If you let him, Kurt Kuznicki will talk about wilderness for hours. A field superintendent in the construction industry from Reno, Nevada, Kurt has been involved with the conservation movement for several years. Married, with two children, he's become one of the great volunteers working to protect Nevada's last remaining lands.
"It doesn't matter what your job is, or how much you know about wilderness history," says Kurt. "You know what's right or wrong in your heart. And you know that these places should be protected for our children, and theirs."
Growing up in Southern California, Kurt's first exposure to the great outdoors was on fishing trips to the Sierra Nevada's with his dad. Kurt says "My dad really went to the wilderness to escape and relax, and I guess I just picked up on it." In fact, Kurt has hiked and backpacked for thirty-five years.
A friend first encouraged Kurt Kuznicki to get involved in the conservation movement by attending local Sierra Club meetings, and Kurt hasn't looked back. Wanting to give something back, Kurt now leads hikes for the Sierra Club as well as the Nevada Wilderness Project.
"Kurt's tireless enthusiasm is inspiring and contagious," says Cameron Johnson, Northern Nevada Outreach Director for the Nevada Wilderness Project. "Kurt makes our jobs so much easier by being proactive and extremely aware. He's willing to do any task with a smile."
If you ask Kurt about his most memorable wilderness experience, the answer might surprise you. It's his trip to Washington D.C, to lobby on the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004, which designated 768,294 acres of wilderness. "It was a really great opportunity to see the end of the process," says Kurt. "It was so motivational; it really made me realize that anybody can get involved - and make a difference."
Kurt's advice for people looking to do just that is simple. "Go with your heart. Find a local group in a place that you really love, and take that first step. The hardest part is just getting started."
Our hats are off to Kurt Kuznicki for all of his great work, enthusiasm and dedication to protecting Nevada's great wild places!
