Janet Lebson

Growing up my neighborhood was full of kids, a park, a pond, and a handful of empty lots and open fields for exploring. For my siblings and friends and me, so many sentences began with an excited "Let's pretend..." and ended with all kinds of wild scenarios—most involving elaborate fort-building adventures that kept us outside for hours at a time, lost in our imaginary world. My career in conservation and outdoor recreation has given me so many opportunities to keep that inspiration and exhilaration from Mother Nature alive in my heart. I am fortunate to have opportunities to share that with others.