Heidi Sourwine
Interim Executive Director
Primary Responsibilities
- Works with the board of the directors and the community to provide leadership for the annual, and long-term, direction and standards of operation for the land trust
- Manages the land protection program and the development of strategic community conservation efforts
- Provides guidance and insight into the creation of community partnerships, working with the Army on land protection projects, and establishing land protection goals
- Ensures that the land trust operates in accordance to national best practices
- Oversees all fundraising activities
- Identifies opportunities to connect children and adults to nature and farms within Tug Hill
Past Experience
Before joining Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, Heidi spent seven years with the Indian River Lakes Conservancy, where she served as Executive Director and previously as Program and Communications Coordinator. Her work focused on land protection, environmental education, community engagement, and outreach—helping to grow programs that made conservation personal and accessible for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Earlier in her career, she served as the Community Assessment Coordinator for the Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank, where she built partnerships to tackle blight and reinvest in neighborhoods through strategic property redevelopment. She also worked as a naturalist and environmental educator at the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, creating immersive nature experiences for children and families.
In another chapter of her career, Heidi managed Heath Photography Studio, where she worked closely with families to capture life’s milestones and preserve family legacies— an experience that deepened her appreciation for storytelling, memory, and heritage.
Education
Heidi holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from St. Lawrence University with a concentration in environmental sociology—the study of the relationship between people and the natural world, and how communities can work together to protect the places they love. Environmental sociology uplifts the idea that the health of our communities and the health of our environment are deeply intertwined, and that lasting conservation grows from care, connection, and collaboration.
Favorite Protected Place
French Settlement Nature Preserve in Lorraine, NY, one of Tug Hill’s seven nature preserves.
Hobbies
Hiking, paddling, making fairy houses, and any activity that gets kids excited about nature.