Chelsea Shaw is an artist, technologist, problem-solver, and biophile living in San Marcos, TX. While she’s not exploring the trails or paddling on the river, you can find her at the monthly art market on the square or drinking a chai latte at one of the coffee shops in town.
Why do you value the natural areas?
To me, it comes down to our most precious of all resources: water. It turns out that thriving and intact ecosystems do so much for the water cycle that western science is only recently realizing. Not only do healthy roots and soil help water to permeate the ground and fill our underground aquifers, plants, and particularly trees, offer up water vapor through their leaves, which creates more rain! Natural spaces have so much to teach us, and protecting them goes hand in hand with protecting our future as a species.
Who or what most influenced your view of the natural world?
My grandmother! She lived in Colorado while I was growing up here in Texas. Whenever I visited her, we would go on these “nature walks” where we’d hike around the forest and she’d let me pick up anything I found interesting–rocks, feathers, even bones! Those activities, which my mother would never encourage, planted an admiration of nature that has only grown over time.
What attracted you to the Greenbelt Alliance?
I think what initially attracted me was the prospect of learning from others, learning by doing, and working with my hands. I didn’t realize until I joined how many thoughtful stewardship principles I would also be absorbing, and what a fun time it is!
What do you most enjoy doing in support of SMGA?
There’s something so satisfying about breaking a sweat while tamping down new trails.
I also love using my creative skills to uplift the great work SMGA does, and to that end my friend Anna (a fellow volunteer whom I met at an SMGA workday!) and I are working on a short documentary that will tell the story of how SMGA got started. We hope it will inspire others to take action on things they want to see preserved.
What is your favorite trail? What do you like about it?
Centipede in Spring Lake—it’s SO flowy and fun to run on!
What do you most enjoy doing when you visit the Greenbelt?
In cooler weather I love to run on the trails.
What recommendations would you give new users of the trail?
I would say, try to learn one plant that you can recognize along the trail. It makes the trails much more fun when you can look for and name a plant you encounter on your journey!