(Turning Point)

 

 

By: Pablo Hernandez

 

The rain gradually began to fall harder, alerting many to pack up their canopy tents and exit the 2017 Mushroom Festival. The commotion rang everywhere, but one voice was able to rise above the chaos. “You can fill out this letter to send to Governor Brown to stop the construction of a pipeline that would cause acres of forest to be logged,” says Samanatha Krop, as she reaches for a pen to give to an intrigued individual amidst the hysteria. Like she did at this event, Krop advocates for the conservation of Oregon’s natural environments. She represents Cascadia Wildlands, a non-profit organization that focuses on environmental protection, forest restoration and land conservation. She has been with them for years now and has proven to be active within the organization. Not only does she organize and plan critical events, but she also takes pen to paper when needed, writing articles and making her voice heard within many newspapers. Her ability to work and lead by example has earned her the title of a grassroots organizer within the organization. In addition, Krop is an educational teacher at the high school and university levels.

However, ending up at Cascadia Wildlands was not a simple process. In fact, it caught many of Krop’s close ones off guard.

Krop initially lived on the Gulf Coast of Florida, a beautiful destination known for white sandy beaches and clear waters. She grew up exploring mangrove mazes and cypress forests, common features of Florida’s beautiful nature. While there, Krop worked for and completed her undergraduate degree in literature, before making the move that determined where she is today.

The University of Oregon always seemed appealing to Krop, especially since she aimed to obtain a master’s degree in education. However, being in Florida, it had to take serious commitment to make the 3,000-mile journey across the country to the west coast. She decided to make the move all the way across the country, to Oregon, to a completely different state and environment.

Adapting to a new area and learning how to call such an unfamiliar state ‘home’ took some time, but Krop did not let the effects of moving to a new state influence her goals. She entered the University of Oregon, where she studied for and earned her master’s degree.

Her ambition to succeed would ultimately fuel her passion to fulfill her dream, which was “to combine the love of wild places and the passion for conservation with education and community organizing.”

Krop’s love for wildlife and nature make for her to be an excellent grassroots organizer for Cascadia Wildlands. Now, she hopes to continue fighting legislation that hurts the environment while still maintaining her dedication towards teaching.