Announcing our 2023 Volunteers, Partner, and Donor of the Year
Sageland Collaborative’s 2023 Volunteers, Partner, & Donor of the Year. From left to right: Austin Green, Alhondra Lopez, Anna Jackson, Gabe Brown, Julia Dalesandro, Lauri Taylor, Connie Misket, Will Riedlinger, and Carrie Schultz. Not pictured: Angela Rowland & Kathy Lichtendahl.
Our team is continually in awe of our community, who shows up day after day for wildlife. We know that there are countless ways you could spend your time, so we’re honored that you choose to spend it with us. Whether you volunteer in the mountains or at your desk, donate, or partner with us, we are grateful for you. It is through your contributions that we are able to impact wildlife and land conservation.
We work with many incredible folks, but there are a few we’d like to give special attention to as we close 2023… Introducing, our 2023 Volunteers, Partner, and Donor of the Year!
Volunteers of the Year
Overall Volunteer of the Year: Julia Dalesandro
Julia embodies the spirit of connectivity across our projects. This year, Julia spent her free time counting rosy-finches, observing pollinators (58!) and boreal toads (across 5 independent and group survey sites!), and getting muddy building beaver dam analogs. Julia has truly dedicated herself to the conservation of the wild species and restoration of wild lands we all hold so dear.
Julia shares this about her experience volunteering with us:
I have been involved with Sageland projects for one year. The projects have given me a sense of greater purpose when I spend time in nature. The group projects put me in touch with like-minded people and make me feel positive and hopeful that our efforts will make a difference. I have learned so much while out in the field on these projects. Every trip has been an inspiration.
For as long as I remember, I have felt a connection with nature. I was lucky as a child to have fields and streams nearby that allowed me to spend time with a variety of creatures such as salamanders, frogs and walking sticks. Each year we watched as the monarch butterflies began their life cycle in the fields. I didn’t realize then how lucky I was to have nature so available. So it was a special day this summer in my backyard when I discovered for the first time a monarch butterfly soaring and dipping over my five year old milkweed patch. I was in awe.
Looking forward, I am hopeful that our community of conservationists will grow and that we gain the support of decision makers so that intelligent decisions can be made for our natural resources. Based on my own early experiences, I also think it is important to connect children with nature early and often so as to develop a lifelong bond.
Sageland’s work is important because of the network of people, organizations and government that come together for conservation priorities. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it.
Boreal Toad Volunteer of the Year: Gabe Brown
Gabe Brown joined us on several Boreal Toad guided surveys this summer, and he brings enthusiasm and passion to this work. Despite not having met any boreal toads yet, he holds out hope that he may meet them on future surveys.
Gabe shares more about how he got involved and what he hopes for the future of the West:
I have been working with Sageland since 2022, so not very long. I started out working with Austin Green in his research lab at the University of Utah, and from there got connected to other projects at Sageland.
My favorite parts are being able to hang out with other nature loving volunteers and be united as a local community in protecting Utah's natural spaces. I think it would be fair to say that growing up in Utah in general is my conservation “origin story.” I can't really pin down any specific moment in my life where I knew I loved nature, it was always something that was around me and being constantly immersed in Utah's beautiful landscapes I think had a profound effect on me.
My hope for the west and for the rest of the world is for people to recognize the deep interconnectedness of all living things and the responsibility we have to care for and share the planet with them.
Riverscape Restoration Volunteers of the Year: Carrie Schultz & Will Riedlinger
From Boreal Toad surveys to days spent building beaver dam analogs (BDAs), Will Riedlinger and Carrie Schultz bring a contagious enthusiasm to field days, forging lasting connections with fellow volunteers and partners alike. We are so grateful that their pair dove into volunteering with us after moving to Utah earlier this summer.
Learn more about Will and Carrie in their interview below:
How long have you been involved with Sageland Collaborative? What do you love most about your experience or the project as a whole?
We started in June, volunteering for the boreal toad survey. We love that we get to do purpose driven work in beautiful settings while connecting with some super cool people!
What is your conservation/wildlife "origin story?" Is there an experience or memory that sparked your love for this kind of work?
Will: I grew up going to a summer camp that had a heavy focus on the wonders of the natural world. We learned the names of lots of plants and animals, and about the impact that humans can have on natural environments.
Carrie: I just grew up playing in the dirt and volunteerism and service have always been strong values for me.
