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Shelly Smith
I'm
a social worker and in fact, it was a job at Copper
Country Mental Health that originally brought me to
the Keweenaw over ten years ago. I still work for
CCMH and although my job duties are primarily
administrative I am still able to be involved in
clinical work, which has proved to be a good balance
for me.
My favorite things about the Keweenaw are the
abundance of natural spaces and the people. The fact
that I can literally walk out my back door and be on
an extensive trail system is a luxury virtually
unheard of in many parts of our country these days.
I believe that in many ways society is losing
contact with nature and that this could have a
negative impact on future generations. I also love
the fact that we are surrounded by water. The Great
Lakes contribute so much to the collective cultural,
educational, and ecological consciousness. I cannot
imagine ever living anywhere too far away from one
of the big lakes and feel we are very fortunate to
have Lake Superior in our virtual backyard.
In the summer I look forward to doing anything on or
near the water, particularly kayaking. I also love
being in the woods whether to hike, bike, or track
down native plants. I also spend a lot of time
gardening. I think that winter in the Keweenaw is
just amazing; whether I'm in the woods or on the
frozen lakeshore, I love to get out as often as
possible to go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
I believe that maintaining a connection to nature is
vital to our well-being and that we can learn a lot
in observing the natural world. As our day-to-day
lives become increasingly frenetic and technology
dictates the pace at which we are able to accomplish
things, the balance that can be achieved by enjoying
outdoor activities will become even more important.
Ensuring that natural lands are set aside and remain
free of development is vital to our mental and
physical health.
I joined the KLT Board of Directors primarily
because I believe in the mission of the organization
and the overall purpose and goal of land trusts. I
wanted to offer my time and enthusiasm to assist in
the preservation of the natural spaces and
undisturbed shoreline of the Keweenaw.
I bring organizational and administrative skills to
the KLT Board that will be beneficial to the
organization.
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