kara maplethorpe: rural initiatives manager
Kara came to Heart of the Rockies Initiative from the Centennial Valley Association. She is known for her homemade orange rolls and her ability to boil water in a paper cup over a campfire, which comes in handy more often than you might think. At work, she enjoys listening, learning, and collaborating with people of various perspectives, as well as finding opportunities to amplify community voices while setting the stage for future generations. To Kara, every day is a new adventure, with a lesson to learn, a river to canoe, or a book to read. She emphasizes this belief by commonly quoting the movie UP: “Adventure is out there!” Kara holds a BS in natural resources wildlife management and biology from Northland College.
Q: What led you to choose a career in conservation?
As a kid, my parents took us camping throughout the Midwest and the Northeast. I fell in love with being outdoors, wildlife, and being an overall nature nerd. During a high school scholarship program, I went to a YMCA wilderness tripping camp (where I eventually worked throughout college), and it completely confirmed my desire to work outdoors. Following college, I took a Big Sky Watershed Corps AmeriCorps position in southwestern Montana, which exposed me to conservation – working lands and ranching, invasive species management, carnivore conflict mitigation, community, and more.
Q: What inspires you in your daily work at Heart of the Rockies Initiative?
I’m inspired by the people I get to meet and the places I’m able to see through the Rural Initiatives program. I am a big adventurer, and the opportunity to visit and work with people in a variety of rural communities has opened doors to new exploration and a network of new friends. How people show up for one another in their communities inspires me and makes me want to show up for them too.
Q: When you’re not working, how do you engage with the people, lands, or wildlife of the Central Rocky Mountains?
I hike, camp, and paddle a lot with my dog, Merlin. I also love hiking to a spot and then sitting down to read in nature. It is really fulfilling and relaxing for me. I am also currently serving a term on the Ravalli County Open Lands Board, and I participate in the North Valley Public Library’s Friends group in Stevensville, Montana.