Are there any notable experiences you've had on this project that you'd like to share?
There are so many moments that stick out to us! On our first boreal toad survey, where we happened upon a moose that sprinted into the pond we were surveying. We’ve gotten to witness a solar eclipse while building BDAs, and we also saw a HUUUGE mushroom (courtesy of Shane - thanks!), and we’ve sang silly songs and made endless beaver jokes…
What is your hope for the future of the West? How might your work contribute to this larger vision?
Our hope for the west is that continued efforts toward water and wetland conservation keep on leading us toward a sustainable lifestyle for both humans and non-humans alike. Also that community science projects evolve into a more cultural way of being so that humans and the natural world are engaged and mutually supportive.
Rosy-Finch Volunteer of the Year: Kathy Lichtendahl
We are thrilled to recognize Kathy Lichtendahl as our Rosy-Finch volunteer of the year! Kathy has been one of our most active participants on the project, sharing feeder counts from her home in Wyoming. Kathy is also an incredible photographer and conservation storyteller, weaving her passions together to create lasting impacts for these species.
Here’s what Kathy has to share about her experience:
How long have you been involved with Sageland Collaborative? What do you love most about your experience or the project as a whole?
I have been involved with Sageland Cooperative for three years although I have been active in many citizen science projects with a variety of groups over the last 25 years. I especially loved the rosy-finch project because of my connection to these amazing birds who have arrived at our home to roost from late October through mid-April every year for several decades.
What is your conservation/wildlife "origin story?" Is there an experience or memory that sparked your love for this kind of work?
I grew up in a rural environment and can't remember a time when I didn't feel more at home in the outdoors than anywhere else. My conservation work really took shape when my husband and I moved to Clark, Wyoming, in 1994 and bought a piece of land that most would consider extremely wild and remote.
Are there any notable experiences you've had on this project that you'd like to share?
It is hard to describe the joy of walking outside to count rosy-finches only to have a flock of several hundred birds circle overhead and land at my feet as if on cue!
What is your hope for the future of the West? How might your work contribute to this larger vision?
My hope for the future of the West is that we can continue to value and protect open spaces that allow wildlife to move freely and to thrive. I think that many people are unaware of the existing - but disappearing - biodiversity we have in many parts of the western landscape and I hope I can show people through my photography and guiding activities just how special this environment is.
Anything else you'd like to share?
I am so thankful for the opportunity to contribute to a project that furthers awareness of these amazing birds that make their home in this part of the country!
Intermountain West Shorebird Survey Volunteer of the Year: Connie Misket
Connie Misket has been with us since the start of this project, leading her team with a passion for these wildlife and a desire to create positive change. In addition to joining us on multiple surveys this Fall, she also regularly shares her incredible photography with us, allowing us to further engage our communities in the importance of this work.
Learn more about Connie below:
How long have you been involved with Sageland Collaborative? What do you love most about your experience or the project as a whole?
I've been involved with the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey from the initial event, I believe. It's been a great opportunity to get out and see the changes happening, especially at the Great Salt Lake, firsthand, and make me appreciate that ecosystem even more. I'm thankful to have a great team, especially when I was pulled away with an emergency last spring. Plus, it's been a great reason to study shorebird identification again each season, and keep improving my skills. For the past several years, I've also been working on turning our front yard into a Pollinator garden and need to submit a lot more photos to the Pollinator Pursuit program!
What is your conservation/wildlife "origin story?" Is there an experience or memory that sparked your love for this kind of work?
My mom loves to tell the story about how I learned to read by spelling out bird names from a field guide while she was taking care of my younger sister, so my passion for birdwatching is no surprise to her. I had a long break from it as an adult, but in the past 9 years, I've rediscovered that passion and have enjoyed volunteering with Tracy Aviary's conservation program, doing Breeding Bird Surveys and Nest Box Surveys, etc. and I've learned so much and met so many wonderful people in the process. And I've found how important it is for my wellbeing to get out and take the time to be in nature and really experience what is going on around me. For years my outdoor time was spent focused on a sport and getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible, and transitioning that to spending time to observe the birds and pollinators and nature all around us has been really calming and restorative for me.
Are there any notable experiences you've had on this project that you'd like to share?
This fall was really fantastic, as it was my first opportunity to get out and do a survey from an airboat on Utah Lake. It's such a different perspective to see the habitat along the shoreline from the "other side".
