Volunteer highlights

We love highlighting the folks who put in their time to help us achieve our goals to protect the Inland Northwest forests, water, and wildlife. Volunteers of the month are nominated by staff members and receive a special gift for their dedication to serving their communities & regional environment.

February 2021 - Megan Roscoe

About Megan: I'm a Colorado native who moved out to Spokane to go to Gonzaga about 6 years ago. Environmentalism has always had a spot in my life, and it kind of runs in the family; my sister is an aquarist at the Denver Aquarium working towards becoming a full-fledged marine biologist, and my parents are fairly avid outdoors-people who believe pretty strongly in the positive impact a single person can have, and they taught both of us that from a very young age. I work full-time at Engie Insight, and when I'm not working or volunteering (and there's not a global pandemic going on) I train in Muay Thai, and I love to go Latin dancing!

How did you get involved with The Lands Council?

I got inspired to volunteer with the Lands Council because I heard a lot about the work that was being done during my time with the Gonzaga Environmental Organization. One of my friends who was new in town had heard about the urban reforestation that was going on one Saturday morning downtown, so we went together, and it all just kind of snowballed from there. I've really loved knowing and seeing the tangible impact of the actions of all the volunteers with TLC, and knowing that there's so much more meaningful work coming in the future.

What is your favorite TLC memory?

Any of the plantings really, because most times I'm bringing a friend or two along with me to come get their hands dirty and there's always good coffee from First Ave, or other goodies.

Fall 2020 - Dave egly

About Dave: Dave is a social studies teacher at the Community School, a high school located in West Central. Dave has collaborated with The Lands Council for over a decade to connect his students with hands-on, place-based environmental education. Over the years his students have participated in planting trees, hiking, snowshoeing, and avalanche safety. Dave also has two kids, aged 5 and 7, (pictured left) who came out to plant trees this fall and loved it! At the end of the planting his kids asked, “dad, can we do that again next week?”

“My son is a social learner, this year has been though for him. To hear him say that planting trees was really fun, can we please do that again next week, it made my heart jump for joy. He was feeling like he cared not just about himself, but for helping TLC and helping the earth.”

The Lands Council is so grateful to have partners like Dave, who year after year, help us connect kids to environmental education & volunteer opportunities.

What is your favorite memory with The Lands Council?

I had a student a few years back who was struggling in school, reading and writing were not what he wanted to do. The day came to get out and plant, and this student got excited about the planting. “We need to plant trees so we can stop runoff from going into the creek, we need to do something,” he said in a excited way. This student came to the planting so engaged. He was engaging in learning and loving life that day, more than I had ever seen as his teacher. He showed up with 5 shovels, 10 pairs of gloves and took on leadership roles all day. He was learning in a new way. This day was a breakthrough for this student and will not be soon forgotten.   

MARCH 2020 - Emily Atkins

How did you get connected with The Lands Council?

After graduating college I moved to Spokane and was brand new to the area. I was looking for things to do and getting involved with my new environment when I saw a flyer for Reforest Spokane. What I found was a spectacular non-profit committed to protecting and conserving the environment and I just knew I had to be part of it! From there I volunteered for anything and everything I could for almost three years!

What’s your experience volunteering for The Lands Council?

I’ve had the joy of working closely with Kat Hall and Chelsea Updegrove on various Lands Council projects ranging from outreach to organizing the dessert dash for the April Showers Annual Auction. It has been great to have the chance to work on these projects and help make a difference!

Favorite part about volunteering with The Lands Council?

The people at TLC are committed and passionate about conserving and protecting the environment! As someone working to preserve the environment it was great to find people just as dedicated to that goal as me!