SPRD board member loves outdoors

If you’re looking to find Molly Baumann, the newest member of the board at Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD), outdoors might be the best place to start — at Hoodoo during the winter and outside in the woods or on the water the rest of the year.

Baumann is a native Oregonian, having grown up in Portland. She graduated in Recreation Management from the University of Montana and worked for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for seven years, with her last position there as a river recreation manager. She returned to Oregon, where she worked for the Bureau of Land Management as an outdoor recreation planner and where she married her husband.

They moved to her husband’s home state, Minnesota, where their two boys, now 6 and 4, were born. About four years ago, they came back to Oregon, specifically to Sisters, to be back in the mountains and close to a ski hill. They love the small-town feel and having recreation right out the front door.

Baumann is currently working for the U.S. Forest Service. Since spring 2020, she has been a field ranger out of Bend-Ft. Rock and Sisters ranger districts. Two weeks ago, she started as the developed recreation manager in a temporary position into the fall.

Baumann’s sons have participated in SPRD activities since moving to Sisters. She wanted to become a board member to represent a demographic that she feels was underrepresented.

“I will be the only board member with school-aged (young) children in the Sisters School District. I feel representing that piece is very important. Being a parent with kids in SPRD preschool and at the elementary school makes me want to be involved, not only for their future, but for others’ kids and for families within the community. I am excited to be on the SPRD board,” Baumann told The Nugget.

The new board member admits to keeping herself busy with boards, jobs, kids, and play, all while parenting solo most the time as her husband works out of town, weeks at a time.

She is just about at the end of her three-year term on the City Parks Advisory Board. She has also been on the SOAR Foundation board for about a year.

For the last three springs, she has served as an administrative assistant for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. During three ski seasons, she has worked at Hoodoo as a ski instructor, Hoodoo Alpine Race Team (HART) coach, and as a SnoLab employee. Her oldest boy has been racing with HART for two seasons and her youngest will be starting next winter.

Baumann’s love of the outdoors started at an early age as a member of an “outdoorsy” family who enjoyed Alaskan adventures, many camping trips, ski days and weekends, and outdoor adventures. As an adult, she loves to hunt, fish, ski, bike, float, hike, and more. She is particularly proud of bagging her first elk last March a few days before the pandemic shutdown.

“I have a beautiful pair of elk ivory earrings that I love! And our dog enjoys the antlers,” Baumann said.