Press launch by Berks Nature on 30 Might 2025

Kim Murphy, President of Berks Nature introduced her plans to retire in December 2025.

Kim joined Berks Nature (then Berks County Conservancy) in January 2004.  As president, she works with a devoted employees to enhance and defend land and water assets, to teach the neighborhood about land use and its implications, and to attach folks to nature thus, conserving Berks County’s distinctive cultural and environmental assets for the good thing about future generations.

Throughout her 21-year tenure, Kim led the group via a reputation change in 2015 altering from The Berks County Conservancy to Berks Nature.

Murphy’s skilled accomplishments embrace: 

  • Elevating over $60 million for the group.
  • Instituting over 10 new endowed funds, together with 5 presents of over $1 million
  • The repositioning of the Berks County Conservancy to a corporation that values the steadiness of conservation of the atmosphere with growth. 
  • The 2015 organizational title change and brand re-design making the title extra accessible for folks to grasp who the group is and what they do. 
  • The creation of and continued publication of the State of the Atmosphere report chronicling indicators in 25 areas of land, water, waste, air and power. 
  • The creation of Eco-Camp in 2010 reaching hundreds of youth through the years now implementing a second location.
  • The creation of the Better Studying Trails partnership wanting on the regional system of trails and implementing the county greenway park and rec plan. 
  • Reaching nationwide land belief accreditation in 2024.
  • The creation of the group’s educated volunteer group, Berks Nature Ambassadors – now over 80 robust. 
  • The creation of seven further neighborhood gardens for a complete of 9. 
  • The acquisition of the Malickson protect, and the Dent-Gundry protect with presents to endow their care. 
  • The re-naming of the Earl Poole Sanctuary to Bob’s Woods on the Earl Poole Sanctuary and the reward of $1 million to help our trails & protect specialist and help land safety actions. 
  • The safety of over 7,683 acres through conservation easement with an appraised worth of $17,752,124 and including over 581 acres valued at $2,657,872 to the group’s owned properties.  

Murphy indicated that she is most happy with two issues specifically: 1) the creation of the Berks Nature Preschool opening in 2018, and a couple of) the development of The Nature Place opening in 2017 and enlargement in 2022.  

I’ve had the chance to handle and assist develop an distinctive employees through the years, work with unimaginable companions throughout the state, contribute as a board member of our statewide group, We Preserve PA and affect native and regional perceptions about conservation and the atmosphere. Thanks to my many board chairs and board of administrators through the years for all the time offering me the pliability and belief to regulate the sails when obligatory.
– Kim Murphy

The Berks Nature workforce focuses on preserving agricultural land, forests and open house; defending the standard of our streams and floor water; preserving historic landmarks and scenic landscapes; environmental training and by selling these values that contribute to a sustainable future for our neighborhood.   

Earlier than becoming a member of Berks Nature, Kim spent almost 12 years as director of growth at Penn State the place she managed the event, alumni and college relations packages for each the Berks Campus in Studying and the Lehigh Valley Campus in Fogelsville.  Kim graduated from Penn State College, College Park with a level in Elementary Schooling.  

The board has shaped a transition committee made up of present and former board members. They’re initiating a five-month search course of for a successor. The purpose is to establish and publicly introduce the brand new President on or round November 1, 2025. 

About Berks Nature

Berks Nature is a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation group that has been serving the Berks County neighborhood since 1974. We imagine that nature is important to our high quality of life. Our work facilities round this worth, from land preservation and path administration, to neighborhood gardens and environmental training, to our State of the Atmosphere report and summer season Eco-Camp; defending, stewarding, and connecting folks to nature and Berks County’s distinctive mosaic of pure assets. We welcome your involvement in some ways! Turn into a Champion of Nature, Volunteer, make a Donation, or attend an upcoming program at The Nature Place. Become involved immediately…your native motion can have a worldwide impression. Go to berksnature.org for more information!