Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Fitzgerald.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to Austin to pursue a graduate program at UT Marine Science Institute. This took me to the coast in Port Aransas where I got a fantastic look at the nature in Texas. When I moved back to Austin, I specifically wanted to be close to nature and my husband and I chose South Austin for that reason. I started my blog as a creative project to just showcase some of the amazing natural features that Austin has. I like to photograph and write about things I see hiking, or just out and about in the neighborhood. This has connected me to other people interested in nature in the area. As the city grows, my hope is that it doesn’t lose sight of its natural roots and this valuable natural resource we have.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I want to create a space where anyone can read about something interesting or interact with my photos, so my biggest challenge is finding issues that everyone will care about. I have written a lot about beach trash and trash along the greenbelt. I also took some water surveys and looked at the city water quality data to see how our waterways measure up to the standards. (spoiler some are great and some are not) These are all things I enjoy but like every environmentalist, it can feel like a daunting task. Some of my struggles have been to bring joy into my writing and describe the pleasure I feel in the outdoors and not always focus on the issues.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
One of the exciting things about being a science teacher and someone who loves the outdoors is that I get to share this with students. Last year I took 20 middle school students hiking for 2 days through Austin and it was amazing. We hiked on the greenbelt and Shoal Creek. We also made it a point to ride the city bus transportation to the trailhead so that students knew how accessible nature is. Many of them commented that they had no idea this was available to them right in the city! There are so many studies that show the benefits of kids being outdoors in nature and I am excited to share that with them. Part of taking kids outdoors is also showing them how to care for nature as well. We picked up trash and talked about how trails are maintained. We are all stewards of this shared resource and it’s great to set that standard early on that on.
My blog has changed my perspective on how I interact with nature and what I would like to share. I visit different parks and take photos and talk about different topics on my website. This gives me ideas for projects like this hiking group and places where I would want to take students in the future.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I grew up in a very beautiful city with lots of old oak trees and wonderful nature. But, most of that nature was behind a fence or a private club. Parks were few and far between and they weren’t places you really wanted to be. When I moved to Austin, I was amazed at how accessible and beautiful the outdoors is. The hike and bike trail, the lake, the greenbelt are all wonderful attributes of the city that add to its allure. The difficulties that Austin is facing with its growth are also playing out in its natural spaces as well. Austin Parks is doing a lot of work to mitigate this and to keep these public places beautiful. But the bulk of the change has to come from people. We can all do our part to help keep the trails clean and preserve them for future use.
Pricing:
- Prints 12×16 50$
Contact Info:
- Website: wildaustin.net
- Instagram: wildlife_atx
Image Credits
Amanda Fitzgerald
