Volunteer of the Month: Colgate leads hands-on efforts to help the local ecosystem

Haven Colgate’s interest in environmental activism began when she read “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) in third grade. Since then, she’s volunteered in ways that have a positive impact on the natural world, concentrating on making a difference at the local level.

Colgate is the chair of the Hastings Conservation Commission, a “seven-member volunteer body that advises the board of trustees and village manager on issues relating to sustainability and the environment,” according to the commission. She’s the co-leader, with Susan Harris, of the Hastings Vine Squad, a group of volunteers who remove invasives that threaten the health of trees. She’s a founding member of the Hastings Pollinator Pathway Committee, which seeks to create a network of pollinator-friendly gardens on private and public land. Colgate also serves as the Conservation Commission’s liaison to the Climate Smart Communities Task Force and the Zero Waste Advisory Task Force, and is a member of the Hastings Beautification Committee.