2024 Honorees of the Year
Sageland Collaborative’s 2024 Honorees of the Year. From left to right: Keith Hambrecht, Vanessa Bowers, Tim Dwyer, Gabe Brown, Kai Lyon, Emmanuel Santa-Martinez, Klaus Bielefeldt, and Libby Hill. Not pictured: Robert Ellis.
At our 2024 End of Season Celebration, there was laughter, the murmur of spirited conversations, and an abundance of wildlife-inspired costumes! It was astounding to see so many faces in attendance—new and returning—as we closed out another year with our amazing community. We are grateful for your collective care, time, and energy; whether you volunteered to hike mountains or sort data, donate or partner with us, Sageland’s conservation work would not be possible without you!
As we close out 2024, we’d like to give shout-outs to a few of the incredible folks we’ve worked with this year!
Volunteers of the Year
Overall Volunteer of the Year: Gabe Brown
Gabe shares this about his experience volunteering with us:
This summer I spent a lot of time on a new Wildlife Watch Camera Trap Response Team. My part in this initiative was to lead a novel study in American Fork Canyon investigating the effects of different recreational activities on wildlife. This originally started out as a question I asked Austin that became an undergraduate research project during my time in Austin's lab at the University of Utah. I spent almost every weekend this summer hiking in the beautiful scenery of American Fork Canyon placing cameras and leading volunteers. Although it was exhausting, I can't think of a better way to have spent my weekends this summer. This project was done in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, and our hope is that we will be able to continue the study in the future to gain a better understanding of the impacts human recreation activities are having on wildlife in the canyon.
Someone who deserves a special mention and probably deserves to share my volunteer of the year award is my dad, Jeff. Many of these days would not have been done had my dad not been so eager to come out with me and learn the process. Probably one of the craziest days in the field this year happened on one of the days it was just me and my dad. We had a very long day (10+ miles) ahead of us, so to cut down on the time, we borrowed a neighbors e-bikes. The day was going great and we had almost picked up all of our cameras for the day, when we came over a ridge and saw a massive thunderstorm coming out way. The next hour was a mad dash down the mountain on extremely heavy bikes, with heavy backpacks, and slippery trails. We made it down to the truck safely, but we were completely drenched and mud splattered when we got there. It was quite the adventure and lesson on checking the weather before you go out into the field!
To me, getting involved in ecological restoration (what I hope to pursue as career) is an essential part of conservation. There is something very satisfying about getting muddy and wet, and at the end of the day, or a season, seeing the impact you have had on the landscape. There is also a spiritual aspect of restoration ecology. Getting my hands dirty and moving around the landscape has a powerful effect on my connection to land. Without this, I believe we are only addressing half of the environmental crisis. In her book Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer remarks that, "Restoring land without restoring relationship is an empty exercise. It is relationship that will endure and relationship that will sustain the restored land. Therefore, reconnecting people and the landscape is as essential as restoring proper hydrology.... It is medicine for the earth."
I think the only way to lead effective conservation efforts is by partnerships and community led efforts. Partnerships are essential as they allow various perspectives and expertise to be present. Additionally, just as important as basing our conservation efforts in sound science and practice is community involvement. Whether it is citizens of a watershed, agricultural landowners, or indigenous and traditional knowledge holders, the involvement of community members who hold stakes in conservation outcomes is needed in any effective and equitable project.
I would tell folks who are considering getting involved that any little bit helps. You don't need to donate your whole summer to a project. If the little time you can commit seems inconsequential, try to focus on the community and relationships you are forming in the process, both to your fellow volunteers and the land you are working on. Even if you aren't able to contribute much to a project, your relationship with the land is priceless.
Boreal Toad Volunteer of the Year: Vanessa Bowers
Vanessa shares more about how she joined our conservation community:
This is my first summer volunteering with Sageland. I was looking for local opportunities to do volunteer work with wildlife and this was definitely the coolest one I found. I got to hang out with friendly people and very cute toads and salamanders and when I went on a toad camping trip, I got free food for three days! I would highly recommend volunteering with Sageland to anyone who loves amphibians, nature, and awesome scientist friends.
Riverscape Restoration Volunteer of the Year: Kai Lyon
Learn more about Kai’s experience as an Honorary Beaver in our Riverscape Restoration Project:
I haven't been with Sageland very long, but I heard about the organization through my instructor, Dr. Emmanuel Santa-Martinez. His classes have been some of the highlights of my college experience.
I really enjoyed getting to spend time in nature with others doing hard work. It reminded me of when I was younger and worked in my mom's yard with her. I am also a hiker at heart and enjoy a challenge, but getting to enjoy a challenge with other people was a rare treat that I'm excited to have again when the weather gets better!
I've always been in love with nature. My mother took our family to Washington state when I was about 5-6 years old and I fell in love with how green it was and how many animals were around. While we only stayed there for a year, I remember always asking my mom when we were going to go back. I also remember being around the same age and going to a campground that was an evergreen grove surrounded by aspen trees. I wanted to explore that whole grove because it looked so magical.
