Q&A with Jessica Foulis, Executive Director, Eagle Valley Land Trust
K: Tell us a bit about your land trust and how it’s working for Colorado’s future.
J: Eagle Valley Land Trust is a local land trust serving the greater Eagle Valley and Upper Colorado Valley in northwest Colorado for over 40 years. EVLT conserves land for people and wildlife, and also offers programs to connect community members to conserved lands. Our mission is to protect forever, as a permanent legacy, the land we love including its scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitats.
K: What is one thing you wish every Coloradan understood about the work of land trusts?
J: Land is the foundation of everything many of us love about Colorado. Conservation is about land, and it is about building healthy, happy, connected communities. We are working to ensure everyone has the opportunity to connect with land and nature and all it has to offer.
K: What inspired you to join the board of Keep It Colorado?
J: I am inspired by the concept of community-centered conservation and the direction the land trust community is moving in. Over the past eight years, I have received a considerable amount of support and training from both the Land Trust Alliance and Keep It Colorado, and I see joining the KIC board as an opportunity to start to give back to a community that has invested so much in me and my organization. Additionally, the people I have met through land trust work are passionate, ethical, intelligent and compassionate - the type of people I want to surround myself with. Joining the KIC board is an amazing opportunity to support the land trust community and to continue learning from a wonderful group of people.
K: What does conservation mean to you?
J: As the daughter of two public school teachers, I spent my summers traveling around with my family visiting and enjoying our national parks and forests, as well as spending time at our family cabin in Evergreen, Colorado. After school, I spent time in our suburban backyard oasis or our county park down the road. These experiences engendered in me a deep appreciation for nature and a clear understanding of the value and importance of public and private land. My parents instilled a strong land ethic in me from a very early age. This led me to study natural resources in college, where I learned that most, if not all, environmental issues are people issues. As someone who enjoys connecting with Nature and with people, I pursued a path in human dimensions of natural resources, to learn more about how I can connect people to each other and nature in the hopes that they will grow to love nature, and in turn protect it. Conservation is my passion and my life. I am grateful to have the opportunity to live my passion every day, and to be surrounded by other people doing the same.
K: What is your favorite thing to do outdoors in Colorado?
J: I love to hike, camp, bike, wander, swim and float on the river.
K: What is your favorite…
River, lake or stream in Colorado? I love the Brush Creek, which runs right by my house, and of course the Colorado River.
Mountain peak? Castle Peak is visible from my home office window - I love that view with the Buchholz Winfrey conservation easement right in front of it.
Prairie or grassland? I am sorry to say I don’t have a favorite…yet. This question has inspired me to learn more about prairies and grasslands. I will be sure to update you as I explore.
Ranch or farmland? The Brush Creek Valley Ranch and Open Space holds a special place in my heart - this conserved property has it all - ranching, history, recreation, and wildlife habitat.
Colorado-grown food? I love any and all Colorado produce that comes in my CSA.
Form of wildlife? Bluebirds - they just bring me so much joy.
Thank you for your service to Colorado and your leadership on our board, Jessica!
