Hi! My name is Catrina. I am originally from Southeast Michigan where I had the privilege of studying environmental science and spending much time in the moisture rich outwash plains and pine forests of the lower peninsula. In 2020 I moved West to Hurricane, Utah to work on a conservation corps crew and worked on a variety of restoration and trails projects everywhere from Wind Cave National Park South Dakota to Oceano Dunes California, much of Utah as well as parts of Northern Arizona and Southern Nevada. Since then, I have worked all over Utah, and parts of Southern Arizona completing BLM AIM surveys, and spent two years as Lake Mead NRA’s Song Dog Nursery Crew Lead. I love the Mojave!

I enjoy gardening in the community garden, all sorts of arts and crafts, board games, taking beautiful walks in the park admiring all the green growing things, and baking and cooking at home. My favorite way to spend my time is with friends, no matter the activity. My most prized treasures are the people I have met and love dearly, scattered across the country, including right here at GRCA.

How long have you worked at GRCA? Where are you based out of?

Most recently, I was a seasonal on the Vegetation Restoration Crew in 2024 and moved into a permanent role in December 2024. I am based on the South Rim, and largely split my time between the Nursery and the Science & Resource Management building. Feel free to reach out if you would like to say hi or get involved at the Nursery! 

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about your job?

 The goal of a Native Plant Nursery is to propagate native plant material, but there is a lot that goes into growing happy and healthy plants for the park. Managing a nursery is largely an interdisciplinary job, days can range widely from tasks you’d expect like weeding, watering, mixing soil, and sowing seed, to possibly less thought of ones like pest control, hose and irrigation repair, HVAC trouble shooting, and other equipment repair and management.

So far, I have spent a great deal of time working with folks from other work groups and divisions including Wildlife, IT, FMD, Property, and the Auto shop to plan and improve the Nursery’s function. Thank you to everyone who has and continues to contribute to the Nursey’s success! Keep a lookout for a GRCA community plant distribution sometime this summer/ fall!

What’s the best book, podcast, or show you’ve enjoyed recently?

I am an Audiobook gal and one I keep going back to again and again is the Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow.

What’s your go-to comfort food or favorite meal?

My go to comfort food/ favorite meal is Potato pizza and a homemade vinaigrette salad, simple, refreshing, and of course cheese and potatoes!

What are you looking forward to the most this spring season?

Doing good work in this beautiful place with great people! And of course, spending time exploring the outdoors, and eating good food with friends.