Heather Lukacs

Since joining Wild Gift as a leader in 2003, I have infused the passion of the Wild Gift in my advocacy work, research, and guiding. As the West Virginia Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, I work to connect people to parks and promote landscape scale conservation on the New, Gauley, and Bluestone Rivers. I am also working towards a PhD in Stanford University's Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. My research projects have included studying the sustainability of rural water supply systems in Bolivia, and most recently, my dissertation focuses on grassroots community groups working to restore and protect rivers and streams in Appalachia. I sit on the Eco-Stewards steering committee of Presbyterians for Earth Care which seeks to train and inspire young adults in the principles and practice of ecological stewardship. My love for rivers and sharing this with others has spurred me to continue to paddle and guide whitewater rivers - with friends, commercial clients, and to volunteer on the river on the Wild Gift annual float.