I would like to have some of that magic be given to everyone who lives on this planet. I know that this would take a lot of hard work, but I fully believe that our minds need nature to really thrive. For myself, I was struggling to find peace in the world and who I am in it, and nature has always given me a kind, unbiased friend to look to when I feel lost.
Intermountain West Shorebird Survey Volunteer of the Year: Libby Hill
Libby shares more about her birding beginnings below:
I’ve been involved with Sageland Collaborative since 2022 when I heard about them through the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival. I attended a bird banding event at Farmington Bay and they passed along information for Sageland’s up-and-coming migratory shorebird survey. At the time I was a budding birder neck-deep in learning everything I could about the world of birding and conservation. When I heard about this historic occasion to participate in something so important for the Intermountain West, it was a no-brainer. I knew I needed to volunteer.
I don’t come from a line of conservation-conscious or naturalist family members but I’ve always found solace in the great outdoors. It wasn’t until 2019 the call to honoring wildlife, particularly birds, sounded persistently. A mother Great Horned Owl and her fluffy owlet greeted me in the tall trees near my new, challenging living circumstances. Observing their behavior along with the other birds in my backyard brought me healing during the trying years of 2019-2021 in ways that are indescribable.
The first shorebird survey I participated in I felt a special camaraderie with my team. It was so refreshing to be surrounded by like-minded people and open up about our concerns for the Great Salt Lake and her surrounding areas. Not being professionally involved in wildlife conservation or biology, I appreciated the welcoming acceptance of experts and veteran birders as I felt like an insecure fledgling barely getting the courage to flap my wings. I enjoyed participating in Sarah Woodbury’s “Wings in a World on Fire” video that initial survey as well.
My hope for the future of wildlife and land in the West is that our communities will love and treasure them—truly feel a connection and relationship to the land so they want to protect it. As a mother to three very young kids and as a children’s librarian, it’s easy to see the magic that happens when kids spend ample time in the outdoors with loving adults who are willing to not only teach them the scientific names and functions of plants and animals, but also pass on the respect to these plants and animals with minimal interference. My hope is that while we work to preserve our land alongside other adults, the children won’t be left behind.
I just want to say thank you to those at Sageland Collaborative for creating a space of love and acceptance for people and all manner of species alike!
Utah Pollinator Pursuit Volunteer of the Year: Klaus Bielefeldt
Get to know Klaus below:
I grew up being interested in and fascinated by nature. During my early teenage years, I observed breeding behavior of cichlids and rigged up a cheap camera to take close-up pictures of the morula phase of salamander eggs. Don’t ask me what my teenage friends were doing, clearly not that. Through different phases in life, my interest in nature persisted.
I started on the Utah Pollinator Pursuit in 2022 after learning about it during Utah State University’s Utah Master Naturalist course. I love photography, and I love looking for and finding little details, my eye, mind and camera can focus on. This project combined all of these and fused them into one. I’d also attended a lecture on native bees Joe Wilson gave (a real treat, if you haven’t heard it). And then this: I went shopping - with camera. I took my dogs out - with camera. I did my weekend runs – with camera. You get the gist. So, I may be a bit crazy, but I never claimed to be normal. And if you do what I did, you will be surprised what you will find right at your doorstep.
Part of the project involves uploading and sharing pictures. So, I took hundreds of them, adding insects, birds, mammals, and flowers that I tried to capture. Doing so, the project never stopped giving. I take daily walks, enjoy weekend runs and hikes in my neighborhood and beyond these immediate surroundings. Taking a camera is no burden. Back home, these photos allowed me to see more details, to look things up in the many databases that exist, and to learn from the experts, who reviewed my many pictures. There were many of these experts. Amanda Barth, John Ascher and many others provided input and feedback, so it was really more me getting, not me giving.
My involvement in Utah Pollinator Pursuit expanded my circle and perhaps spread information and ideas I care about. I shared pictures and the story of the environmental changes that lead to declining insects with many people. You know that there is no chance that you will remain unnoticed and without being engaged by questions if you walk around town and and intently stare at “nothing”— the tiny insect we would normally miss. Many of these random contacts were surprised about my interest and the little bit of background information I provided. Awareness about environmental problems is an essential step towards caring about the challenges non-human life experiences. While it was not my goal when I decided on volunteering for the project, I may have triggered interest, potentially even involvement in some of the many people I talked to. So, it is an example of Rachel Carson’s maxim of acting locally while thinking globally.
I learned that my favorite bee is a sweat bee, my favorite bumble bee the Hunt’s. I also developed ideas about succession of different animal populations, competitive exclusion and more. So, it was and is enriching. It gave me the feeling that I can make a small difference in an environment threatened by climate change and mass extinction. Some hope, more tasks, more purpose.
Wildlife Watch Volunteer of the Year: Robert
Robert shares this about his time with Wildlife Watch:
How long have you been involved with Sageland Collaborative?
Since 2018.
How did you initially hear about the organization?
Searching the internet after moving here on ways to enjoy the outdoors.
What do you love most about volunteering on this project?
Helping in the effort to preserve the amazing wildlife in our state.
What is your conservation/wildlife origin story?
I've always enjoyed nature and being involved in the conservation efforts to preserve it. I have been a member of Trout Unlimited and the Sierra Club for many years.
