The Land Trust presented three Central Oregonians with Volunteers of the Year Awards at its annual Open House on October 27. Stella Dean, Kris Kristovich and Daniele McKay were honored for their dedication to conserving land in Central Oregon.
Our first Volunteer of the Year has flown under the radar as an all-around utility volunteer. Stella Dean has been a member of the Land Trust since 2014 and didn’t hesitate to jump right in. Over the years, Stella volunteered for just about every opportunity we have offered, from office and stewardship projects, to events, bird surveys, and the Walks + Hikes program. Stella has certainly not wavered in her volunteerism, giving more than 105 hours to the Land Trust this year alone. Thank you, Stella for always being up for anything, getting your hands dirty, and being a great ambassador for the Land Trust!
You have probably seen the work of our second Volunteer of the Year in our publications, on our website, and in our social media. Kris Kristovich often works double time when he is visiting Land Trust Preserves, using his keen bird identification skills to complete bird surveys and his photographer’s eye to capture wildlife and the magical scenes that unfold at our Preserves. We are always excited to see the latest batch of photos from Kris since his work helps watch the seasons unfold day by day. Kris has been a member of the Land Trust since 1999, and has been sharing his work with us for many years. Between bird surveys and photography, Kris has donated more than 140 hours to the Land Trust this year. Thank you, Kris for showing us the magic of our Preserves through your lens, and for your donating so much time!
Daniele McKay is a hike leader extraordinaire! Our third Volunteer of the Year has been wowing Walk + Hike participants with her knowledge of Central Oregon geology for more than four years. A Land Trust member since 2012, Daniele quickly began volunteering to lead tours and share her knowledge of geology with eager hikers. Though Daniele has a busy schedule teaching at OSU Cascades, she is always willing to jump in when needed and has led more than 25 tours for the Land Trust. In 2015, she even shared her love of geology with a packed house at the Tower Theater as a presenter for our Nature Nights series. Her hikes are quick to fill, and we are so grateful she chooses to donate her time and energy to the Land Trust. Thank you, Daniele!
Volunteers donated more than 4,500 hours to the Deschutes Land Trust during the past year. In the process, they’ve improved wildlife habitat, sunk roots in the community and made a commitment to helping others experience the best of Central Oregon. The Land Trust is truly indebted to the community of volunteers who support land conservation in Central Oregon. Congratulations to Stella, Kris and Daniele for their outstanding contributions!
Learn more about how you can volunteer for the Land Trust.