June Volunteer Spotlight: Karen Jimenez

Karen Jimenez first became involved with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy through a Youth Conservation Leadership Project with the Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District. Guided by Amy Ulland, LWC Board President and Stream Monitoring Program Coordinator, Karen focused her project on Salt Watch, a community science initiative that monitors chloride pollution in local waterways. What began as a student project quickly grew into a lasting passion. “From there, I fell in love with stream monitoring and became more involved with LWC’s programs,” Karen says.

Today, stream monitoring remains the volunteer activity she is most passionate about. She values the opportunity to contribute meaningful data that helps inform conservation efforts while engaging residents in scientific research and environmental stewardship.

“Citizen science is a key component of science, community engagement, and awareness,” she explains.

In addition to stream monitoring, Karen has volunteered at native plant sales, helped build Loudoun Wildlife’s parade float, and supported a variety of conservation and outreach initiatives. Most recently, she designed and developed an interactive StoryMap for LWC’s E. coli monitoring project, combining environmental data with mapping tools to create an accessible resource that helps residents better understand local water quality.

One of her favorite volunteer experiences was helping create that map. “It was awesome to be able to apply the skills I learned in my GIS class to a real-world community project,” she says. “I am proud that the map is a helpful and accessible resource for my community.”

For Karen, one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering is the people. She values being part of a group where everyone shares a passion for nature and a willingness to learn from one another.

“Everyone is passionate about nature and eager to share their knowledge,” she says. “As a volunteer, you feel like you are part of something much larger than yourself.”

When she is looking to spend time outdoors, Karen often visits Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, which is close to her home. Whether she is birding or simply enjoying a walk through the woods, she finds the preserve’s rich biodiversity both inspiring and rejuvenating.

If she were introducing someone to Loudoun County’s natural beauty, she would take them to Algonkian Regional Park. During Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Celebrate Birds festivities this spring, she and her Birdathon team, Snap! Grackle! Pop!, spent time birding there and were amazed by the variety of species and scenic views along the Potomac River. For Karen, it is the perfect place to appreciate both wildlife and the beauty of the river landscape.

Through her volunteer work, Karen demonstrates how curiosity, technical skills, and a passion for conservation can come together to make a meaningful impact. Whether she is collecting stream data, supporting outreach efforts, or creating tools that help others connect with local environmental issues, she is helping strengthen conservation efforts and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards in Loudoun County.