Is there an experience or memory that sparked your love for this kind of work?
When I was young I was a boy scout and spent a lot of time in nature because of that involvement.
Can you tell us about any favorite memories or notable experiences from your time on this project?
Meeting a bull moose on the trail!
What is your hope for the future of wildlife and land in the West?
That we continue to cherish its complexity and importance to the overall health of our planet.
How might your work contribute to this larger vision?
I consider it a small piece to a large puzzle that we need to continue to build on.
What would you say to folks considering getting involved?
It is extremely rewarding knowing that your efforts are contributing to the preservation. Plus it's a lot of fun and you get to meet people with the same passion!
Anything else you’d like to share? Can't wait for next year!!
Partner of the Year
Keith Hambrecht, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, & State Lands
If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Keith yet, get to know him below:
Can you tell us about yourself and your role with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands?
I am the Restoration Program Manager for State Lands for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands. The program aims to restore State Sovereign Lands to a healthier condition for public value, wildlife value, and ecological function.
What value do you see in collaborative partnerships in conservation?
Our work on State Lands would not be successful without collaborative partnerships. The land we manage consists of about 2,200 miles of shorelines. We are everyone's neighbor and the public (and wildlife) relies on these lands so we need to work together with collaborative partnerships.
What is your conservation/wildlife origin story? Is there an experience or memory that sparked your love for this kind of work?
During College, while working on an Engineering degree, I developed a love for outdoor adventures of all kinds. Once I graduated, I found I was disappointed in my day to day work as an engineer. I left engineering behind to pursue a career in public land management and ecological restoration because I wanted to give back to the land that I love and spent (at least some of) my work time outside.
Can you share any highlights or notable experiences from your time partnering with Sageland Collaborative?
After spending many years focused on understanding how to restore and manage the wetlands of Great Salt Lake, I finally got the opportunity to observe and take in the beauty of the wetlands and the birds of Great Salt Lake when I participated in the Shorebird Survey. I fell in love with the birds and this brought deeper meaning and connection to my work.
What is your hope for the future of wildlife and lands in the West? How might your work contribute to this larger vision?
My hope for wildlife and lands in the West is that we all continue to grow in our appreciation and understanding of them. With that deeper appreciation and understanding we protect more land and habitats and take better and better care of them. My hope is that the average person in the West understands that we are part of the natural world, not separate from it. I feel very lucky to have a job that directly works at restoring and caring for habitat and land.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I am very grateful for the partnership that has developed and continues to grow between Sageland and our Restoration Program.
Board Member of the Year
Emmanuel Santa-Martinez
We are honored to have Dr. Santa-Martinez on our board! His enthusiasm, dedication, and perspectives have allowed us to make strides in Sageland’s mission.
Get to know Emmanuel:
How long have you been on the Sageland Collaborative Board of Directors, and what inspired you to join?
2 years (seems longer). To help and engage in the conservation efforts done by Sageland Collaborative, and to also bring the perspective and knowledge from the diverse community interested in helping our environment.
You’ve contributed so much to our organization through your involvement - what have you gained from your time on the board?
I have gained so much knowledge from the different projects that Sageland Collaborative is doing and that is enriching to me as a biologist. From the board, it's been great to listen to and discuss different views and perspectives, with the ultimate goal of helping the organization. My greatest gain is to see the passion this organization (staff, board and community) has for our wildlife and conservation.
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 surrounded by many animals and plants, and this motivated me to pursue biology studies. During my undergraduate studies in Puerto Rico, I learned about crucial role insects play in this World. This led me to pursue graduate studies in Entomology and became a Pollinator biology. Since then, I have a passion and joy to share with citizens and students, about the importance of pollinators and what can we do to help them.
What is your hope for the future of wildlife and land in the West?
My hope is that we can protect and restore the habitats of the West so that organisms can thrive again in the environment they were meant to be. Also, I hope we can all continue learning, engaging in conversations and bring the perspective and knowledge from the communities that have been in harmony with the land and wildlife.
What would you say to folks considering getting involved?
Reach out to anyone in Sageland Collaborative (or a local organization form your area). Most people involved in wildlife and conservation are caring, passionate and are happy to share their knowledge and find ways you can get involved, from field trips and volunteer opportunities to social media and educational outreach events. There is a place for everyone!
Get involved, donate if you can, and spread the love for our planet.
Donor of the Year
Fisher Brewing Company
Thank you Fisher Brewing for being a staunch donor and supporter of our community! We’re so grateful to have an amazing partnership with the folks at Fisher and appreciate their generous donation following the collaborative Wet Your Willet beer to celebrate our Intermountain West Shorebird Survey. We deeply appreciate the welcoming space they create in the Granary District for us and other nonprofits.
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.
Article by Frances Ngo & Sierra Hastings
Photos shared by Keith Hambrecht, Vanessa Bowers, Tim Dwyer, Gabe Brown, Kai Lyon, Emmanuel Santa-Martinez, Klaus Bielefeldt, Libby Hill, Robert Ellis, Sierra Hastings, and Sarah Woodbury.