Kyle Bality
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Planning and Design, 2016

What tasks and responsibilities are involved in your work?

I coordinate and guide volunteer projects for Albuquerque Open Space, along with public outreach to inform people of their public lands, and the importance of stewardship.

What projects are you currently working on?

During the winter, I guide student and volunteer groups through projects in the Bosque, where students help plant cottonwoods as a means of understanding the importance of environmental stewardship through community service. Students also learn about the culture and history surrounding the Rio Grande and why community engagement is so essential to creating a healthy and vibrant ecosystem. During the spring/summer, I also work with trail crews to plan, design, construct, and maintain trail systems throughout Albuquerque Open Space.

What makes your work personally rewarding and how has it impacted you and your community?

This work applies both hands-on work with the community that extends beyond the classroom. Working with the city’s youth creates an opportunity to inspire a sense of responsibility and connection to open space around the city. Through education, the public becomes more aware of their surroundings and the essential natural systems surrounding them.  

How has the BAEPD program prepared you for your career?

BAEPD prepared me for my career with a better understanding of culture, community, and how people interact with their surrounding environment. Understanding the history and the culture of the land has had a big role in community outreach and education.