Meet Chris O’Bara, one member of our thoroughly brilliant and talented board of directors! A retired aquatic biologist and grant administrator, Chris joined the Conservancy board in spring 2022. He has been interested in environmental issues and wildlife his entire life, since growing up on a family farm in Massachusetts. There, he gained an awareness of the importance of community impact on land use and land conservation. He spent his career in natural resources and conservation, working in academia, private industry, and government.
Why is spending time outdoors important to you?
I spend time outdoors for so many reasons. It is a time to share the wonders of nature with friends and family – with a short hike, backpacking trip, mountain climbing adventure, or a day hunting, fishing or kayaking. It also provides me the opportunity to challenge myself through a more physically exerting activity like climbing a mountain or scrambling over a rock-strewn trail. But most importantly, it provides the opportunity to refresh and renew my adult being, and remind me of my childlike persona.
What’s your perfect outdoors-kind-of-day?
Being outdoors and experiencing nature in any way. But my perfect day would be waking up in a tent on a cool fall day along the Appalachian Trail, and looking outside at a clear sky and brilliant sunrise and thinking about the upcoming day with family and friends exploring nature after a cup of coffee. To me it is all about the experience.
Advice for someone new to exploring nature?
Do some preplanning. Consider your comfort level and friends and family you would like to accompany you. Once in nature, slow down and enjoy the sounds, smells, and sights. It is not a race, but an opportunity to explore nature and escape from the daily grind. Stop and sit at a relaxed place and listen to nature’s sounds and view nature’s sights. It is not about the distance you travel but the experience you enjoy.
Cat or dog person?
This is an easy answer: DOG person. I and my family have always had dogs as pets. Our current pet, Luna, is a 70 lb. mix breed who thinks she is a lap dog. Unfortunately for Luna, she is a bit big for a lap dog.
Hidden gem in southeast Ohio?
That is a tough one. We are fortunate in this region with so many natural hidden gems. I really enjoy the Baker and Canaan Preserves, as well as Boch Hollow Nature Preserve near Logan and Lake Katherine Nature Preserve near Jackson.
Why is protecting land around us so important?
Our natural lands represent the heritage and legacy of both Indigenous people and our American experience. Growing up in central Massachusetts, I saw our town change from a farming and open lands community to a bedroom community. My fondest memories as a kid were roaming around my family farm and adjacent lands, exploring nature and the wild things that lived there. Unfortunately, these lands are no longer available for roaming kids. So, protecting lands is important; it provides the opportunity for want-to-be roaming kids and adults to experience the wonders of the natural world and gain a respect for nature and its incredible diversity and healing qualities.