Kim Waites currently serves as the Wilderness Stewardship Coordinator for Wild Alabama facilitating stewardship efforts across all three federally designated Wilderness areas in the National Forests of Alabama, Sipsey, Cheaha and Dugger Mountain. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in History and English with a concentration in Asian and Religious history. She cultivated a passion for all things outdoors in her adult life which led her into the nonprofit conservation world. She has found her niche in conserving and preserving natural history and its precious resources. Whether she is pulling a crosscut saw in a wilderness area or pouring over inventories of non native plants, recreation sites or social trails, her actions always point in the direction of conserving our wild places. She is a Leave No Trace Level Two Instructor, Leopold Land Ethic Educator and a Wilderness First Responder. She also holds a certificate in Wilderness Stewardship through a course offered in partnership through Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands and the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center. Ask her one question and your life will be forever changed, “Why can’t you use a chainsaw in a wilderness area?”
In 2023, Kim completed Wilderness Character Monitoring and Baseline assessements for all three federally designated Wilderness areas in National Forests in Alabama. She is a "C" level Traditional Tools instructor which allows her to conduct trainings for traditional tools. In addition, she is the Alabama State Advocate for Leave No Trace. In 2023, she was awarded the Individual Champion of Wilderness Stewardship at the National Wilderness Workshop in Missoula, Montana hosted by the National Wilderness Stewardship Allliance and Society for Wilderness Stewardship.
Contact: Kim@wildal.org
In 2023, Kim completed Wilderness Character Monitoring and Baseline assessements for all three federally designated Wilderness areas in National Forests in Alabama. She is a "C" level Traditional Tools instructor which allows her to conduct trainings for traditional tools. In addition, she is the Alabama State Advocate for Leave No Trace. In 2023, she was awarded the Individual Champion of Wilderness Stewardship at the National Wilderness Workshop in Missoula, Montana hosted by the National Wilderness Stewardship Allliance and Society for Wilderness Stewardship.
Contact: Kim@wildal.org
