Cathy Lemmon on sunset walk at Yosemite National Park.

Cathy volunteers with multiple Loudoun Wildlife programs.  She is a trail leader on two of our bluebird nest box trails, an Audubon At Home (AAH) Ambassador, and a Dulles Greenway Eagle Cam volunteer.  Additionally, Cathy’s property was certified as an AAH Wildlife Sanctuary in 2021.

In honor of Cathy and all that she does to protect and preserve wildlife and its habitat, we would like to take a moment and highlight her favorite place in nature – forests.

Forests provide clean air, filter water, control floods and erosion, as well as sustain a variety of wildlife and organisms.  These tree-filled areas bestow upon us areas for recreation, education, and cultural enrichment.

Cathy loves trees and the forest, especially ones in the alpine environment or after a snowfall.  A walk through the woods is one of her favorite things to do.  Here are some of Cathy’s thoughts on why she loves spending time in the forest:

When alone, you can reflect and clear your mind. When with others, you get quality time and a shared experience.  And every time, there’s a diversity of nature to see, hear, smell and touch – a true sensory overload, the kind that can send tingles up your spine.  As John Muir said, ‘And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul’.