Childhood adventures to conserving the Ozarks
By Alexis Robles, OLT Administrative Associate
Tanglevine Trail at MDC’s Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood, MO. Photo by Michelle Scherer
Growing up in Crestwood, MO, I spent my childhood outside from dawn to dusk—mud pies and stick forts were far more exciting than any toy.
In the early 2000s, without the pull of screens, my imagination ran wild. Daily walks with my mom through Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center and nearby parks grounded me, and even into middle school, those trails remained a constant.
In college, I realized nature helped regulate my emotions and reconnected me to that free-spirited inner child. I began leading friends on hikes and road-tripped to explore tougher terrain.
Today, I work as an administrator with Ozark Land Trust. I may not work directly with the land or landowners, but I get a front- row seat to the passion my team pours into this mission. Even the background work feels meaningful. My childhood sense of wonder still guides me—and it’s why I believe the Ozarks, with all their beauty and history, are worth protecting forever.