OUR MISSION:

To facilitate collaboration and engage communities in conservation

OUR PURPOSE:

Crowd Conservation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes resilient communities and thriving ecosystems through collaborative  engagement between organizations, stakeholders, researchers, and the public. We provide skills and support for effective teams and the discovery, discussion, and implementation of improved policy and decision-making processes.

WHAT WE DO:

  • Engage communities through education, outreach, and science
  • Facilitate meetings, events, and workshops in-person, virtual, or hybrid settings
  • Promote knowledge sharing between practitioners and support peer-learning opportunities
  • Provide training for facilitation, communication, and collaboration
  • Launch, develop, or support communication pathways or campaigns
  • Support on-the-ground conservation projects 

FOUNDER AND FACILITATOR

Nicole Reese is the founder and lead facilitator for Crowd Conservation. Nicole’s passion is collaboration for conservation. In 2015 she completed her graduate degree in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University. With over sixteen years of experience in natural resources, Nicole’s current work focuses on stakeholder engagement, collaborative processes, and public participation in conservation. An advocate for effective facilitation proposed by the International Association for Public Participation, Nicole uses her knowledge in natural resources and soft skills to build connections between communities and their environment.

Contact nicole@crowd-conservation.org if you’d like to get involved with Crowd Conservation or are interested in the trainings or services we provide.

EMERGING LEADERSHIP COORDINATOR

Paula Short is the new Emerging Leadership Coordinator, a shared position between Crowd Conservation and the Western Collaborative Conservation Network. Over the next year, Paula will be working closely with the WCCN Emerging Leadership Working Group to develop a toolkit for emerging leaders.

Paula has worked in natural resources for state, federal and non-profit organizations in Wyoming, Alaska and Montana. Originally from Wyoming, she has lived in the rural west for most of her life and has worked to preserve, protect and enhance critical landscapes.

Paula has a BS in Forestry from the University of Montana and an MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. In her free time, she enjoys her home in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, spending time in nearby federal and state forests, staying in fire lookouts and trying to keep up with a busy family that includes her husband, two middle-schoolers, several horses and a feisty border collie-corgie cross.

Paula is most excited about engaging with the WCCN and their partners to learn more about collaborative conservation, capacity-building and developing resources to empower emerging leaders.

Contact paulashort@crowd-conservation.org if you are interested in contributing to the Emerging Leadership Initiative!