Clay and Tracy Knopf have been loyal CSERC members since the early 1990’s – even before they knew each other. Over the years they have volunteered countless times on various CSERC restoration projects (three times in just this past year), but their participation doesn’t stop there. They are true role models for what it means to support and volunteer for a cause.

Clay’s background in natural resources has often been an asset to CSERC. He’s helped map roadless areas, done field monitoring, and reviewed lengthy, often tedious environmental documents. Tracy is a well known artist and has helped raise funds for CSERC by donating the proceeds of a painting. Continue reading to find out more about why Clay and Tracy support CSERC.

          Clay: Well, I’ve known John [CSERC founder and executive director] since back in the day when we were both firefighters. I’ve always been involved in resource issues, and I started to notice that he was at all of the county meetings I attended dealing with issues like clearcutting or the Clavey. I realized that CSERC was stepping up as a voice for nature, and I started to count on CSERC as my source of information for issues that affect our region. I don’t personally have time to go to all of the meetings where policies that affect our environment are decided, but I know I can rely on CSERC to be there and to provide crucial and timely information about environmental issues in our region

          Tracy: Exactly! CSERC is the voice for the voiceless. For me, I’ve had a love of nature since I was a little girl, which is what motivates my responsibility and stewardship to take care of the environment in the region where I live. The volunteer projects that CSERC organizes produce “hands-on” results and help bring the community together in a positive way to protect the environment.

          As an artist who focuses on painting wildlife and wild places from our local environment, I use CSERC as a resource to get information that I can then express through my artist’s view of the natural world. I used information and pictures from CSERC many times in the creation of the mural at the Library.

          Now that I am leading educational programs at the library for school groups (through CSAC’s Arts Reach to School program), I get questions from kids like: “Why is the California Poppy orange?” I can find the answers through CSERC, and in this way CSERC helps me to teach children about nature. I believe that the only way to preserve the future of wild places is by supporting organizations like CSERC and by educating our children.

          I think it’s important to donate to CSERC so that we can have assurance that wild places will be protected for people today as well as for future generations.

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