Supporter Spotlight: Kasia Grzebyk
This month, we’re excited to spotlight Kasia Grzebyk, a dedicated steward of the Issaquah Alps who’s transformed their Squak Mountain backyard into a thriving native plant sanctuary. Kasia’s deep connection to nature inspires family adventures and a strong commitment to conservation, embodying the spirit that helps protect and preserve our beloved trails for future generations.
Photo courtesy of Kasia Grzebyk
By Kasia Grzebyk, IATC Advocacy Committee member
My journey into conservation started in a place many people wouldn’t expect: an elementary school assembly featuring Smokey Bear. For an hour, I sat completely captivated as Smokey taught us about forest protection and wildfire prevention. I came home so excited to tell my mom what I learned, only to be crushed when I found her lighting a log in our fireplace. I panicked and begged her to put out the fire, insisting that Smokey wouldn’t approve. She thought I was nuts (and probably still does). I admit that I really missed the mark on Smokey’s message. But more importantly, that assembly really stuck with me. It sparked a lifelong motivation to protect the environment and the wildlife that depends on it.
My involvement with the Issaquah Alps Trails Club (IATC) began after I noticed the impacts of the Tree Tip timber sale on Tiger Mountain. The extent of the logging really concerned me. I wanted to understand more about what was happening and how the working forest model on Tiger fit into it all. That curiosity led me to reach out to both IATC and the Department of Natural Resources. I was drawn to IATC’s approach: conserving the forests while also fostering collaboration with DNR and the broader community. I’ve been involved ever since.
Photo courtesy of Kasia Grzebyk
Access to public lands is a cornerstone of life in our community. It’s why so many of us are here, and why we stay. The physical and mental benefits of time in nature are huge, but they only exist if we actively protect these places. That belief fuels the work I do with IATC, in my neighborhood, and in my career. Stewardship isn’t just about enjoying access to nature—it’s about advocating for it too.
If I had advice for others looking to get more involved in conservation or community advocacy, it would be to stay curious and ask questions. My journey with IATC began with concern over logging; but at its core, it all started with curiosity. I reached out, started learning, and one thing led to another: I joined the IATC advocacy committee, wrote a piece on reforestation, and helped coordinate a community hike to actually see DNR’s reforestation efforts in practice. Getting involved doesn’t have to be complicated—sometimes it starts with just asking one question.
Photo courtesy of Kasia Grzebyk
When I think of a trail or natural space in the Issaquah Alps that’s especially meaningful to me, I honestly think of my backyard. I’m incredibly lucky to live on Squak Mountain. My husband and I recently finished building a trail on our property, in an area that had been stripped of most vegetation before we moved in. We planted nearly 700 native plants and laid a path lined with fallen logs (thanks, Bomb Cyclone). Now it’s alive with flowers, bees, hummingbirds, and the occasional deer or bear. I walk it multiple times a day. It’s my little piece of the Alps, and I treasure it.
This deep connection to nature is something I want to share with my family as well. That’s why this summer, my husband, our 2-year-old, and I are heading to Finland to hike under the midnight sun in the Arctic Circle. Probably not recommended in any parenting book—but we’re all in. Wish us luck!
Photo courtesy of Kasia Grzebyk
Interested in learning more about our advocacy efforts or getting involved with our committee?