“This past weekend I was able to make it to the west side of Michigan to take part in a guided hike at TNC’s Ross Coastal Plain Marsh Preserve. As we weaved our way through wetlands and dune forests, a naturalist helped us to identify edible plants like wintergreen and spicebush.  
  
It was an uncharacteristically sunny day for early March, so after the hike I headed to the lakeshore at Van Buren State Park." 

Carving out time to reconnect with the natural world is a priority that ranks as highly for me as any project or meeting. Since most of the work I do is behind a screen, having the opportunity to get back into nature is critical for me to stay motivated and grounded in our mission. And I have to say, looking at trees, sniffing wintergreen and listening to the waves crash on the shores of Lake Michigan is about the best reminder I can get for why we do what we do.  

That’s why I make sure to keep visits to our preserves at the top of my list of priorities.  
 
I’m grateful to The Nature Conservancy for our flexible working schedules. With the ability to adjust my hours, I can take time off when needed, like spending a day in the woods. I’m coming back to work re-invigorated and ready to do my part to help save the planet!”