Nova Conservation’s Year in Review 2020

No time to watch the whole thing? Here’s a summary of our 2020

January: I officially launched Nova Conservation! My pre-COVID vision was to operate as a research-based ecotourism company. I purchased my website, designed my logo, and started taking entrepreneurial classes through CO.STARTERS.

February: I started to build an online presence, got my first intern, and continued my entrepreneur course. I began planning for my first workshops and trips to be spring/summer 2020 (haha).

March: The whole world shut down, and I needed to stay home with my kids. My husband worked which I am very grateful for. Nova Conservation was on a mini hiatus, but I kept growing online.

April: About a month into shelter-in-place, I realized I was going to change tactics. I started drafting an online database that would serve as a one stop shop for all things conservation. My plans included a job board, easy posting system, searchable tags for users to quickly find events/experiences, and so much more. The goal is to help meaningful organizations find employees, volunteers, and trip participants as painlessly as possible.

May: I began interviewing potential companies to help design and develop my new website. I also found Kelsey through Instagram, and now she’s our Social Media Director and basically my right hand [wo]man.

June: I met Gabe, a web developer through Reddit, and he lives locally. He and Emma run GEMMA Marketing Consultants, and we agreed on a contract for site development and marketing strategies. They are the best.

July: I don’t remember anything significant that happened, but we just kept growing and strategizing. I started holding weekly meetings around this time and added Emily and Carly to my team as blog writers. We also started planning our Kickstarter campaign.

August: With the website set to launch in October, we needed a video for our concurrent Kickstarter. We enlisted Skip from 148 Films as our videographer, and the result was nothing short of amazing. Also, my now 5 year-old started kindergarten around this time, which was oddly stressful.

September: Realizing I couldn’t “do it all,” I added Steven, our Digital Marketing Intern, and Hannah, Partnerships Intern, to the team. Thank goodness!

October: Site launch encountered a hiccup that was pretty much my fault due to my lack of knowledge about how websites work…Yikes. Gabe spent days trying to fix it. I don’t think he slept much then. Finally, the site was fixed and LIVE!!!!

November: Full systems ahead! We have been reaching out to as many people to post on our site as possible since it is FREE! There are a few kinks we need to work out, and the posting isn’t as easy as I’d like it to be, but we are continually making improvements. I want everyone who visits our site to know this is just it’s beta form. We have big plans and changes coming, but they take time…and money. Which is what Kickstarter is for.

December: And here we are, at the end of a crazy year. I’m continually looking ahead, so it’s good to remember all that we’ve done this year. We welcomed a few more people the team around the end of the year, including Jerrica (blog writer), Claire (social media), Mario (overseas ambassador), and Emily D (who does all the things). I am so proud and incredibly grateful for my team! All of our online supporters, a huge thank you too. Every time you comment, reshare, or “like” what we are doing online, it helps more people find out about us. We couldn’t do it without you! We are just getting started though. With our Kickstarter now launching February 1, we need you now more than ever! If you’re a fan, please share, tweet, and post about our work. Oh, and please GIVE to our Kickstarter! We have some really cool incentives planned for you that I can’t wait to share.

Here’s to 2021!