When Ciaran Purdome moved from out west, they quickly noticed a difference in public land. In Nova Scotia, finding places to explore nature and plan new adventures required a little more intention than they had been accustomed to, and it was during that search that they first heard of the Nature Trust. Intrigued, they dug deeper and learned of the Wilderness Property Guardian program, and knew they wanted to get involved!

It was important to Ciaran to become a Wilderness Property Guardian as a way of giving back and deepening their relationship to the land around them. They enjoy navigating unknown areas and bushwhacking through the backcountry with a map in hand. But that has not always been the case.

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Ciaran’s relationship with nature was nearly nonexistent. It was learning about relationality and Indigenous perspectives of land stewardship while living in Alaska that led them to field work and wilderness stewardship. Ciaran found their confidence in the outdoors deepening as they helped to remove an invasive species in the backcountry. Bushwhacking each day and wrenching invasive flowers from the ground became proof of their growing comfort and strength outdoors.

As a Wilderness Property Guardian in Mi’kma’ki, Ciaran found themselves learning and grounding their work in an understanding of relationality with respect for the Mi’kmaq people as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land. Ciaran has been working on cultivating a relationship with the same place over different seasons as a volunteer, where they are honoured to witness its changes and to come to know it more intimately. They like to observe how the landscape shifts as they move across it, noticing places they would not ordinarily see, moving with respect while deepening their relationship to the land, its histories, and responsibilities.

Ciaran recognizes that what we choose to collect and value says about our own lifetimes and even more so how it ultimately shapes the future. This perspective is also reflected in their professional life.

“I’m an archivist, so I think a lot about the past and the future. I collect records now in the hopes that in 50 years or 100 years this will mean something to someone. It’s inspiring to think about nature the same way, as an investment in the future. We don’t have the same old growth that we used to…in 200 years what could this landscape look like and be like if we take small steps now? I view volunteering as a way to care for the future.”

Building that lasting stewardship relationship with each property is what inspires Ciaran’s continued commitment to the two lands they help protect as a Wilderness Property Guardian. Their favourite memories are just being present in the fresh air, focused on the next step, and the quiet in which they find themselves out there. For Ciaran, it is the act of hiking, the joy of a good tromp through the woods, that promises to turn a good day into a great one.

Ciaran shared that they found the onboarding experience fantastic and felt supported with the proper resources, documents, and training with Riki and Christina at the Nature Trust. They urge anyone who’s interested to reach out, as they consider the Wilderness Property Guardian program one of the best volunteer experiences around. It offers the chance to hike wild places, witness subtle changes, and come to know a place like an old friend, all while helping to preserve it for generations to come.

Thank you to Ciaran Purdome for their inspiring volunteer service in remote and hard-to-reach places for stewardship. To learn more about our Wilderness Property Guardians program, visit our Wilderness Property Guardians page