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About my work

Hi, I'm Laura, a nonprofit content strategist and communications leader based in Northern Colorado.

I am passionate about communications and content that supports public engagement and marketing results for agencies working towards conservation and public lands stewardship.

My expertise includes content strategy, advocacy and strategic communications, editorial management, SEO writing, multimedia content development, graphic design and social media campaigns for organizations working for the greater good.

I invite you to explore my work. 

Graphic Design

Layout

Social Media

Posters

Infographics

Premiums

Photoshop projects

Special project: Life Beyond the City

The goal: Build top- and middle-funnel awareness and impact reporting for the importance of getting youth outdoors; demonstrate the value of The Wilderness Society's unique vision and our partnership programs, while also building rapport with the local partner group sponsoring outdoor trips that help young people, especially underserved city kids, connect with nature.

My role: Conceptualize a high-impact content approach and key storylines; lead and coordinate the work of the videographer, writer, social media manager and staff experts; help craft and edit narratives and approve all assets in the final product package, which included video, a blog and social media.

Outcomes: Exposure to new and current audiences through 13,140 views between Facebook, Instagram Youtube video and web site embeds. Used directly by philanthropy team to share impact news with prospects and past donors.

The Wilderness Society •

Arizona youth discover nature with backpacking expedition

Miguel Ceballos’ first backpacking trip was more physically exhausting than he expected, but it didn’t seem to sour him on getting outdoors. On the contrary, he ended up feeling like it was almost what he’s meant to be doing.

“This is our roots, you know. We’re animals,” he said of a recent trip to Saguaro National Park with the Tucson-based Ironwood Tree Experience. “This is just normal … It’s human to be in nature.”

Despite this, Miguel said he doesn’t think his friends or classmates back ho

Multimedia and longform stories

The goals: Help initiated supporters and political decision makers understand more about climate and environmental issues my organization was trying to solve; increase inclusion by telling stories from a diversity of communities; compliment larger campaigns that drove supporters to action pages and donation pages.

My role: Meet with stakeholders and shape the overall narrative and direction of the project, manage the project to ensure multimedia assets from the writer, cartographer, videographers were coming together at the right times, provide guidance on the copy and assets mid-project, edit and rewrite drafts of copy, create headlines and subheads, work closely with cartographer and designer to identify most impactful points to illustrate, then provide copy or edit all captions and map narratives graphics. Finaally, write and produce associated promotions such as emails, social media and web site homepage promotions.

Our Wild •

Photo essay: Explore the beauty of Colorado’s Continental Divide wilderness

Editor’s note: Jon Mullen is a Boulder-based photographer working to document and preserve our threatened wild places. In this photo essay, he explores a breathtaking area of central Colorado (near the Vail and Breckenridge ski areas) that Coloradans are working to protect through the Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness and Camp Hale Legacy Act. If passed in Congress, the act would permanently protect about 96,000 acres of national forest and other public lands in Colorado’s beloved Summit

Web layout

Medium •

Amazing photos: Sage rhythms and sage-grouse in the new west

Editor’s Note: Dave Showalter is a Colorado-based conservation photographer and author, and a Senior Fellow in the International League of Conservation Photographers. His conservation work is focused on the American west, and he has published two books — Sage Spirit: The American West at a Crossroads, published by Braided River (2015); and the award-winning Prairie Thunder, published by Skyline Press (2007). In this photo essay, Dave explores the sagebrush ecosystem of the American west through
Medium •

Hunting for salvation: How public lands saved my life

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Outdoor Life. Scroll down to the bottom for our exclusive Tony Bynum public lands photo gallery.

A lifelong outdoorsman, Tony Bynum is a world-renowned wilderness and wildlife photographer based in East Glacier, MT. He serves as the vice-president of the Professional Outdoor Media Association and his photos have been featured in dozens of magazines, websites and commercial campaigns across the globe.

Join Tony and the #OurWild campaign to protec

Featured Articles

Explore a featured selection of my editorial management, content production and writing work below.

Medium •

10 amazing winter recreation ideas

It may be cold outside, but that’s no reason to stop playing outdoors. Every year, millions of smart Americans say no to the couch and yes to winter recreation activities outdoors. Where are they finding the best winter recreation locales? On our national forests, parks, refuges and other public lands. From snow capped mountains to frosted storybook forests, public lands brim with magnificent winter scenery and outstanding opportunities for solitude that you won’t find in warmer months. They als
The Wilderness Society •

Alaska Natives on the frontline of another lands battle

For the Gwich’in people of Fort Yukon, Alaska, a trip to the grocery story can be prohibitively expensive. Far removed from large cities or towns, residents near the Arctic Circle may pay upwards of $15 for a jug of milk and $10 for a loaf of bread.

