Natalie Burgos, Urban Ecology Fellow

Natalie Burgos is the Urban Ecology Fellow in Chicago, Illinois. She provides a unique lens by adding ecologically beneficial elements of conservation in community projects, such as planting native plants and developing wildlife habitats. She also supports local partners by helping with research, event planning, hands-on restoration and wildlife monitoring.

Courtesy of Natalie Burgos

What is your first or favorite memory with being outdoors?
My favorite memory of being outside is when my family went to Yellowstone; it was beautiful to see the park. My family and I went in a Sprinter van and while driving there we saw a herd of bison! A park ranger came to stop traffic to let them pass by, we were able to sit in the back of the van and saw the bison 15 feet away!

What inspired you to take on this fellowship?
I majored in Conservation and Restoration Ecology at Loyola University. From there, I worked at a restoration contract company then went on to gain experience as a Park Ranger Intern with the Army Corps of Engineers and later as a Youth Crew Leader with Friends of the Forest Preserves. I also had done a bit of research before, but I wanted to get more experience in it as well as in planning and project management which is why this fellowship is an amazing opportunity.

How does your cultural heritage impact the work you do?
My parents are from Colombia, and ever since I was little they would tell me stories of the different places they would go. Colombia is one of the countries with the greatest variety of ecosystems in the world. Hearing their stories and getting to learn about all the natural beauty really made me want to protect nature not just in Colombia, but everywhere. I want to inspire others to have the same appreciation for nature’s beauty. I want to do what my parents did for me, for other people.

What do you hope to do after this fellowship? Do you want to remain an environmental steward?
I want to keep working to protect the environment and inspire others to better coexist with nature.