What is your hope for the future of the West? How might your work contribute to this larger vision?
I truly hope we can find solutions to manage water more effectively and preserve the lake. We were so incredibly lucky to have a record snow year last year - but we certainly cannot rely on that and need real changes to preserve our environment and get the Great Salt Lake back up to a healthy level. Our collective efforts to help monitor the birds using our wetlands are an important part of understanding where we are at and how the current situation compares to the historical data. So many people are unaware of the precious wetlands that are so critical to the migration of millions of shorebirds each season. So hopefully it also helps bring awareness to the importance of our wetland habitat.
Utah Pollinator Pursuit Volunteers of the Year: Alhondra Lopez & Anna Jackson
Alhondra Lopez
We are excited to recognize Alhondra as our Pollinator & Outreach Volunteer of the Year! She has been with the Sageland Community for many years now, initially joining us as a communications intern, she has gone on to lead conservation campaigns, furthering support for wildlife through her art, and has joined us at several events this year to share the joy of pollinators with communities across Utah.
Get to know Alhondra below:
How long have you been involved with Sageland Collaborative? What do you love most about your experience or the project as a whole?
I have been involved with Sageland Collaborative since summer of 2021, I started as an intern for the communications office. I found a sincere love for this organization and the amazing people who work here, who also had an immense love for mother earth and its restoration and conservation. I love all projects from Sageland, but the Utah pollinator pursuit project is one of my favorites for being open to anyone that loves nature and is family friendly. Also, pollinators are declining and these kinds of projects are necessary for their conservation.
What is your hope for the future of the West? How might your work contribute to this larger vision?
I hope we can live in a place that coexists with respect to the natural environment, I know there is work to do, but my hope is that people would be more conscious in the actions that are affecting our planet, and be kind to emerg an education of care for our communities and the natural places. I hope that through my work of art and storytelling I can advocate and teach about the importance of respecting and living in harmony with our mother Nature.
Anna Jackson
We are also delighted to recognize Anna, our Pollinator Observation Volunteer of the Year! Anna has logged an astonishing 72 bumble bee and monarch observations this season! Anna also started off as a Sageland intern, assisting on beaver dam analogs, boreal toad surveys, and more.
Learn more about Anna in our interview below:
How long have you been involved with Sageland Collaborative? What do you love most about your experience or the project as a whole?
I originally got involved with Sageland Collaborative in 2021 through a summer internship, when they were still Wild Utah Project. Since then, I’ve moved around the country working odd conservation jobs here and there, but I came back in August of this year and began properly volunteering with Sageland. So I guess I'm kind of new... and kind of returning?
What I like about Utah Pollinator Pursuit is that it got me outside. I went for my daily walks and would literally stop and smell the flowers in pursuit of finding bumble bees!
What is your conservation/wildlife "origin story?" Is there an experience or memory that sparked your love for this kind of work?
I think it started with cryptobiotic soil. A dense cluster of "dirt", slightly different in color, that was the basis of life for so many species. This knowledge changed things for me. Of course nature documentaries influenced me - I fell in love with whales and marine mammals. But I think, if I had to put a reason to why this type of work calls to me, why I want to do it, it's because there's a beauty in its knowledge, in learning, in knowing how important everything is. And now that everything is changing, these important things, even microbes, need to be protected.
What is your hope for the future of the West? How might your work contribute to this larger vision?
One with the lake. I researched it for a year and a half, I learned so much, and if I had to pick one thing: that. I'd fill the Great Salt Lake up for the birds, industry, and for its beauty. I worked with Utah Water Watch and built BDAs when I interned with Sageland - that has an impact on our water. It's cleanliness, but also upland riparian habitats and by making those better, by being smarter with our water usage, we can save the lake.
Wasatch Wildlife Watch Volunteer of the Year: Angela Rowland
Angela Rowland has been a consistent contributor to Wasatch Wildlife Watch for the past 5 years, doing both camera fieldwork and Image Analysis. Angela continually goes above and beyond, as we are so delighted to recognize her as our volunteer of the year.
Angela shares this about her time with Wildlife Watch:
I'm a high school biology teacher and recently retired principal. I've been volunteering with Sageland Collaborative since the 2nd year of the Wildlife Watch program, which I think was 2018? The two best things are discovering little-known hiking trails and crazy bushwacks, and realizing that large predators still right here in our backyard, seen only at night by the light of the cameras. I also like the treasure-hunt aspect of finding the GPS location and then finding a decent camera spot. The project has made me much more aware of animal scat and tracks, and just generally more observant while hiking or skiing anywhere.
