Casey Bries

Casey Bries (they/them) was fortunate to grow up in small-town Iowa, riding bikes down dirt roads, catching fireflies, and staying out “until the streetlights came on”. The grandchild of an avid angler, a birder, and a gardener, they spent most of their childhood with their hands in the dirt and head in the clouds. Despite this, it wasn’t until they moved to Minnesota in their early 20s that they realized they, too, were a lover of nature. During a blissful and unsuspecting moment in the BWCA 15 years ago, Casey suddenly realized that the outdoors was their calling, and they haven’t looked back. Their greatest passion lies in the transformation of cultural pillars to promote widespread participation in the public process and the shared stewarding of public lands. Casey believes safe access to quality natural spaces is a fundamental human right, and their career has centered on dismantling barriers to that access.
Casey has held many roles in conservation, from trail work and forest restoration to managing environmental education and volunteer programs. Currently, they work as a consultant, focusing on environmental justice, stakeholder engagement, and organizational management for environmental agencies and public land managers. Casey holds an MPA in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Colorado Denver and a B.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies & Outdoor Recreation & Education from the University of Minnesota.