Meet Our New Community Engagement Director, Taylor!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt most connected to people, nature, and the spaces where the two meet.

Over the past two planting seasons, I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer with CanopyBloomington, spending weekend mornings planting trees alongside passionate volunteers, community members, and staff who care deeply about this city.

What first drew me to Canopy was its mission to grow and protect Bloomington’s urban canopy, but what kept me coming back was the community behind the work.

From the very beginning, I was struck by how Canopy Bloomington approaches environmental work not just through trees, but through people and relationships. It quickly became clear to me that Canopy is about much more than planting trees. It is about building a more connected, more resilient community for everyone.

I recently graduated from Indiana University’s O’Neill School with a master’s degree in Environmental Sustainability, where much of my work focused on planning, climate resilience and environmental equity. Throughout my academic and professional experiences, I have become especially passionate about the ways sustainability work can support neighborhoods that are too often overlooked in environmental planning conversations.

Before joining Canopy, I worked as an outdoor educator in the mountains of California, teaching youth about climate concepts, ecology, teamwork, and outdoor skills. Some of my favorite moments came from watching young people build confidence outdoors and discover their own connection to the natural world.

Outside of work, I love hiking, reading, trying new food, live music, traveling, and spending time with animals and the people I love. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit nine countries so far, and while every landscape has been beautiful in its own way, my favorite part of traveling has always been connecting with local communities and learning how people relate to the places they call home. Those experiences continually remind me that environmental work is deeply tied to culture, community, and human connection. That belief is what excites me most about this role.

As Community Engagement Director, I look forward to helping more people connect with

Canopy Bloomington’s mission, whether that be through volunteering, education, partnerships, or simply spending time together outdoors. Climate resilience begins at the community level, and I am incredibly excited to help grow programs and relationships that make environmental action feel accessible, meaningful, and fun!

I am so grateful to now officially be part of the CanopyBloomington team, and I cannot wait to meet more of you along the way.

See you out in the community, and hopefully under the trees!

Taylor Stout

Community Engagement Specialist

CanopyBloomington