If you don’t recognize Lynn Cameron’s face, you will probably recognize her name. She’s been a local ambassador for the million-acre George Washington National Forest—sharing her knowledge and appreciation for our extraordinary public lands—for decades.
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Join us in honoring our 2022 Valley Treasure – Lynn Cameron
July 13, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
While working as a reference librarian at James Madison University, Lynn and her husband started exploring our neighboring public lands and got involved with Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Not too long after, they adopted their own sections of trail to maintain. From there, her fate was set. Lynn has spent the past four decades advocating for protection of our public lands. In addition to serving as past president of the Virginia Wilderness Committee, Lynn is the co-chair of Friends of the Shenandoah Mountain.
In those roles, Lynn has spent the last 20 years connecting a diverse network of forest users to build a broad base of support for the 92,000 acre Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area in the George Washington National Forest that will ensure diverse plant and wildlife habitat, clean water for communities downstream, and a variety of recreational opportunities, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, and nature study for future generations.
If you’re lucky, you’ll run in to Lynn in the woods on a hike and you’ll get to experience her deep love, vast knowledge and commitment to the natural world.
Honoring Lynn
We were excited to honor Lynn Cameron’s work to preserve and protect Shenandoah Mountain with a lecture by Steven David Johnson, a conservation photographer and Professor of Visual and Communication Arts at Eastern Mennonite University.
Steve’s photography of the natural world, including photos of many of the critters on Shenandoah Mountain that will enjoy the protection offered by the National Scenic Area designation, has appeared in Orion, Nature Conservancy Magazine, Ranger Rick, Virginia Wildlife, National Science Teachers Association Press books and numerous conservation publications and journals.
Steve is also vice-president of the Virginia Wilderness Committee, a close partner of Friends of the Shenandoah Mountain. When he’s not in the office, you’ll probably find him crouched next to a vernal pool photographing Appalachian salamanders.
Sarah Francisco, director of Southern Environmental Law Center’s Virginia office and Alliance board member presented the Valley Treasure award to Lynn.
About Valley Treasure
The Shenandoah Valley is an extraordinary place, with its iconic farming landscapes, beautiful streams, world-class public forest lands, and rich cultural history. We recognize and are grateful for the many community members that work quietly to conserve the land, water and way of life in their corner of the Valley. The Valley Treasure award is an opportunity to meet and recognize those folks.
Top photo: Senator Kaine with Lynn Cameron (Friends of Shenandoah Mountain), and Mark Miller (Virginia Wilderness Committee) in the Confederate Breastworks parking area atop Shenandoah Mountain after their hike on the Shenandoah Mountain Trail. (Photo by Nancy Sorrells)