It’s only logical that hunting, fishing and foraging remain critical for the Gwich’in, who have lived off the land for centuries and rely on the caribou that inhabit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the north. But their ability to provide for
The Wilderness Society •

11 tips for photographing night skies

As rampant light pollution becomes more commonplace, many seek the beauty and joys of dark skies. Protected wild lands are the perfect places to revel in the timeless pleasure of starry skies.

Some attempt to capture that exquisite experience of awe - when you realize you are staring into the vastness of both space and time.

Here are some tips for those curious about photographing the glamorous heavens.

1. Locate dark skies. This is the single most important element to astrophotography, but i
The Wilderness Society •

The Public Lands Curriculum

For example, the 1964 Wilderness Act describes wilderness as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain…" erasing and dehumanizing Native Americans who had lived on and stewarded these lands since time immemorial.

Our current conservation narrative erases the stories of the Jones Family, a Black family who sold land to create Biscayne National Park in Florida; Tie Sing, a legendary Chinese chef who supported the
The Wilderness Society •

Land and Water Conservation Fund

What is the Land and Water Conservation Fund?

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) takes a portion of royalties energy companies pay the government for extracting publicly owned offshore oil and gas from the Outer Continental Shelf. The government then takes those revenues and reinvests them in the conservation of our public lands and natural resources.

Energy companies pay the federal government about $900 million every year. This goes to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

How does
The Wilderness Society •

29 critical "Leave No Trace" tips for wilderness visitors

Just as you rely on wild places to rejuvenate and restore you, those places rely on you to keep them in good condition.

Even if you are aware of the basic notion of "pack it in, pack it out," leaving no trace can often entail some details you might not think of.

So that you can be mindful of all the ways you can impact the wild places you visit, here are some tips based on the seven Leave No Trace principles:
• Prepare. This is the single most important thing you can do. Reading this page is a
Our Wild •

Being black, brown or poor shouldn’t mean less time in nature

What I learned from being a black conservationist

I remember the first time I discovered that going into the woods to walk around and sleep was a thing.

I was about nine years old and my mom and I moved to Virginia from Philadelphia earlier that year. It was like a foreign world to me. I traded in my bustling city streets for open spaces and loud sounding bugs I couldn’t identify.

I learned that we don’t’ appreciate what we don’t know

In Philadelphia, I was surrounded by el-trains (short for
The Wilderness Society •

Protections for Colorado wilderness, wildlife, historic sites in new legislative proposal

Three famed Colorado mountains reaching at least 14,000 feet in elevation (referred to “fourteeners”) as well as wildlife-rich evergreen forests and a historic Army camp would be among the places protected in in central and southwestern Colorado under newly offered legislation.

Introduced in the Senate and House by Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse, respectively, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy Act, or CORE Act, would protect parts of the Continental Divide, Thompson Divide and

Together we can save the Arctic Refuge | Wilderness.org

The oil and gas industry and its allies are lobbying to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. If this happens, America's last great wild frontier would be forever changed. Together we can save the Arctic Refuge for future generations.

Watch the video to see the beauty and values at stake, then take action to help us save the Arctic Refuge.

SAVE THE ARCTIC REFUGE: TELL CONGRESS TO ACT!

The Arctic Refuge is a one-of-a-kind stretch of unspoiled wilderness. It is home to an a
The Wilderness Society •

Protecting iconic Colorado lands will move our nation one step closer to conservation goals

What I didn’t know nine years ago is the impressive view, recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat and water resources before me in the San Juan range were at risk. Like so many other natural areas, much of the San Juan range is unprotected, aka open to mining, drilling and other development. We lose a football field worth of nature every 30 seconds in the United States, which further exacerbates the climate crisis.

Across the nation local communities are working together to help reverse that
The Wilderness Society •

Conservation: Colorado's mountain wildlands

Colorado’s population grew at twice the national rate this past decade, creating enormous pressure for development and motorized recreation that could disfigure landscapes like the San Juan Mountains, Continental Divide and Thompson Divide.

But a proposal in Congress would protect more than 400,000 acres of wilderness and other public lands in Colorado. Among other things, the measure would protect three famed Colorado mountains reaching at least 14,000 feet in elevation (referred to “fourteene
Medium •

8 activities you can do at our national monuments

There are more than 100 stunning national monuments across the U.S. that have been preserved for their wild or historic significance. Here are just a few of the activities you can do when you visit them. Stretching from Maine to New Mexico and Utah to Hawaii, America’s national monuments can be found all over the country, and offer the chance to do everything from exploring ruins and discovering dinosaurs to rock climbing and snorkeling. These stunning, diverse public lands are now under threat
The Wilderness Society •

Can wilderness boost your immune system? Some surprising answers

Now new studies suggest that time outdoors can also boost your immune system.

