Land conservation is a full-time job, and then some — that’s why we are so grateful for the volunteers who help us leverage our resources and accomplish so much! We recently held our annual VolunCHEERS! Picnic and Awards to show our appreciation for all who support Placer Land Trust through preserve stewardship, trail maintenance, help at events, leading outings as docents, and more.
In 2023, we had an impressive total of 187 active volunteers, who contributed a total of 3,420 volunteer hours. If we were to assign a dollar value to that, it would equal $109K – that’s a HUGE contribution! And it all translated into greater public engagement, offering opportunities to more people in a variety of ways to create meaningful connections to the land and each other.
Land Steward of the Year — Bryan Wright
Bryan Wright has been a Preserve Steward volunteer with PLT since 2021. With deep experience in trail layout, construction, and maintenance, Bryan has helped improve our trail networks at the Big Hill, Harvego, and Canyon View Preserves in countless ways. To proactively help us to meet the growing need for trail work, last year he collaborated with us to develop and kickoff a volunteer team focused on trail stewardship. That team rapidly proved its worth, contributing 240 hours from 17 people to the effort.
Bryan is joy in motion. His easy-going demeanor, fun sense of humor, and mad trail skills make him an excellent team leader and member as well as a great guy to be around. Don’t get him started talking about the dynamics of trail construction unless you really want to know about it, but DO ask him about his cats if you really want to be entertained.
Bryan is a retired IT Project Manager and lives in Roseville with his cats Miso and Natto. He enjoys trail work (!), his cats, tinkering in his yard, volunteering for a variety of organizations, and wondering where his time goes.
Volunteer of the Year – Cathy Scott
Cathy Scott is a long-time volunteer with Bear Yuba Land Trust and Gold Country Trails Council, both in Nevada County. In 2022, she also brought her skills, passion, and interest to Placer Land Trust – and thankfully so!
Cathy is an active member of the preserve steward, trail steward, and chainsaw teams-and comes to every other land-based opportunity she can, including Broom Battles, oak regeneration workdays, preserve clean-up days, even Adopt-a-Highway trash pickups. She owns two trail horses that she likes putting to use volunteering in the PLT equestrian docent program and Trail Patrol in Tahoe National Forest. She enjoys traveling trails on horseback, bicycle and foot, and is happy to share her interests with others.
Cathy appreciates the expertise, vision, and guidance that land trusts provide and encourages ordinary folk to get outside and connect locally with land. She says, “It’s easy. You don’t have to plan much. Go to the on-line volunteer page, choose something that looks interesting, add it to your schedule, and show up. Friendly and patient PLT staff and volunteer leaders provide you with the tools, instruction, snacks and comradery. You’ll experience a sense of appreciation, purpose and respect for all that goes into caring for and managing the trails and natural spaces.”
We also recognized our volunteers who have contributed over 200 hours of volunteer time in 2023: Jeff Morton, Bryan Wright, and Cathy Scott. That’s around 4 hours/week, no time off. And there were some weeks these folks would put in more than 20 hours of effort!
We also gave special recognition to some others who have gone far beyond the call of duty:
Bob Niblack, our longest actively-serving docent, since February 2013. Over the years he has led more than 30 hikes, sharing his joy of the natural world with about 600 people!
Jim Haagen-Smit, for exceptional efforts on the Hidden Fall trail connection project. Jim has been instrumental in planning and preparing for trails that will connect the trail network on our Big Hill Preserves to Hidden Falls Regional Park and the public parking area.
Deren Ross, for his truly epic dogface butterfly contributions. Since 2009, Deren has been researching the dogface butterfly on Placer Land Trust’s Shutamul Bear River Preserve. It is the state insect, yet not much was known about it. For almost two decades, Deren has been conducting research and leading public tours to share the rare and special occurrence of observing the life stages of the butterfly in its natural habitat.
Sometimes weather is not our friend. Some folks show up no matter what – and we want to thank our “Downpour Divas” for being such intrepid volunteers, helping out even as the rain is pouring! This special award (and a “trophy” of water-repellent fabric spray) goes to: Candace Morton, Cathy Scott, Michelle Hamil, Nicole Tucker, Don Rake, Eralise Spokely, Margo Brendel, and Mary Ann Flemmer.
Our thanks and appreciation goes out to all our wonderful volunteers — truly, we couldn’t do all of what we do without each and every one of you!