Todd gives a thumbs up!Todd Nelson enjoys exploring the wild outdoors. He loves natural hot springs, backpacking trips, and is an expert skier. So, when his wife first suggested they go to Darlin Creek Preserve, he was prepared to be underwhelmed by a local “park”. But as they walked the trails and saw the beaver dams, he remembers thinking: “This is actually a special place, and it’s so easy to get to.”
Inspired by his visit, he first became a Darlin Creek trail steward and later began volunteering at stewardship parties. Standing out for his stories, spirited bigfoot calls, and charming sense of humor, Todd quickly became a valued member of the Capitol Land Trust community.
A devoted Christian who spent his career as a social worker, he finds happiness in living a life for service. Todd tells us,
“The more I think about Todd, the narrower my world becomes. Living for a higher purpose stops some of my negative feedback loops. I like that the land trust is doing something about climate change and that we’re having fun doing it together.”
Pragmatically, he knows a couple hours a week isn’t going to save the world. But quoting a friend of his, he finds a solution: “If you’re going to eat something bigger than your head, take small bites.”
Todd (left) with fellow volunteers Kirk and Brooke at a volunteer work party, Sam Phillips
Todd gives a lot of time to Capitol Land Trust, though he feels like he gets a lot back from us, too. He has enjoyed getting stronger from our work and has had a great time finding new friends and seeing new places.
Outside of volunteering, Todd lives a full life. He avidly takes saunas, practices his faith, and spends time with his family and cat Apollo. Todd’s realistic optimism and willingness to give have inspired a lot of us in the Capitol Land Trust community. Thanks, for being with us, Todd!
“Although Todd only recently began volunteering with Capitol Land Trust, his good humor and spirit have inspired a lot of us.” – Sam Phillips, CLT AmeriCorps Restoration Coordinator