Stories from the Forest: Mark McKnight
As we move toward the end of 2023, we’re taking a look back at some of the stories that defined the year. This week, Mark McKnight, our President/CEO, reflects on what excites him the most about our future at Reflection Riding.
📸 Chattanooga Times Free Press
When I started working with Reflection Riding in 2017 I was also given an old key to our front gate on a worn keychain. Attached to a very large wooden fob with the word “Reflection Riding” burned into it, a small decorative metal attachment bears an inscription: “John A. Chambliss, Chattanooga, Tennessee.” The other side, dated 1957, depicts a road with three trees and the tagline “Plant Trees for Tomorrow.”
I keep this keychain next to my desk as a reminder of the many people with a vision who came before us and taught us to plan for the future—to plant trees that we will never see mature in our lifetime.
Next to that keychain I keep a projectile point, discovered by a student in a tree on the property, which has been subsequently dated to around 3,500 years old.
This month, we’ll begin an archaeological dig to ensure our growth doesn’t hinder our ability to tell the story of those who came before us on this land. Together these objects help me keep the daily challenges of conservation work in perspective.They also help me harness my enthusiasm for our Framework for the Future and remind me that doing things right takes time. The timeline for conservation work is forever.
When I reflect on the past six years at Reflection Riding, I see my first few years of that journey into forever. I see a few saplings that are beginning to take root, grow, and will flourish for decades to come. I see how the work that we are doing together to conserve this special place is creating a space of belonging, beauty, refuge, resilience and reflection for all Chattanoogans.
This year has been record breaking for us. It is exciting to see so many of you out here connecting with nature. But what excites me most is knowing that future generations will get to enjoy the same experiences thanks to our hard work today. They will experience the same sense of awe we do as they encounter the beauty of nature, as they imagine the native people, the soldiers, the farmers and the families who have traversed this land over the ages. I am grateful for all that you do to sustain Reflection Riding for generations to come.
