Our Stories
Kristen Nelson
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Kristen Nelson is a Rare Plant Program Manager at the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). Nelson grew up in Las Vegas where she spent many weekends hiking the trails of Mount Charleston with her family. Her passion for plants and nature grew from those experiences and started Nelson on her conservation journey. Today, Nelson oversees field-based projects for CNPS focused on the collection of rare plant seeds in California.
“I had a pretty circuitous path to botany and conservation work. When I really think about it, I feel that my botany journey and my journey to conservation started when I was young – I just didn’t know it at the time,” Nelson said. “Some of my most distinct childhood memories comes from those hikes and explorations around Mount Charleston.
“There was one hike that was my favorite and every time it was my turn to choose, I always chose the same one,” she recalled. “We had some neighbors who had kids a similar age as myself and my brother. They weren’t as into the outdoor/hiking thing, but my dad told me to invite them. And I remember trying to convince them and explaining to them about how this hike is so amazing; that it’s hard at first, but you have to press on past the hard part and then it’s like you start to draw energy from nature.
“For me, I love thinking back on that because as a young kid, I didn’t really have perspective of the whole world. I was just speaking from the heart and I love thinking back on that younger version of myself trying to convince someone to connect with nature with me, and that you can draw energy from nature and the trees. It’s like, ‘Wow, I said that when I was 12 or so,’” Nelson laughed. “It’s one of those interesting moments that has stuck with me.”
Nelson’s path to her current role wasn’t always so straightforward. She was originally studying architecture as an undergraduate student when a class she was taking for her minor in sustainable development had a huge impact on her trajectory. “I was in my early twenties and that class opened my eyes for the first time to conservation and environmental work as a profession, and also as a crisis in terms of the climate crisis and the depth of the environmental work that needs to be done to address that. I ended up changing my major. I walked away from architecture and wanted to pursue a path where I could try to be a voice and an advocate in that space – for other organisms, for imperiled habitats, for conservation movements.”
After graduating Nelson worked for various private consultants that focused on governmental environmental regulations. She was able to work with biologists including field botanists, field biologists, and wildlife biologists, which further introduced her to conservation career pathways. “It was like a fire, a passion was lit and I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she explained.
“I got connected with CNPS initially through my local chapter, which I think is true for a lot of people [involved],” Nelson mentioned. “That was more than ten years ago and, initially, it was about native plants and my budding career in that direction. At this point it’s about so much more than that, and this group of people have given me that sense of connection and community, as well. It’s that shared mission and purpose and it’s these relationships which make me feel so rooted in the place where I live. CNPS and my connection to that chapter of CNPS is a big part of that for me.”
As a Rare Plant Program Manager, Nelson has traveled around California assisting in seed collecting and other conservation projects with various CNPS and CaPR partners. “We’re always trying to be good stewards of the funding that we use and CNPS has a pretty dispersed team,” she explained. “We strategize around which species targets really need the most attention or rise to the top of the priority list, and who we have positioned to be able to be effective with the funding and target that particular species.”
Nelson is based in San Louis Obispo and much of her field work has been focused around the coast of central California. She oversees and manages the rare plant seed projects with field-based components and interfaces with the research portion of CNPS’ rare plants team. “Our data coming in from the field is sometimes a direct or indirect way to inform the rest of what we’re doing on the research and writing side,” Nelson explained, adding that the field component of her work is where she is most involved with California Plant Rescue.
“I get to go out and do some of the seed work myself, which is really rewarding and probably some of my favorite work that we do,” she said. “Oftentimes you have to be on the plant’s schedule and you can’t change that or dictate that. It requires patience. You have to slow down and observe. You have to make sure you’re being vigilant because it’s a process.”
One of her favorite moments out in the field was visiting a site in Northern California where she saw trout lilies in person for the first time. “There was this whole hillside of them under a canopy of oak trees and conifers, and it was just one of those moments of joy and magic, where you think, ‘Everyone should experience this and be reminded of the connection that we have to nature and how important it is to stay connected and to feel that joy,’” she described, adding that coming across a species for the first time is one of most humbling and inspiring parts of her work.
“It’s that curiosity and the fact that there are infinite possibilities for learning and gaining perspective [that I enjoy the most],” Nelson added. “Being drawn to the work that I have the privilege to do and have those opportunities on a regular basis to be reminded to stay curious and be reminded of that connectedness with nature and other people. Finding that inspiration and things to be excited about…I could go into the field every day for the rest of my life and learn something new. Sometimes I feel as if those are the big moments, even though it’s not necessarily a ‘big win’ moment. It’s just being reminded of why I do this work.”
She tries to take that attitude with the scope of what she does with CNPS and CaPR, as well, reminding herself that small things are just as important as the monumental achievements. “Everything we do feels important,” she said. “[It could be] a touchpoint with a single, new volunteer who suddenly has their eyes opened to the wonder of this work or the importance of a species habitat that’s threatened. “There are so many big and small wins, and not a single one is ever accomplished by one person. And there are so many big and small challenges, and not a single one is ever carried by one person.
“Seeds and seed banking is a very explicit action of open optimism, and that’s so important these days with how easy it is to focus on the difficult things and all of the hurdles and overwhelming things that are happening,” Nelson continued. “So doing seed collection and seed banking work is an exercise in optimism, I think, and in hope for the future. It’s very rewarding work. I love the role that I have, and I work with awesome people on our team and with our partners and collaborators.”
