Faces of ICL: Meet Member Darcy Williamson-Sweetgall

ICL has worked to protect and restore Idaho’s air, water, lands, and wildlife for over 50 years. In each and every of those years, we’ve relied on our members to make this work possible. Our accomplishments do not just fall on the shoulders of our staff—but on our entire conservation community. Our members are at the core of our conservation community, and are the heartbeat of our organization. Our blog series “Faces of ICL” tells the stories of ICL members, the people who make this work possible.

My business and maiden name is Darcy Williamson; my married name is Darcy J. Sweetgall. I reside in McCall, Idaho, and Lucile, Idaho. I am an author, an herbalist, and the owner of a retreat on the Salmon River called Mavens’ Haven. My passion is spending time hiking and exploring Idaho’s wild places (mountains, rivers, forests, sagebrush steppes). In 1952 my parents moved from Culver City, California to McCall, Idaho. They purchased Edgewater Cottages, along the Payette River from Nelle Tobias’s parents. Nelle lived next door. When I became angry with my parents, I would run away from home – to Nelle, next door. We would make pottery in her basement and bake molasses cookies. My mother would have to come and bring me home, since Nelle would never send me away. I was just three years old when Nelle Tobias introduced me to huckleberries, wild strawberries and thimbleberries. Nelle became my mentor. We developed a life-long friendship.Years later, when I was in my teens, Nelle sold her house to my parents and moved to her new home on Farm-to-Market Road. I was in my late twenties when I learned about the Idaho Conservation League from Nelle, as we visited together in her home over tea (and molasses cookies).Nelle Tobias planted the seed. Sitting with Nelle in the nursing home shortly before she passed away, we reminisced about McCall’s earlier days, when I was a child and she and I would stand by the dam below the Hwy. 55 bridge—a short distance from our homes—and watch the landlocked salmon struggle up through the gates to reach Payette Lake. The river would be red with them. From the lake they would move on up through upper Payette River and side streams. We talked of the mussels, the catfish, and the little sculpins that had once flourished in the river. She spoke again of the Idaho Conservation League. I was in my mid-fifties, then, and vowed to myself that one day, when I was in the position to do so, I would become involved.I find that my passions align with ICL’s work, especially the work toward the return of the salmon, as well as the protection of the wild places. These things are very important to me.I love Idaho’s open space and the abundance of public lands. The protection of Idaho’s wildlife, the purity of its streams and rivers, the health of its forests, and preservation of its flora and fauna is vital for Idaho’s future. For Idaho to remain Idaho.I feel I make a small impact. But combined donations that each individual or member makes add up. I want to encourage everyone to attend functions, donate, and volunteer when possible. Keep alert to harmful changes or threats to the environment and speak up. It all adds up!

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Interested in sharing your ICL story? Contact Development Communications Associate, Kayla Wilcox by email at kwilcox@idahoconservation.org