A Changing of Hands: Cheers to Three Years

Capitol Land Trust wouldn’t be the organization it is today without the efforts of our volunteer Board of Directors over the years. The Board works together to efficiently govern and guide our work, typically over one or two three-year terms. This spring we say “cheers to three years” as we thank Kevin Lyon and Bob Van Schoorl for their service and welcome two new Board Members, Lola Flores and Grant Jones!

Kevin was first drawn to CLT’s mission seven years ago because of our commitment to maintain and protect healthy ecosystems for the benefit of all species, including humans.

“Kevin served on the Board for seven years, including four years as Vice President. Current board members highly regard Kevin as a calm, thoughtful voice, and for providing valuable training sessions, making complex topics understandable. Kevin is the embodiment of professional goodwill and will be remembered fondly for that.” Craig Partridge, CLT Board President

Bob was attracted to CLT six years ago because of our commitment to conserving land in perpetuity.

“Bob impressed his fellow board members with his hard work as Treasurer, shepherding our finances and growing our rainy-day fund, improving our resiliency in today’s crisis. Bob also reliably served the board by voicing a distinctive perspective that enriched our deliberations and improved our decision-making.”
Craig Partridge, CLT Board President

Thank you, Kevin and Bob! Cheers to your two, three-year terms each on CLT’s Board of Directors. Also, this spring, CLT is excited to welcome Lola and Grant onto our Board of Directors!

Lola grew up in the big city of Guadalajara, Mexico. For safety reasons, hiking in forested areas was not something her community participated in regularly. She recalls summertime visits to San Diego, California, as a girl where she was able to safely enjoy outdoor spaces by camping at nearby National Parks with her family.

“I remember soaking in the vast landscapes protected by National Parks. The awe-inspiring views and good times with family played a big part in my passion for conservation.”
Lola Flores

As a young adult she studied biology and natural resource management in Mexico and then moved to the States to complete the Master of Environmental Studies program at The Evergreen State College.

Shortly after moving to Olympia, Lola began to hear about CLT through passing conversations. She accompanied a friend to CLT’s Annual Conservation Breakfast. The protected green spaces she saw presented at the Breakfast, and especially the lands CLT opened for public use, acted as a magnet, drawing her to our mission.

“The preserves CLT has opened for public use are places people can visit and create fond memories with people they care about, like I had the chance to growing up.” Lola Flores

Lola says she is looking forward to the learning opportunities coming her way with being on CLT’s Board and working with a diversity of people on the land. Welcome Lola!

We are equally excited to welcome Grant to our team.

Like many of us, it was not one single moment that led to Grant’s passion for conservation; it was a cumulation of events throughout his life. After growing up on the Olympic Peninsula building forts in the woods, hiking with his dad, and eventually working at his dad’s geoduck farm, the need to conserve green spaces was ingrained into his life.

“The natural world is core to who we are as humans. Without conservation balancing our lives, salmon streams and kids being kids outside could disappear.” Grant Jones

Several years after graduating from the University of Washington, Grant decided to return to Mason County and manage his family’s fourth generation farm. The chickens, pigs, and cattle spend their lives on the grass, which allows the farm to provide healthy local food and foster ecological health at the same time.

“When we move the cows to fresh grass, they always do a little dance. Farming should be like that!” Grant Jones

His favorite CLT Preserve so far is Bayshore Preserve because there are few walking trails in his area of Mason County; Bayshore Preserve has about two miles of trails. An added perk, the trails are on a former golf course that kept the space open allowing him to soak in the sunshine on his jogs.

Grant says he is looking forward to gaining experience in the nonprofit world and learning how economic development and conservation can work better together. Welcome Grant!

With that, we “cheers to three years.” We look forward to what the future holds in store for local conservation as new energy comes to the Board to build onto our strong foundation.

Read more about our Board & Staff here.

Written by Mary Birchem, CLT Outreach & Education Coordinator