Welcome Eli

HCCA is thrilled to announce that Eli Smith, a current graduate student at Western Colorado University in the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program, has been hired as our first Environmental Stewardship Fellow. Welcome Eli! Before moving to Gunnison in August of 2020, Eli served two terms of AmeriCorps service as the Land Stewardship Coordinator for a regional land trust in Massachusetts. In this position, Eli directed on-the-ground stewardship projects to improve the health of the land and boost community engagement. Eli is a 2017 graduate of Appalachian State University and holds a B.S. in Recreation & Park Management.

Eli has experience in volunteer management, habitat management, educational material development, sustainable trail construction, and is passionate about providing a high quality of service to all communities, cultures, and life that exists within our shared landscapes. Eli is excited to serve as HCCA's Environmental Stewardship Fellow and believes this position will prove to be a life-affirming experience, integrating his core values into the upcoming stewardship season. With the generous help of volunteers, through environmental stewardship projects, Eli aims to foster individual connections to the land and elucidate the positive impacts of conservation and responsible land management to communities. Eli enjoys exploring the many miles of nearby public lands on foot or bike while encountering wildlife, history, culture, and beauty.

We look forward to having Eli on board to help grow the positive impact of our stewardship projects and program.