Karen Solas

Stewardship Coordinator

Member of FMR staff since: February 2007

Duties: Plans, coordinates, and implements FMRs stewardship, education, and interpretive events.

Education: Bachelors degree in anthropology and French, University of Minnesota — Twin Cities; masters degree in natural resources science and management, University of Minnesota — Twin Cities (expected 2007).

Professional experience: Program director and team leader, Nacel Open Door Cultural Exchanges; Field crew member, Applied Ecological Services; Field research assistant, Ecological Strategies.

Hobbies: Hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, broomball, traveling, soccer, hanging out with her wonder-dog, gardening.

Favorite book: Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver; The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende.

Favorite animals: Favorite individual animal is her dog Bruno. As for an entire category of animals as a whole, Im definitely captivated by raptors.

Favorite musicians and bands: The Pixies, Me First & the Gimme Gimmes, the Pogues, Indigo Girls, Aretha Franklin, Go Betty Go.

Favorite location on the river: I cant really pick a favorite, but a location that holds a special place in my heart is the Stone Arch Bridge and the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District. When I first moved to Minneapolis as a student, this was the first part of the river I got to know. It was where I went to relax, to exercise, and to show off my new home to visitors, and it helped ease my transition to a much more urban environment than I was used to.

Last big vacation: January 2007, when she went to visit her brother, who lives in Ghana and works at a Liberian refugee camp. The trip also included a visit with her brother-in-law, who is studying in Scotland. It was the most mind-blowing combination of countries to visit in succession.

Conservation/environmental heroes: The everyday people who make caring for the environment and our natural resources their priority. Those who have chosen conservation work as a career path, and those who make time in their busy lives to volunteer and care for the natural treasures in their community.

Something most people dont know about her: I once lived with and took care of 60 sled dogs.