From an early age, Laurel Wilson set her sights on giving back. Her generosity was all-inclusive: humans, wild animals and especially plants.
"I've always loved working with plants. I find them a little simpler than humans and animals," she said. "Trying to restore functioning, healthy, plant communities is what we need to be doing as humans to try to mediate some of the impacts we've had on the landscape."
Today, Wilson is the executive director of the Northwoods Volunteer Connection, which coordinates work designed to keep trails and campsites open so the public has access to public lands, and help regional forests thrive for future generations. The organization orchestrates project logistics and provides the equipment for each job.
With degrees in conservation biology and plant biology, Wilson said taking on the Tofte, Minn.-based nonprofit in 2016 was a sidestep from the skills she saw herself using. But her giveback spirit and passion for restoration has led to her work with a breadth of people.
Wilson, 32, lives in Grand Marais. She grew up outside of Bemidji on her father's strawberry farm, where she and her sister would run through the fields and climb trees. Along with camping, hiking and snowshoeing, the activities of each season instilled a love of nature in her. Now, she said she's able to share her relationship with the natural world with people who may not have had her upbringing.
"I'm definitely committed to staying here and looking for opportunities to empower other people to give back and do something to keep our forests healthy."
What follows are excerpts from a conversation with Wilson, edited for length and clarity:
On the public on public lands
Our work is engaging the public to do something that benefits these public lands that are so important to the region and have a special place in a lot of people's hearts. We're helping them get out there and create a connection with that land.