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 Chris Abott-Stokes

Chris Abott-Stokes

Board Member

Chris is a retired elementary school teacher with a lifelong passion of connecting kids to nature. While working in the Ashland school system, she has brought numerous school classes to the Willow-Witt Ranch over the years to let the  young learners observe, explore and discover what a dynamic working farm is.

In her own childhood,  annual treks to a remote lake in the High Sierras and time at her grandparents’ cabin near Big Basin, shaped her values and sense of place and many life decisions can be traced to these trips.  In college, Chris graduated with a degree in Environmental Design that drew on studies from UC Davis and UC Berkeley.

Chris moved to the backwoods of Montana after college, at the beginning of her teaching career. In raising her four children, Chris learned that while they might proclaim a resistance to salad and vegetables on the table, in the garden they would shell peas and taste so much more. There were years of delight in finding a strawberry turning red or the discovery that carrots hid beneath the earth. Chris moved to the Rogue Valley with her children for the schools and for the sense of place. She has seen children discover their own special places while caring for school gardens. Chris believes that it is of critical importance to provide opportunities for all ages to play and learn outside, to grow in knowledge and deepen our respect for nature. And she is excited to be a part of the Board for The Crest furthering the mission of connecting nature and people.

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Suzanne Willow talks to a group of students visiting The Crest

The Crest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

The Crest nonprofit organization relies on donations to support youth programs and give community groups the chance to experience the wonders of nature to learn about and feel a connection to the natural world. Our volunteer opportunities are a great chance to get outside, connect with others and learn more about your local ecosystem. Please consider contributing to this natural legacy by making a tax-deductible donation.