Ms. Caljouw shares our founder’s passion for wildlife and for preserving natural environments and local cultures. She has vast experience in land stewardship, conservation planning, and working with volunteers.

Graduating with a BS degree in wildlife biology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Ms. Caljouw worked as a stewardship director for The Nature Conservancy’s New England Field Office, Virginia Natural Areas Program, and East Quabbin Land Trust. She was previously director-at-large for the Virginia Native Plant Society and vice-chair of the Massachusetts Nongame Advisory Committee. She served on the Open Space Advisory Committee for the town of Oakham, Mass for many years.

Alongside her volunteer work with Maasai Parnters, Caren currently serves as the Prescribed Fire Manager/Fire Ecologist for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife within the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Her charge is to safely implement prescribed fire on wildlife management areas and sanctuaries across Massachusetts to benefit native wildlife and plants and restore fire adapted communities and ecosystems.

Her professional experiences and empathic nature provide her with a deepened understanding of the human and natural dimensions of land conservation. This is essential to developing a network of sustainable programs and partnerships for the Maasai and other communities within the Ngorongoro region. As treasurer, she is the chief financial officer of Maasai Partners.