In 2019, I became a member of the Next Generation Naturalist program, an initiative funded by the Lawson Foundation and supported by Thompson Rivers University (TRU) to nurture youth to become environmental leaders. In this program, we met biweekly to learn from TRU professors and guest speakers, and engaged in monthly field trips. For example, we learned bear and rattle snake safety, how to manage beaver damage to Cottonwood trees by Tranquille Farms, and understanding farming techniques at Desert Hills Ranch. This program gifted me with many mentors. They taught me how to lead by example and pass on my knowledge in an engaging manner, described in my reflective essay.
Attending the Adaptation 2020 conference with, from left to right, Amber, Shekinah, me, Jesse.