Sofia Poland, a high school senior in Highlands Ranch and a DLC volunteer, recently had a piece published on Land Trust Alliance’s blog The Dirt! A Gen Z perspective: How conservation has shaped my generation dives into the impact of Sofia’s childhood experiences in the outdoors and how they shaped her conservation ethic, her worldview, and her hopes for future generations.
Sofia said “I’m exceptionally honored and excited to have my piece featured in the Land Trust Alliance’s The Dirt blog! Some of my earliest and most formative memories are wildlife photography adventures with my mom, where I developed a deep appreciation for biodiversity and the landscapes that sustain it. Those experiences shaped my belief that conservation is both a responsibility and a privilege. Additionally, writing this piece from a Gen Z perspective felt especially meaningful to me because the ecosystems and wildlife that shaped my childhood deserve to remain vibrant and protected so future generations can experience and cherish them as I have. Conservation, to me, is also about advocacy. We must be willing to speak up for the natural world and the species within it that cannot advocate for themselves.”
“I’m especially grateful to Kaitlyn Stabell and Mary Young at Douglas Land Conservancy for their guidance and support in refining this piece, and to the Land Trust Alliance for their willingness to help elevate young voices in conservation.”
Read the full piece on LTA’s blog The Dirt.
photo: Michael Ryno