The Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) will be regularly featuring alumni, project leaders and other students who help the CSF make a difference on campus. Today's spotlight is on Dan Hintz, who is project lead for the Kincaid Ravine Restoration.
UW Graduation Year: 2016
Major: Master of Environmental Horticulture
Hometown: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Downhill skiing
What CSF project are you working on?
"The Kincaid Ravine Restoration project. We are trying to restore a neglected, 4 acre open space on campus into a healthy urban forest that provides ecological benefits and opportunities for education and respite."
What has been your greatest challenge and reward in implementing your project?
"Restoration is a very slow process, takes a lot of coordination and results can be slow to come by. However, through partnerships with CSF, non-profits like EarthCorps and Stewardship Partners, and myriad student groups, professors and UW administrators, the positive changes at KR over the past 3 years are undeniable. While there is still much work to be done, you can already see much more plant diversity, wildlife and there are even small trails and interpretive areas with benches at the ravine now."
What advice would you give to students interested in the CSF?
"Don’t hesitate and be creative! There are so many ways to make UW a more sustainable and healthy campus and CSF is a great mechanism to make that happen, but you have to have an idea or passion and run with it. CSF staff are very approachable and talking to them during the grant process is also helpful. Not only can you initiate a project for the benefit of the UW community, but you can also learn many valuable skills in the process."
What is your dream job?
"Since I don’t think I will be a professional musician or basketball player anytime soon, I am pretty thrilled to have secured a job as a Restoration Specialist with the Mountains to Sound Greenway right after graduating with my master’s degree back in June."