From Onboarding to Hole in One
Last month, the GSLC team (opens in new tab) had the pleasure of welcoming our new Land Stewardship Coordinator, Nico Spritzer, and introducing him to all the inner workings of our organization: our conservation easement stewardship program, field monitoring procedures, and organizational priorities; in other words, all the pieces that are constantly running behind the scenes here at GSLC.
We spent our first day together orienting Nico to our systems, helping him navigate our files, programs, and software applications — everything he needed to hit the ground running for a busy field season working with landowners and our conservation partners. Much of the day focused on onboarding, but it was equally rewarding to get to know Nico better, learn about his background, and hear about the passion and commitment to protecting California’s lands he brings to our team.
Our onboarding was paired with a staff retreat, focused on building relationships among our team. As Executive Director, I often find myself looking ahead, balancing what needs to be accomplished next week with the broader goals we hope to achieve over the next several years. Those priorities matter, but as our retreat showed, so does making time to connect with the people who make the work possible.
Our team is spread across California, and opportunities to gather in person are relatively rare, and I deeply value this chance to share ideas and simply enjoy one another’s company outside the demands of our daily responsibilities. Sometimes, a staff luncheon and a round of miniature golf can build camaraderie as much as a formal meeting, reminding us that behind every conservation project and organizational milestone is a group of people working together toward something meaningful.
As we sat together in the parking lot preparing to head our separate ways, I found myself reflecting on what makes GSLC special. We may be a small organization, but our statewide vision, diverse expertise, and collaborative approach to land conservation allow us to accomplish far more than our size might suggest. I took the opportunity of us all being together to share my appreciation for the dedication each team member brings to making this work possible.
I left feeling grateful for our team, energized by the work ahead, and confident in the knowledge that we are doing all we can do to sustain the natural and agricultural landscapes that communities depend on, ensure that future generations have the same opportunities we grew up with, and protect the places that make California so special.
Curious about land stewardship and Nico's role on the team? Check out Stewardship in Action: How We Monitor 35,000 Acres (opens in new tab) to learn what land monitoring can look like.