Smith Fellows 25th Anniversary Reunion
Celebrating 25 Years of the Smith Fellowship
In early August, nearly 85 Fellows, alumni, members of the Smith family, Cedar Tree representatives, and program staff gathered in Stevenson, Washington to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship. Over three unforgettable days, we reflected on the uniqueness and impact of the program (on an individual level and beyond), reconnected with old friends, made many new ones, and envisioned collective ideas for the future for conservation and the Smith community.
Day 1: Honoring Our Legacy
The retreat began with warm welcomes and a celebratory dinner, culminating with an evening program—“25 Years of Smith Fellows”—featuring reflections from the Smith family, Cedar Tree Foundation, and program leaders. Whether in the room or joining the livestream, participants were reminded of the transformative impact this network has had on both conservation science and the Smith community.
Day 2: Connection and Collaboration
The day kicked off with a mix of outdoor excursions—from kayaking to hiking and yoga—followed by a “Regional Neighbors” lunch that helped Fellows strengthen local ties. In the afternoon, an Open Space Marketplace invited participants to host and explore dynamic conversations on everything from keeping climate work alive and supporting/leveraging displaced talent amid current political shifts to dire wolves and de-extinction. An evening storytelling event, Growing Pains, brought laughter, vulnerability, and shared experiences to life as folks shared heartfelt, humbling, and hard-won personal stories and lessons learned along the way.
Day 3: Visioning the Future
Facilitated by Donna Ching, an Appreciative Inquiry session gave Fellows space to reflect on high points from their experience in the Smith community and envision the future of conservation practice and leadership— a future shaped by equity, courage, and collaboration. Fellows identified shared values, discussed aspirations, and explored actions for moving forward together.
Later that afternoon, local leader, Elaine Harvey, award-winning journalist reporting for Indigenous affairs, Toastie Oaster, and advocate filmmaker, Jacob Bailey, hosted a screening of These Sacred Hills. The film offered a window into the threats that Indigenous people face as they confront a proposed green energy project threatening their sacred mountain, Pushpum, just up the Columbia River from Skamania Lodge. As they fight to protect this vital land, the film captures their struggle to preserve their ancestral rights to fish, hunt, and gather, safeguarding their way of life for future generations. The film sparked deep reflection and dialogue amongst many.
Co-Creating the next chapter of Smith Fellows: the following retreat outcomes and learnings will directly inform program priorities and activities for the coming years:
Fuel cross-cohort collaboration by expanding targeted funding and program support for regional meetups, group projects, and structured mentorship programs that connect Fellows across career stages.
Translate visioning learnings into strategy by synthesizing retreat-generated ideas and incorporating them into the program’s next strategic plan, ensuring Fellows’ priorities guide future directions.
Sustain momentum and connection including bringing alumni into Fellow retreats, hosting regular virtual convenings, providing targeted training opportunities for the whole network, and continuing to publicize Fellows’ impactful and collaborative projects.
In sum, the 25th Anniversary Retreat not only celebrated a remarkable legacy, it strengthened the fabric of the Smith Fellows network and laid a clear path toward its next chapter. The gathering was truly transformative… deepening community bonds, inspiring collective action, and reinforcing the program’s impact within the conservation field.
