McLane