My most memorable volunteer experiences are finding photos of bears, bobcats and mountain lions hidden among hundreds of empty frames. I have an annual tradition of getting caught in a major rainstorm while setting up cameras in May, or else having to post-hole through two feet of snow--or both. My sister Amy usually joins me and we get a lot of good conversation in.
My parents always took us hiking in the Wasatch and the national parks, and as a teen I was lucky enough to work for the Youth Conservation Corps, a federal program that enabled kids to get paid to live in a park or forest all summer doing trail work and learning environmental science. It's possible that some of us, after reading the Monkey Wrench Gang, snuck out of camp at night to remove unsightly billboards from nearby highways. Younger people may not realize that, even though the outdoors is a little more crowded now, there is a lot more wildlife to be seen than there was 40 or 50 years ago, and there are a lot more beautiful trails. I hope we humans can continue our trend of cherishing and conserving natural areas more than we did in the bad old days.
Partner of the Year
Austin Green, University of Utah’s Science Research Initiative
Austin Green, representing the University of Utah’s Science Research Initiative, is the co-lead on the Wasatch Wildlife Watch project, and tirelessly devotes himself to wildlife and ensuring that volunteers, partners, and students are included in the future of this work. While this project is local, this partner contributes these data and his thoughtful observations about wildlife to national publications, bringing collaboration to the forefront of this work.
A huge thank you to Austin for his outstanding contributions!
If you haven’t had the joy of meeting Austin yet, get to know him below:
I have been involved with Sageland Collaborative since 2017. I started as a volunteer, but then became a partner with Wildlife Watch. My favorite thing about the project is being able to interact with all of the amazing people that keep it running. From volunteers to students, it’s amazing how many dedicated people we have in our community, and it gives me hope for the future!
A particular moment that got me ‘hooked’ in this work was, as an undergraduate at the U, looking through photos from cameras I had setup as part of a class project. The thing that stood out in particular was when I saw myself taking down the camera, and then shortly after saw a mountain lion walking down the path. It was both eery and exhilarating, and it’s happened multiple times since! I find it fascinating just how connected we are to everything around us, even if we cannot see it, and that really cemented that mentality for me.
I see a West where wildlife management goes hand-in-hand with evidence-based practices that integrate data from all sorts of interconnected projects. Furthermore, I hope that human-wildlife coexistence becomes the prevailing train of thought instead of human-wildlife conflict, a paradigm shift in the way we see our interactions with the natural world. I see Wildlife Watch contributing to both of these things because it not only provides the data necessary for those best practices, but it connects the community with nature in a way that is both exciting and inviting.
Donor of the Year
Lauri Taylor
We are honored to recognize Lauri Taylor as our Donor of the Year! Lauri is also one of our dedicated volunteers on the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey. She leads a team at one of our most remote and difficult sites along the far northern shores of Great Salt Lake. Her contributions have allowed us to continue this important work and to engage more volunteers. Thank you, Lauri!
Get to know Lauri:
I have been involved with Sageland for two years. My team and I have participated in the Shorebird Survey at the lovely Locomotive Springs. It is a wonderful feeling to participate in a survey that has such a long history behind it as well as to be able to add to its future. While I think that the survey is important and I appreciate the opportunity to help track what is happening with shorebirds in the west, on a personal note, I also love being able to bird behind the gates.
My interest in conservation started with Tracy Aviary and their breeding bird surveys. The training on bird ID was wonderful. That led me to the incredible three-month class that Tracy offers which is taught by Bryant Olsen. Those two things really started me down the birding path. It is a small step from learning about birds to wanting to help with the conservation of species as well.
Thank you to all of our outstanding volunteers. We appreciate that you continue to share your invaluable time in service of the wildlife and lands that we all love.
To our partners who contribute countless hours, unmatched passion, and expertise that we so rely on, we offer our deep gratitude. And to our donors, your contributions allow all this work to move forward. Gifts of any size allow us to continue working to provide these services, to bring on more volunteers, and to protect wildlife and lands.
Thank you all so much for joining us in these efforts! We look forward to getting back out in the field with you next year to conserve wildlife and lands.