- Interview with Kristen Nelson (2025), written by Brooke Clifford
“I had a pretty circuitous path to botany and conservation work. When I really think about it, I feel that my botany journey and my journey to conservation started when I was young – I just didn’t know it at the time,” Nelson said. “Some of my most distinct childhood memories comes from those hikes and explorations around Mount Charleston.
“There was one hike that was my favorite and every time it was my turn to choose, I always chose the same one,” she recalled. “We had some neighbors who had kids a similar age as myself and my brother. They weren’t as into the outdoor/hiking thing, but my dad told me to invite them. And I remember trying to convince them and explaining to them about how this hike is so amazing; that it’s hard at first, but you have to press on past the hard part and then it’s like you start to draw energy from nature.
“For me, I love thinking back on that because as a young kid, I didn’t really have perspective of the whole world. I was just speaking from the heart and I love thinking back on that younger version of myself trying to convince someone to connect with nature with me, and that you can draw energy from nature and the trees. It’s like, ‘Wow, I said that when I was 12 or so,’” Nelson laughed. “It’s one of those interesting moments that has stuck with me.”
Nelson’s path to her current role wasn’t always so straightforward. She was originally studying architecture as an undergraduate student when a class she was taking for her minor in sustainable development had a huge impact on her trajectory. “I was in my early twenties and that class opened my eyes for the first time to conservation and environmental work as a profession, and also as a crisis in terms of the climate crisis and the depth of the environmental work that needs to be done to address that. I ended up changing my major. I walked away from architecture and wanted to pursue a path where I could try to be a voice and an advocate in that space – for other organisms, for imperiled habitats, for conservation movements.”
After graduating Nelson worked for various private consultants that focused on governmental environmental regulations. She was able to work with biologists including field botanists, field biologists, and wildlife biologists, which further introduced her to conservation career pathways. “It was like a fire, a passion was lit and I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she explained.
“I got connected with CNPS initially through my local chapter, which I think is true for a lot of people [involved],” Nelson mentioned. “That was more than ten years ago and, initially, it was about native plants and my budding career in that direction. At this point it’s about so much more than that, and this group of people have given me that sense of connection and community, as well. It’s that shared mission and purpose and it’s these relationships which make me feel so rooted in the place where I live. CNPS and my connection to that chapter of CNPS is a big part of that for me.”
As a Rare Plant Program Manager, Nelson has traveled around California assisting in seed collecting and other conservation projects with various CNPS and CaPR partners. “We’re always trying to be good stewards of the funding that we use and CNPS has a pretty dispersed team,” she explained. “We strategize around which species targets really need the most attention or rise to the top of the priority list, and who we have positioned to be able to be effective with the funding and target that particular species.”
Nelson is based in San Louis Obispo and much of her field work has been focused around the coast of central California. She oversees and manages the rare plant seed projects with field-based components and interfaces with the research portion of CNPS’ rare plants team. “Our data coming in from the field is sometimes a direct or indirect way to inform the rest of what we’re doing on the research and writing side,” Nelson explained, adding that the field component of her work is where she is most involved with California Plant Rescue.
“I get to go out and do some of the seed work myself, which is really rewarding and probably some of my favorite work that we do,” she said. “Oftentimes you have to be on the plant’s schedule and you can’t change that or dictate that. It requires patience. You have to slow down and observe. You have to make sure you’re being vigilant because it’s a process.”
One of her favorite moments out in the field was visiting a site in Northern California where she saw trout lilies in person for the first time. “There was this whole hillside of them under a canopy of oak trees and conifers, and it was just one of those moments of joy and magic, where you think, ‘Everyone should experience this and be reminded of the connection that we have to nature and how important it is to stay connected and to feel that joy,’” she described, adding that coming across a species for the first time is one of most humbling and inspiring parts of her work.
“It’s that curiosity and the fact that there are infinite possibilities for learning and gaining perspective [that I enjoy the most],” Nelson added. “Being drawn to the work that I have the privilege to do and have those opportunities on a regular basis to be reminded to stay curious and be reminded of that connectedness with nature and other people. Finding that inspiration and things to be excited about…I could go into the field every day for the rest of my life and learn something new. Sometimes I feel as if those are the big moments, even though it’s not necessarily a ‘big win’ moment. It’s just being reminded of why I do this work.”
She tries to take that attitude with the scope of what she does with CNPS and CaPR, as well, reminding herself that small things are just as important as the monumental achievements. “Everything we do feels important,” she said. “[It could be] a touchpoint with a single, new volunteer who suddenly has their eyes opened to the wonder of this work or the importance of a species habitat that’s threatened. “There are so many big and small wins, and not a single one is ever accomplished by one person. And there are so many big and small challenges, and not a single one is ever carried by one person.
“Seeds and seed banking is a very explicit action of open optimism, and that’s so important these days with how easy it is to focus on the difficult things and all of the hurdles and overwhelming things that are happening,” Nelson continued. “So doing seed collection and seed banking work is an exercise in optimism, I think, and in hope for the future. It’s very rewarding work. I love the role that I have, and I work with awesome people on our team and with our partners and collaborators.”
- Interview with Kristen Nelson (2025), written by Brooke Clifford