Interview with Amy Kamarainen – August 13, 2025

Author: Peter Robinson

Amy Kamarainen is the Conservancy’s new Executive Director. She will be stepping into the role that Michael Dunn held for 13 years. Michael is planning to focus on field-oriented work in the future.

I recently sat down with Amy to learn more about her background, why she applied for this position, and what she hopes to work on over the coming years.

Peter

Why don’t we start by introducing you to the members of the Conservancy? Tell us a bit about how you got to this point.

Amy

I grew up in a rural part of Michigan called the Upper Peninsula, where my family fished, hunted, and farmed on and near Lake Superior. So I grew up engaged with my environment in ways that drew a connection with the land and helped me understand the hard work and learning that go into stewardship. I spent a lot of time outdoors and with my family. Since then I’ve been trying to do small things to help the natural world that I have grown to love, and I’ve figured out ways that I can help through education and research related to environmental issues, so my career has been focused on environmental education and research.

Peter

Speaking of education, can you tell us a bit about your academic background?

Amy

I did my university degree at Michigan State University in the Fisheries and Wildlife Department. It exposed me to thinking about human and wildlife connections, and that inspired me to pursue a PhD in Zoology.  My degree in Zoology was focused on understanding how aquatic systems are affected by agriculture.

Peter

And then you started working in the fields you had trained for?

Amy

After my degree in aquatic ecology, I worked with a team of cognitive psychologists, educators, and technologists on research related to environmental education. We designed environmental education pieces that leveraged virtual and augmented reality, and we were looking at how those emerging technologies might be used to connect kids’ learning in the classroom to outdoor experiences like field trips.

After that I worked as the Executive Director of Salmon Coast, a small nonprofit organization based in Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis territory near the northern part of Vancouver Island. In that work I was supporting both education and environmental research.  Salmon Coast operates a remote field station, and I was helping to manage the facility and support the research and monitoring work in that region.

Peter

And now you live on Mayne Island with your family. How did this come about?

Amy

Salmon Coast is in a very remote location. The nearest community had only about 10 full-time residents, and we used our boat to get groceries and other supplies. So when my son was about 3 years old we realized it would be nice if he had other kids around, and we didn’t have to boat an hour and a half to get groceries. We started looking for a place to settle next, and we consider ourselves really lucky that we ended up on Mayne Island.

It was a bit of serendipity that led us here: during the pandemic my husband was also working as a paramedic on the North Island, and was offered a position on Mayne Island. We are thrilled that we had that opportunity to move here.

We purchased Valhalla Gardens, which we now call Valhalla Springs after the lovely spring that nurtures the property.  We’ve been having a great time trying to realize our long-term goals of starting an orchard and having animals help us to manage the landscape, such as sheep to keep the weeds at bay, and pigs to turn over the areas that we want to plant. It’s been fun to be able to work with the animals and the gardens.

Peter

Can you tell us some more about your family?

Amy

My husband, Nico, has gotten involved in the community by serving both as a paramedic and as a member of Mayne Island Fire Rescue. He enjoys helping people out in times of need, and he’s very good at high stress scenarios and emergency situations. However, much of his current work focuses on using data science and technology to support emergency and rural health at the Provincial level.

Our son Ryven is now 6 years old, and finished his first year of kindergarten at the Mayne Island School. He’s excited to be starting grade one this fall. He enjoys helping us with all the plants and animals on the property.

Peter

So what motivated you to apply for the position of Executive Director of the Conservancy?

Amy

I was excited to see the opportunity come up, as it was something that I feel strongly matches my goal for being involved in a community-based organization focused on conservation. I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to take on this role and become more immersed in the Mayne Island community through my work.

I’ve always been impressed by the Conservancy, especially with the diversity of projects and programs underway. Everything from kelp monitoring, to habitat restoration, to bird walks, to beach cleanups. The Conservancy runs amazing family and youth education programs, and I’ve been inspired by the speaker series and other events. I know that a lot of the work is carried out by amazing volunteers. Many community members are involved in Conservancy activities, and I want to continue to find ways for everyone on the island to get involved with the Conservancy.

Peter

What do you think of the current vision to protect 30% of the island by 2033?

Amy

I think that our goal to protect 30% of the island by 2033 is a laudable goal, and one that is going to be very challenging to meet. One of the things I’m excited about in relation to this vision is the idea of thinking globally but acting locally. A lot of different organizations worldwide have committed to the global initiative to protect 30% of land and waters by 2030 in order to help preserve biodiversity and help with habitat conservation, and I think it’s amazing for Mayne Island to commit to this kind of work. The whole community can be involved in conservation because there are so many things that we can do together.

I think the Conservancy’s biggest strength is our team. The staff are amazing. I couldn’t think of people better suited to support the work the Conservancy is doing. This is key, because the people on the team have deep knowledge of habitat restoration, invasive species removal, community engagement and education, and  conservation stewardship agreements or covenants, which are the kinds of tools we need to meet the goal of protecting the land and waters of Mayne Island.

The other aspect is the incredible volunteers involved in the organization, including our board of directors. The directors are committed to fostering this work, and one of the ways that has played out is in doing our best to build deeper relationships and think about ways we can collaborate on conservation with the Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded this land since time immemorial, and who have an ongoing relationships with SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island. 

But we also have challenges, and one of the biggest is invasive species. These include plant species, as well as invasive Fallow deer. These challenges are things that the Conservancy is working on, and I really appreciate that there are others out there who are tackling plants such as Tansy Ragwort, as well as a new group – the Deer Management Society – that’s really focusing on ways we can address the deer problem. Controlling invasive species is critical to realizing our vision of preserving a healthy, rich Douglas fir ecosystem.

Peter

Casting your thoughts forward, what do you hope the Conservancy will have accomplished by its 30th anniversary in 2033?

Amy

I think about creating a “culture of conservation” on the island. If we can find ways to involve everyone on the island in conservation, I think it would be a huge win. And we’re already well on our way in terms of the diversity of programs and the ways for people to get involved, like family nature explorations, light trap monitoring, engaging in a covenant or a stewardship agreement on their land, or helping with invasive species removal. The only way to really accomplish our goal of protecting 30% of Mayne Island by 2033 is by finding ways to work with people throughout the community and offering opportunities for people to deepen their connections with the lands and waters.

Peter

Are there any final comments you’d like to make?

Amy

One final piece that comes to mind is thinking about regional partnerships, and how we can collaborate with conservancies on other Gulf Islands and across the region. This is a great time to build these connections and learn from one another, and to have opportunities to work together in ways that support each other and realize a vision of conservation that reaches across the Gulf. The team has already begun deepening these connections, and I’ll be looking for additional opportunities to collaborate with our regional partners.