Ian clearing debris from the road.When Ian Stoner was in third grade, his class participated in an environmental stewardship project with former Secretary of State Ralph Munro. When Mr. Munro pointed at this “weird” thing at the ground, Ian couldn’t stop gawking! It was in this moment that the rough-skinned newt became Ian’s favorite animal.
Years later, Ian left Olympia to study environmental science at Prescott College in Arizona and forestry at the University of Montana, but he ultimately returned to Washington to complete his degree at The Evergreen State College.
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- Ian and his favorite dog, Sabrina.
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- Installing a temporary bridge at a CLT preserve.
He’s still marveling at the natural world, often while volunteering for Capitol Land Trust (CLT). In 2015, he helped with his first CLT project: removing debris at Randall Preserve to make way for the native plantings that would follow. Soon after, he began lending a hand monitoring nest boxes and environmental restoration projects as well as helping with our education programming.
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- Helping out with a CLT restoration project.
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- Teaching students about stream ecology!
Currently, he is an active member on CLT’s Lands Committee, which advises our Board of Directors on potential conservation projects, as well as our Restoration Task Team, which develops restoration plans for our preserves.
We sat down with Ian to learn a little more about him.
What is your favorite Pacific Northwest plant?
“Pacific silver fir and Sitka spruce. I love the temperate rain forest and coastal ecosystems they grow in.”
What is your favorite local spot to be in nature?
“Darlin Creek Preserve. I like seeing the variety of ecosystems in various stages of health. You can walk through the preserve and see how humans have used the land and how the land has responded to that.”
If you could get dinner with your environmental role model, who would it be and why?
“Barry Lopez because I’ve always shared his sensitivity in seeing the divine and fragility of the natural world and seeing my place there.”
Why do you volunteer for CLT and what’s your favorite part?
“I volunteer with Capitol Land Trust to gain more experience in a field that I am passionate about and to help a local organization that is doing really cool work. My favorite part is visiting conserved lands and developing partnerships with experts like the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service and Port Blakely and seeing their excitement about projects.”
Why do you think volunteering is important?
“It is important to give back and to get to know the community where you live, even if it is outside your own personal sphere. Volunteering offers us the opportunity to learn what others are thinking and remind ourselves to be humble.”