In a recent article in Outside Magazine, "Take Two Hours of Pine Forest and Call Me in the Morning," Florence Williams details her experience as a participant in one study currently taking place in Japan that is demonstrating the many health benefits of time spent outdoors.

Already, there is a growing body of scientific research that shows that time spent in the great outdoors is physically and mentally beneficial. S
Wilderness.org •

Hiking with Dogs: Make your trip easy on Fido and the environment

Hiking with dogs is a great way to spend time in nature, but doing so can have impacts on both the land and your dog. Hike the right way with our pet-friendly tips below:

1. Make sure Fido is wearing identification tags. Every dog owner’s nightmare is losing their pup in the woods. If this worst-case scenario happens, at least you’ll be comforted knowing that if someone finds your pup, they’ll have current contact information. If you’re staying at a campground, consider attaching a tag that sta
Wilderness.org •

20 fun things to do with kids in national parks

Last year, Americans made over 292 million visits to our beloved national parks. Many of these visits were families adventuring in our country's most enjoyable places.

Kids who visit national parks with their families are sure to create memories of wild lands that will last them a lifetime - and they also often have the opportunity to take advantage of some special activities and programs.

If you're looking for ideas for some new experiences and challenges to try this year, our list is sure to
Medium •

I’m spending 3 years visiting 400+ national parks, and here’s why

After doing an interview for LogoTV with Ranger Allan Daily on Nov. 16 at the first — and only — NPS site telling the story of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement: Stonewall National Monument. The monument, located in New York City, was designated by President Obama in 2016. Photo by Mikah Meyer.

I decided to begin this project in 2016 for a very specific reason, but one that had nothing to do with the coincidentally-timed National Park Service Centennial.

2016 was the year I turned 30, an age I’d
The Wilderness Society •

Contact Your Congress Members

Members of Congress want to hear from their constituents. In addition to legislative work, they have the non-stop job of planning for re-election. This continual election work creates a need to keep a close watch on constituent opinion.

It's worth noting that there are many environmental champions in Congress. Your support tells them to keep fighting for conservation. It also helps fuel their fight against bad legislation that harms wildlands. But not all lawmakers are environmental leaders, an
Wilderness.org •

8 maps showing American lands are changing

Maps are great tool for locating wildlands and wilderness areas we might want to visit, but they can also tell us much more. Maps can shed light on much larger stories about our changing country and our disappearing wilderness.

In the past century, American has undergone rapid change - from technology to population growth to energy development- and these changes of modernity are also transforming American lands. Some of these changes become quite visible when a map is the storytelling device. W

Special Projects

The Wilderness Society •

Get your grub on: Free campfire recipe cookbook

Inside you'll find more than 80 campfire recipes and food preparation tips, all submitted by Wilderness Society supporters.

Click here to get a download the campfire cookbook

Enjoy a sample of some of the recipes inside:

“They say necessity is the mother of invention. I invented apple s’mores when I was ten years old because we had run out of graham crackers, and happened to be situated near to an abandoned apple orchard. Nothing fancy, but it became a camping staple for my family, and always

About pages and FAQs

The Wilderness Society •

Urban to Wild – Access to nature is a human right

Parks and public lands belong to everyone. But we recognize that access is not equitable for people of all races, genders, immigration status, ability and income levels. In order to pursue our mission to protect wild places, parks and public lands, it is essential that these natural settings remain relevant and connected to all.

Many barriers prevent people in urban areas from enjoying the benefits of public lands. People of color and low-income communities are often left out of decision-making
The Wilderness Society •

What is Wilderness

But that’s only a third of our public lands. And about 100 million acres of pristine wildlands are still at risk.

Wilderness is also the term used for the government’s highest form of land protection — federally designated wilderness. There are many ways to protect America’s wilderness. In protecting wilderness, we are safeguarding for current and future generations the outdoor spaces enjoyed by every American.

Wilderness areas are designated by Congress on federal public lands. The Wilderness
The Wilderness Society •

Contact Your Congress Members

Members of Congress want to hear from their constituents. In addition to legislative work, they have the non-stop job of planning for re-election. This continual election work creates a need to keep a close watch on constituent opinion.

It's worth noting that there are many environmental champions in Congress. Your support tells them to keep fighting for conservation. It also helps fuel their fight against bad legislation that harms wildlands. But not all lawmakers are environmental leaders, an