Emerging Trail Leader Scholarship Recipient

Indie Lewis

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

As the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator for the Phoenix Zoo, I am inspired by Hulet’s legacy, and am passionate about discovering new ways to connect my community to the educational trails and experiences provided not only by my home institution, but by our surrounding environment of Papago Park as well. Building grassroots conservation and outreach efforts, developing outdoor education, and preservation of trails are huge components of my field, and I am actively looking to build new understanding on such crucial topics. I am especially excited to be paired with a mentor, who can help provide professional development and share their experience and skills that I can bring back to Arizona and use to collaborate with other local nonprofits, such as Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona.

This scholarship also strongly aligns with my own personal devotion to supporting diversity. The LGBTQ+ community in specific suffers from poor health outcomes that can be drastically improved through trail use. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am driven to improving access and dismantling barriers faced by others when they engage in outdoor activities. This scholarship also embraces creating a multigenerational community that actively works together, which is an amazing attribute I am currently working to support in my own volunteer program.

Finally, if selected, I would be excited to become an active member of the American Trails Community and to begin exploring all the different paths my career can take with the opportunities provided through this scholarship.