Urban Hikes KC had our first collaborative foraging hike this past October with Amy Bousman of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Amy has a wealth of knowledge and resources, so we wanted to highlight her and the other services provided by her organization.
Read on as Amy shares how we can preserve and use natural resources to enrich our diets, build up communities and protect our natural resources.
Q: How would you describe your role in the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks?
A: My particular passion in this role is connecting the public with the outdoor activities and wild nutrition that they were biologically designed for.
Procuring wild, local foods reduces my carbon footprint significantly and I get functional physical activity while foraging for these foods. Being in the wilderness in all kinds of weather and seasons makes me more resilient. Connecting with the natural world makes me feel calm and grounded.
I instruct school groups, lead summer camp programs, as well as create and implement public programs and events. I have a passion for bringing these skills and resources to historically underserved and marginalized communities. While I work with everyone, I do tailored programs for refugees and BIPOCs.
I also maintain the KC District Office Resource Library located in Shawnee. This library is full of different specimens and kits related to Kansas wildlife. Anybody who wants to use these kits for educational purposes can check them out for free.
My particular passion in this role is connecting the public with the outdoor activities and wild nutrition that they were biologically designed for. Procuring wild, local foods reduces my carbon footprint significantly and I get functional physical activity while foraging for these foods. Being in the wilderness in all kinds of weather and seasons makes me more resilient while connecting with the natural world makes me feel calm and grounded.
Q: What are the top three activities or events hosted by KS Wildlife that the public should participate in?
A: The Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop/weekend retreat is held in the spring and fall and focuses on learning outdoor skills – skills usually associated with hunting and fishing, but useful for many outdoor activities. Taught by women and exclusively for women. (ksoutdoors.com)
Holistic Hunter Education and monthly Wildlife Sustainability Mini-Clinics taught by yours truly, mainly in the KC and Lawrence, KS regions. These are immersive clinics that hyper-focus on procuring wild food sources for nutrient-dense, place-based nutrition. Specific topics are covered, such as reducing one’s carbon footprint through wild foods that have little to no human inputs involved, ethical hunting and fishing practices, and whole animal usage. Most clinics include full-circle harvesting, processing and cooking methods, including taste tests.
Online apps to navigate outdoor recreation are
A sustainable future depends on us! Taking part in outdoor activities and promoting conservation awareness can help. With dedicated individuals like Amy Bousman leading the way, urban hikers can make a significant impact on preserving Kansas’ wildlife and parks for generations to come.