All of us at ESLT are thrilled to welcome AmeriCorps member Abbey Blair to the office as our new Restoration and Education Coordinator! During her6-month service term which lasts through September, Abbey will be teaming up with our current full-term (11-month) AmeriCorps member, Sara Kokkelenberg, on a variety of interesting projects.

Abbey 1Joining us through the Sierra Nevada Alliance’s Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) program, Abbey will lead and collaborate on stewardship, education, and outreach effortsthat connect our communitywith theEastern Sierra’swild and working lands. In particular, Abbey’s work with ESLT will focus on the planning and implementation of a wildlife migration corridor restoration and enhancement project, especially in light of thewildfires – such as theRound Fire– that caused major damage to sixof our protected propertiesearlier this spring.

Abbey grew up an hour outside of Las Vegas on a sod farm, and later moved to Reno. Throughout her childhood, she dreamed of moving closer to our National Forests and engaging in environmental work. She started down this path by building trails near Lake Tahoe and in Eastern Nevada, and by volunteering with Friends of Nevada Wilderness. She currently attends University of Phoenix online, and hopes to achieve aBachelors Degree in Environmental Science.

Abbey and her cat, Ranger.

Abbey and her cat, Ranger.

She first discovered the Bishop area on a short trip with friends, during which she fell in love with Lake Sabrina and the surrounding wilderness. After that first trip she looked for ways to visit this enchanting place more often. When she learned that the Sierra Nevada Alliance was hiring in the area, she eagerly applied to work with Eastern Sierra Land Trust as our AmeriCorps member.

In her spare time, Abbey engages in a wide array of outdoor activities: from gardening, to hiking, to fishing and swimming, and is often found attempting new and crazy recipes from around the world. She enjoys outdoor photography and playing with her two cats, Ranger and Max.

Welcome to the Eastside, Abbey!

ESLT has hosted talented SNAP members for 6- and 11-month terms since the program began in 2007. These AmeriCorps members have conducted education and outreach within the region, helping to inform and inspire our communities about land preservation and habitat restoration.