Before I was even born, there was a life jacket hanging up in my closet. At six months old I was on my first camping trip hanging out by a riverside campfire. I grew up in the middle of a canoe, chasing fireflies through meadows, clambering up mounds of Georgia clay, and splashing in mountain streams. The Georgia outdoors raised me: it was my place of both solitude and community.

While getting my major in Environmental Studies, I learned that it can be tough to have conversations about environmental issues without feeling dejected. It can be hard to listen to the facts about pollution, water conservation, or biodiversity loss when we’re disconnected from the places where it’s happening. But when paddling down the Ogeechee River or watching the sunrise on Cumberland Island, it’s easier to have those tough conversations.

Now, I am the Stewardship Trips Coordinator for the Georgia Conservancy. It’s my job to take folks out to these places that I hold so dear and showcase the best of what Georgia has to offer. Recreating in these places not only breeds a culture of conservation but helps us connect with each other on a deeper level.

When we find our space within these natural spaces and they become a part of us, we care more passionately about their outcome.We are all ambassadors for a better Georgia and a brighter future for our natural resources. That's why I support the Georgia Conservancy. Please consider supporting my Georgia story by becoming a member of the Georgia Conservancy with a $50 donation to my campaign. 

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Over the next 12 months we’re raising the bar: conserving more than 30,000 - 35,000 acres of land, educating more than 3,500 people in “Georgia’s outdoor classroom” that we call our trips program, and helping thousands of students and parents breath a little easier with our school siting workshops. But, truthfully, the issue that gives us great concern is maintaining steady handed advocacy on behalf of the gem of Georgia’s coast: Cumberland Island. 

With so much to do, we’ve had to expand annual fundraising goals. We’re currently $50,000 behind our expanded funding needs and we need your help.

For our 50th Anniversary, we've asked some of our most important donors and members to share their Georgia story as a Georgia Conservancy Storyteller. 

Thank you for supporting our storytellers and the Georgia Conservancy!