Inspiring Conversations with Rebecca Bouquot of Wildlife for Tomorrow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Bouquot.

Hi Rebecca, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began my career in environmental protection, working in the Surface Water Section at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. My days were spent collecting water samples across the state, analyzing water quality, and witnessing firsthand the fragility and vital importance of Arizona’s waterways. Over time, I found my place in watershed restoration – administering grants that helped improve surface water quality across the state. As an Arizona native, that work was deeply meaningful. I’ve always felt a responsibility to leave this place better than I found it.

That sense of purpose eventually steered me toward a long-standing passion: education. I left my state position to step into the world of outdoor learning, working as an instructor and teaching science in my local elementary school district. Watching students light up during hands-on learning experiences confirmed what I had always known – real connection happens when people are in nature.

Those experiences set the stage for my next and most defining chapter. In 2013, I joined Wildlife for Tomorrow to lead the Mesquite Wildlife Oasis program, an outdoor classroom and nature-based learning space. Wildlife for Tomorrow is the official nonprofit partner of the Arizona Game & Fish Department, and when I learned that AZGFD receives zero state tax dollars- relying instead on hunting and fishing licenses and a federal excise tax on outdoor equipment – I was stunned. That realization opened my eyes to the profound role hunters and anglers play in conservation.

Before this work, I’ll admit I didn’t fully understand the hunting community. I grew up more on the “tree-hugger” side of the spectrum and carried stereotypes that simply weren’t true. But learning about the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation changed everything. I discovered that outdoorsmen and women and environmentalists aren’t on opposite sides – they’re on the same team. In fact, they are the primary funders of conservation in North America.

Today, I am honored not only to run the Mesquite Wildlife Oasis, but also to serve Wildlife for Tomorrow as a contractor, supporting organizational operations that advance conservation across Arizona. My work includes fundraising coordination, community engagement, communications and branding, and strengthening collaboration between Wildlife for Tomorrow and the Arizona Game & Fish Department. This dual role allows me to support both on-the-ground education and statewide conservation priorities, ensuring that critical work moves forward.

Since joining Wildlife for Tomorrow, the Mesquite Wildlife Oasis program has reached more than 50,000 students, inspiring curiosity, stewardship, and a lifelong connection to Arizona’s wild places.

Stepping into this space has been the greatest adventure and accomplishment of my career. It has allowed me to blend my love for the environment with my passion for education and my drive to make a lasting impact. My goal is to continue bridging the gap between environmentalists and conservationists – creating a shared space grounded in our collective love for wild Arizona and ensuring that the next generation is ready and empowered to conserve and protect it.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most meaningful journeys, mine hasn’t been a straight, smooth path. It’s been a road with twists, pivots, and plenty of moments that required me to bet on myself.

Transitioning from state government into education – and later into the nonprofit world – came with its challenges. Leaving a stable job to pursue my passion for outdoor learning was both exciting and terrifying. There were moments when I questioned whether stepping into a less predictable career path was the right move. But every time I saw a student’s eyes light up while exploring nature, it reaffirmed my decision.

Working in conservation and education also means navigating limited funding, shifting priorities, and the constant need to do more with less. When I began to understand how wildlife conservation was funded – especially in a state where the agency receives no tax dollars—it was overwhelming at times. But it also fueled my determination to help bridge that gap.

Stepping into leadership roles at Wildlife for Tomorrow brought its own learning curve. Managing an outdoor education program, supporting statewide conservation initiatives, and now also contracting to support fundraising, branding, and operational growth – all of that required me to stretch, adapt, and build new skills along the way. There were certainly days when it felt like I was juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle.

What kept me going was the mission. And honestly, the community. I’ve been surrounded by people who believe in this work just as strongly as I do. They’ve pushed me, supported me, and reminded me why I chose this path.

So no, the road hasn’t always been smooth – but every bump has shaped my career into something richer and more meaningful than I ever expected. The struggles taught me resilience. The pivots taught me courage. And the successes – big and small – taught me gratitude.

If anything, the journey has been beautifully imperfect, and I wouldn’t trade it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Wildlife for Tomorrow is Arizona’s conservation sidekick – the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner of the Arizona Game & Fish Department. Our job is to fill the funding gaps that public dollars can’t cover. If Arizona’s wildlife or habitats need something, and it’s a priority for AZGFD, we work to make it happen.

What truly sets us apart:
• We work statewide and species-wide. Unlike many organizations that focus on just one species – like elk, deer, or big game – we support all wildlife priorities in Arizona.
• We are Arizona-based. Not a national organization. Not sending money elsewhere. Every dollar raised stays right here in Arizona to help Arizona’s wildlife.
• We are the official nonprofit partner of AZGFD. This is a real, working partnership – not symbolic. We collaborate with AZGFD leadership to ensure support goes exactly where it’s needed.
• We are for everyone. You do not have to be a hunter or angler to be part of conservation. If you love Arizona’s wildlife, if you care about the outdoors, if you believe this state is worth conserving – you belong in this mission.

Brand-wise, I’m proud of how we show up. We’re authentic. We’re mission-driven. And we’re building a community of people who care about wild Arizona – from students and families to donors, hunters, businesses, and everyday nature lovers.

I’m proud of the impact. Proud of the kids who now know what a dragonfly nymph is. Proud of the donors who step up to haul water during a drought. Proud of the shared passion that fuels this work.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was the kid who could not stay inside -literally. My mom had to put a bell on the back door because I’d wake up before anyone else, slip outside, and disappear into the yard or neighborhood to play. As long as I can remember, the outdoors has felt like home. Some of my favorite childhood memories are summers spent camping and hiking in Pinetop, AZ – catching crayfish, splashing in streams, turning over rocks and falling into fishing ponds while trying to catch frogs!

I remember sitting next to my dad during a camping trip, counting the seconds between lightning and thunder to track how close the storm was. Those moments – simple but magical – shaped my love for nature and the feeling of being part of the world around me.

My parents also sparked my environmental awareness early on. I was young during the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and even as a kid, it affected me deeply. I couldn’t believe something that devastating could happen to wildlife and entire ecosystems. Looking back, that was one of the first times I felt that protective instinct for the natural world.

Personality-wise, I was… let’s just say “spirited.” I was a handful in my teenage years -wild, curious, questioning every rule, sneaking out of my bedroom window, determined to carve my own path in my own time. My parents earned every gray hair I gave them, but that fierce independence is also what shaped my work ethic and drive today.

The outdoors played a huge role in balancing that energy. Being in nature grounded me – whether I was a kid running barefoot or a teenager trying to figure out who I was. And now, as an adult, it still does. There’s a lot of science showing how important outdoor time is for youth development, and I’m basically a walking example of it.

When I look back, I can see clearly how those early days – my wild streak, progressive parents, endless outdoor adventures -shaped the person I am now. I’m driven, passionate, deeply connected to the natural world, All of it built the foundation for the work I do today and the person I’ve become.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wildlifefortomorrow.org