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In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, host Nova Johnson sits down with Adam Yelcin, youth course lead and Order of the Arrow member, to explore one of Scouting’s most transformative experiences — National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT).

Adam shares what makes NYLT so unique, from the immersive weeklong structure to the powerful lessons in communication, teamwork, and servant leadership. Listeners will hear how the course empowers Scouts to lead both in their troops and in life, and how youth staff help shape the next generation of confident, capable leaders.

Whether you’re a Scout considering NYLT for the first time, or an adult curious about how it builds stronger units, this conversation offers an inside look at what leadership on the trail truly means.

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On this episode of Off the Gravel Road, host Malachi Reed sits down with Stephen Gousie and Jerry Cross from the Spirit of Adventure Council to explore one of Scouting’s most powerful traditions — Wood Badge.

More than just a training course, Wood Badge is a deep dive into teamwork, communication, and servant leadership — lessons that reach far beyond Scouting. Stephen and Jerry share stories from their own experiences as participants and staff, the humor and challenges of leading adults through “learning by doing,” and how the course continues to evolve for modern leaders.

Whether you’re a longtime Scouter or just curious how leadership can grow from the campfire to the community, this conversation will remind you why the best leaders never stop learning.

🎧 Off the Gravel Road — where lessons learned outdoors help us lead better everywhere else.

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In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, host Robb Ellis sits down with John Judge, Scout Executive of the Spirit of Adventure Council, former CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and author of The Outdoor Citizen.

From his early days teaching environmental science at camp to leading some of New England’s most respected outdoor organizations, John shares how Scouting builds more than skills — it builds resilience, leadership, and community stewardship.

Together, Robb and John explore the idea of “Outdoor Citizenship” — the belief that spending time in nature creates a responsibility to protect it. They talk about access and equity in the outdoors, the challenges of reaching today’s youth, and how the lessons learned around a campfire prepare young people to lead with kindness in an increasingly digital world.

It’s a conversation about belonging — to the land, to each other, and to something larger than ourselves.

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In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, we sit down with George “Rusty” Krause — a lifelong Barnstead resident whose name is woven through the town’s fire service, fields, and civic life.

Rusty has worn more hats than most folks could fit on a rack: engineer, farmer, fire chief, horseman, and now fire warden and public servant. He’s a man with a great sense of humor, a big heart for community, and a knack for telling it like it is — which is probably why I’ve lean on him as a sounding board in my role on the Select Board.

From the statewide burn ban to the days of green fire trucks, from hay fields and horses to family legacies that stretch back to World War II, this conversation captures both the flavor and the fabric of Barnstead.

Rusty’s two cents have guided countless town decisions — and in this conversation, he shares the history, humor, and hard-earned wisdom behind them.

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What do grades really mean? Why do we take so many tests? And how do schools decide what “progress” looks like?

In this student-led episode of Off the Gravel Road, Barnstead Elementary student Aurora sits down with Assistant Superintendent Matt Jozokos to unpack the world of grades, assessments, and learning. From state testing to effort vs. ability, Aurora asks the honest questions that every kid — and parent — wonders about.

And stay tuned until the end, when Aurora’s mom, Renée, joins the conversation to share a parent’s point of view — reflecting on how grades, behavior, and feedback can sometimes reveal much more than what’s written on a report card.

It’s a heartfelt, insightful, and surprising look at how schools measure learning — through the eyes of both students and parents.

🎧 Recorded at Barnstead Elementary for Off the Gravel Road — where local voices meet local stories.

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In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, we bring both the parent and student voice to the microphone. Nicole Leonard, Human Resource Coordinator and Project Manager Assistant at Milestone Engineering & Construction, shares what it’s like to support the Barnstead Elementary renovation behind the scenes while also being a BES parent.

Joining her is her daughter, Chloe, a sixth grader and classmate of student co-host Amity Authier. Together, they talk about balancing work and family, the excitement of seeing the new gym and science labs take shape, and what it means to be part of a project that will serve their whole community.

Nicole gives us a look into the organization and teamwork it takes to manage a major school project, while Chloe reminds us what the changes mean from a student’s perspective. This conversation captures exactly what Off the Gravel Road is about — trades, kids, and community, with the student voice at the center.

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In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, Robb sits down with Art St. Laurent, owner of Art’s Ammo & Firearms, longtime law enforcement officer, and first-year Selectman in Pittsfield, NH.

Art shares what it was like serving as a hometown police officer for 20 years, how his shop has become a gathering place for the community, and why he’s passionate about youth firearm safety programs at TL Storer and his work as a New Hampshire Hunter Education instructor.

Together, Robb and Art reflect on being first-term Select Board members, compare the struggles facing Pittsfield and Barnstead, and dig into the biggest challenge both towns share: school funding. From Barnstead’s history of sending students to Pittsfield High, to today’s calls for regional collaboration, the conversation explores how two neighboring communities can support each other in preserving tradition while adapting to change.

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Thomas Fung’s journey is a story of leadership in action. From long days on his grandparents’ dairy farm in upstate New York to summers on staff at TL Storer, Thomas learned early that true leadership means hard work, responsibility, and service to others. As an Eagle Scout and valedictorian of a technical high school, he carried those lessons into the skilled trades—now thriving as an HVAC technician with AccuTemp. Beyond his career, Thomas continues to lead by example, volunteering weekends at camp and inspiring the next generation to explore Scouting and the trades.

In this episode, we trace Thomas’s path from the farm, to Scouting, to a career in HVAC, and back to camp—highlighting the leadership skills that connect every step of the way.