Member hikes in the Central Cascades
Written by Cailin Mackenzie, Marketing Intern
Photography by Nathan Hadley
One of our wonderful members who joined us for a hike last week referred to the Forests for our Future as “our land.” This simple turn of phrase represents what makes The Nature Conservancy able to create significant environmental benefit at impactful scale: dedicated supporters with deep passion about the lands and waters we all protect.
Our forest team has led two hikes with Conservancy members this fall, with another coming up in October. Our members are truly partners in our work to sustain Washington’s natural resources for future generations. On the hike, one member showed our group what a Douglas fir pine cone looks like after as squirrel has enjoyed his lunch. Another taught about her work with the wildlife bridges along the I-90 corridor. I don’t know about you, but after I’ve helped core a Ponderosa pine, counting its rings and starkly seeing different growth rates over its long life, I feel a deeper connection to the systems that nourish me. When I see 1000 species of flora and fauna growing proximate to almost 1800 people, I better understand the challenges and opportunities of living with nature for a symbiotic future.
Hiking with members has been an inspiring opportunity to be invigorated by the commitment of our community to the work we do. This community of resolved support will help stitch together Washington’s landscapes and strengthen nature’s remarkable capability.
