BACKPACKING & BUGS

My passion for conservation and land management which shows through in my research stems from my deep connection with nature and wildlife - a connection that I have fostered throughout my life. I am grateful to continue learning about the world through the environment and our more-than-human relations.

Haudenosaunee homelands extend through New York State, including the Adirondack (ADK) mountains. This is where my backpacking journey began over 10 years ago. I couldn't have imagined the profound impact backpacking would have on my life journey. It seemed impossible given the barriers to such experiences for someone who grew up with financial burdens and far from protected natural areas. Luckily, a college friend introduced me to the ADKs, lending me basic gear and a map. I haven't looked back since, and have even had the honor of introducing many friends to the wonders of the ADKs.
I'm a also a huge advocate for hiking locally, of course, especially since it is much more accessible than state or national parks/trails.

Backpacking expanded the beautiful world of insects for me. There are so many new insects to meet, observe, and get excited about!
My experiences with backpacking helped me better understand the general public's perception on conservation, deepening my passion for policy and advocacy of Indigenous Science and TEK-Practice Systems, and ultimately leading me to the intersection of my current research interests.

NATURE IS MEDICINE & OUTDOOR RECREATION IS FOR EVERYONE!
We can learn so much from our more-than-human relations, including insect kin, just by walking through our neighborhoods or nearby parks.
SO GET OUTSIDE!

In these last 10 years, I summitted all 46 ADK high peaks and have been honored as a 46'er!
In 2018, I fractured my L1/L2 in a snowboarding incident. This halted my ADK journey for a few years, but I finished with a vengeance in 2020.
In this time, I've thru-hiked much of the Appalachian Trail (AT) and pieces of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
I have also been lucky enough in recent years to hike in many countries across the globe.
All of these experiences have exposed me to and expanded my knowledge of many insect kin, all of which have something to teach us.

With each of these experiences, I learn a lot about the land, the stewards, and our more-than-human relations sharing these lands.
I've also learned a lot about myself. I mean, how can you not after spending so much time alone in the wilderness?