Ferns of the Appalachian Heartland
Leaders
Elijah Crabtree
Education Specialist
Elijah is an Educational Specialist and former Land Manager for the Arc of Appalachia. He was born and raised in Chillicothe, Ohio where he acquired what proved to be a lifelong passion for the rich natural and cultural histories of the western appalachia plateau and upper midwest. These interests led him to the Arc of Appalachia as the on-site manager of both the Tremper Mound and Simon Farm Preserves in Scioto County, overseeing their development as a management and educational hub. As of 2026, Elijah has taken on a new position within the Arc as an Educational Specialist. Elijah is an avid hiker and especially loves to spend his free time studying and appreciating Ohio’s geology and botany. Elijah has become remarkably proficient in both of these fields and is also an excellent all-around naturalist with a keen and indefatigable sense of wonder and curiosity.
Mark Hoberecht
Mark’s fondness for ferns began as a teenager, and that interest increased significantly when he attended his first ARC fern workshop in 2014. He attended several subsequent workshops and eventually became a co-instructor. More recently, he has attended courses from Weston Testo and Robbin Moran, both internationally recognized fern experts.
Mark has become quite proficient at growing ferns from spores and now has over 20 species of ferns growing on his property. His favorite groups are the Dryopteris (wood ferns) and Asplenium (spleenworts), along with their hybrids.