Colin Stewart Conservation Award 2026

The 2026 Colin Steward Award: Karen McKendry

Karen McKendry spent her childhood years exploring the natural world of Ontario and Quebec; her years enjoying her family’s cottage and working on the Ottawa River were especially formative. Karen came to Nova Scotia in fall of 2005 as a graduate student in Dalhousie’s School of Resource and Environmental Studies where she conducted field research related to Nova Scotia’s Species at Risk and historic logging.

Karen joined the Halifax Field Naturalists (HFN) that fall and has been a consistent presence ever since. In early 2006, she floated her idea of forming a “Young Naturalists Club” (YNC) along the lines of the Ottawa Macoun Field Club which Karen volunteered with until 2005.

The proposal was enthusiastically received by HFN and kicked off on the morning of June 3, 2006 with a public event held at the NS Museum of Natural History. A dozen families signed up for the club and the first family nature outing took place that afternoon, bad weather notwithstanding,  as reported in our newsletter: “The heavy rainfall warning kept many families away from the afternoon hike, but two families showed up, along with six naturalists. Everyone had a great time.”

Shortly after graduating, Karen landed what I would guess was a “dream job” for a recent grad. with conservation interests: she was hired by Nova Scotia Nature Trust (NSNT) where she spent 10 years and “led numerous projects and programs that advanced the protection of important natural areas across the province”.

Then Karen made the move from her data-driven, field work-based work as a conservation biologist at NSNT to taking on challenging social and political advocacy campaigns with the Wilderness Team at the Ecology Action Centre (EAC). There, she applied skills and knowledge gained with NSNT and developed many more related to dealing with the public and three levels of government. Karen regularly organizes and leads EAC-sponsored nature exploration events, familiarizing folks of all ages with Nova Scotia’s magnificent landscapes, wildlife and ecosystems.

Today Karen is widely recognized and appreciated as a highly knowledgeable, rational and always calm champion of the environment and environmental justice in NS. The YNC has grown from the one chapter in Halifax to multiple chapters across the province, plus a  tweens and teens program called the Nature Guardians, based in Dartmouth.

And in 2026, Karen continues to nurture Young Naturalists as the leader of that first chapter of the YNC!

– David Patriquin
Past President and Director, HFN,
Past Board Member, YNC

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Excerpt from Karen McKendry’s 2026 Colin Stewart Conservation Award nomination

This nomination grew out of discussions among members of the Young Naturalists Club Board of Directors. The nomination was researched and prepared by Jennifer Hahn (Vice President, Halifax Field Naturalists, and Director-at-Large, Young Naturalists Club), with support from Elizabeth Veenema (Director-at-Large, Young Naturalists Club).

Karen McKendry has dedicated her career to protecting Nova Scotia’s natural heritage through land conservation, biodiversity protection, environmental education, and policy advocacy. Her contributions span three major organizations: the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, the Ecology Action Centre, and the Young Naturalists Club of Nova Scotia, which she founded in 2006.

Through the Nature Trust, Karen helped secure ecologically significant lands such as the Mitchells Pool Conservation Lands and contributed to the protection of the globally important 100 Wild Islands and St. Mary’s River Watershed. At the Ecology Action Centre, she has advanced wilderness protection, influenced provincial conservation policies, and engaged communities in stewardship.

Her most transformative achievement is the creation of the Young Naturalists Club, which now engages 800–1000 youth and families annually across multiple chapters. By providing barrier?free, hands?on experiences in nature, Karen has inspired a new generation of conservationists and created cultural change that extends beyond the club itself. Research shows that when children care deeply about nature, they influence the adults in their lives more than anyone else can. Karen’s vision harnesses this intergenerational effect, ensuring that conservation values are woven into Nova Scotia’s culture for generations to come.

Karen’s leadership, volunteerism, and commitment to accessible environmental education have left a lasting legacy. She has not only protected land and biodiversity but also built a sustainable model for community engagement, inspiring both youth and adults to act as stewards of the natural world.

TESTIMONIALS

Since 2018, Karen has been a vital member of the Wilderness Team at the Ecology Action Centre, making an incredible impact on both the organization and her colleagues. Whether challenging the threat of gold mines, advocating to protect natural areas like Sandy Lake, or mobilizing grassroots campaigns across Nova Scotia, Karen’s unwavering commitment shines through. Her strategic insight, deep expertise, and heartfelt compassion make her a remarkable activist, educator, and collaborator whose dedication to biodiversity and community is undeniable.

• Mimi O’Handley (she/her), Wetlands and Water Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre

We are proud to support Karen McKendry’s nomination for this award. During her ten years with the Nova Scotia Nature Trust (2008–2018), Karen led numerous projects and programs that advanced the protection of important natural areas across the province. From community education and inspiring volunteers to landowner outreach and securing private lands for conservation, her efforts delivered lasting results for species at risk, critical wildlife habitat, and coastal wilderness. Karen also played a pivotal role in building partnerships and removing barriers to private land conservation, helping establish a nation-leading property tax incentive program and a game-changing conservation fund. Her passion, ecological expertise, and unwavering dedication made her a major force in advancing conservation in Nova Scotia.

• Bonnie Sutherland (she/her), Executive Director, Nova Scotia Nature Trust

ON THE YOUNG NATURALISTS CLUB

Through hands?on experiences, monthly talks, and citizen science projects, Karen  has created opportunities for children to fall in love with local biodiversity. In turn, these children become ambassadors for conservation in their homes and communities, sparking cultural change that extends far beyond the club itself. Karen’s vision recognizes that if children care deeply about nature, they will influence the adults in their lives more than anyone else can – ensuring that conservation values are woven into the fabric of Nova Scotia’s culture for generations to come.

The Young Naturalists Club Key Activities & Programs include:

• Monthly Field Trips & Events: Families and young members explore forests, wetlands, and coastal areas, guided by naturalists and scientists.
• Multiple Chapters Across Nova Scotia: The club has expanded to various communities, engaging approximately 450 families annually and 800 – 1000 youth in nature-based learning, and also includes a tweens and teens focused group called the Nature Guardians.
• Partnerships with Conservation Organizations: YNC collaborates with groups like the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, Ecology Action Centre, and educational institutions to promote conservation education.
• Species Monitoring & Citizen Science: Participants contribute to data collection for conservation projects, such as bird counts and plant surveys. The YNC has created local species guides, e.g. Mushrooms of Nova Scotia, Young Naturalists Club – MushroomsNSGuide, which are well received by the public and help Nova Scotians become familiar with local flora and fauna. The club further works with local NGOs and community partners including the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, engaging members in citizen science projects like bird counts and amphibian monitoring.
• The Nature Guardians group, made up of tweens and teens, represents the older cohort within YNC and provides a pathway for youth to step into more formal leadership. Participants have led initiatives such as planting native species to support pollinators, creating educational materials for our local communities, and organizing clean?up events in local parks and waterways. These activities help youth see themselves as agents of change, building confidence and a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.