Tell us a little about yourself

Hi! I’m Brianna Westmoreland, I’m seventeen and currently a junior in high school at The Saint Constantine School. I’m also a social media volunteer for Sierra Club Houston and aspiring environmentalist.

Describe the first time you felt a strong affinity for nature

Strangely enough I don’t think it was when I was even in nature. I remember a day in 8th grade when my English teacher asked us to describe the most beautiful things we’d ever seen. That summer  I had been to Colorado and driven through real, towering mountains for the first time in my life. At the time I was homesick and tired and didn’t really appreciate it. But when I remember it in class the beauty struck me so profoundly. The image of the dykes, walls of stone jutting out from the tree-blanketed mountains, in front of a stormy gray sky just filled with such utter peace. It was my first step in understanding the importance of nature and beauty, I think.

Describe a time you participated at a Sierra Club event? What did you do and what motivated you to participate?

Unfortunately my participation has been entirely vicarious so far, as I haven’t been able to attend an event. I hope to be able to attend one soon, but I’m glad I can still support Sierra Club by volunteering in the meantime. I’m really trying to be more involved in local environmental movements which is why I joined the Sierra Club. I think it’s important to “think globally, act locally”.

What kind of activity or activities would you like to see the Houston Sierra Club to do more of and why?

I’d love to work more on bringing nature into the city, through education and other projects. It’s so important that nature is accessible to everyone, especially those without the means to grave to see it.

What environmental message do you have for young people?

It’s hard to choose just one, in the environment in particular there is so much good to be done. My one message would just be to care about something and work to improve it. It’s easy to be cynical, especially in such tumultuous times as these, but unless we care enough to do something nothing will ever be done.

What Is your favorite Hiking or Camping trail?

In Texas I love camping at Brazos Bend! It’s a beautiful snapshot of what our wetlands have to offer. When I get the chance I also love Trinidad State Park in Colorado for its stunning landscapes, it’s a great place to relax and meditate.

Are you concerned with the environment? If so, what do you think is the biggest issue?

I’m so concerned about the environment. But I’m not sure it’s right to say any one issue is the biggest. I’d have to just generally say people not doing anything is our greatest obstacle. If lawmakers, companies, and the public decided to tackle any environmental issue I think we could deal with it.

It would be a mistake to focus on just one aspect of environmentalism, we need to work to bring nuanced, multi-faceted sustainability and environmental justice into the world. That can only be done by working on many things at once, together.