Stewardship Spotlight: Sally McNamara and Caitlin Hughes-Parry
30 Years of Digging In, Together
Caitlin Hughes-Parry (left) and her mom, Sally McNamara (right).
This month, we’re shining the spotlight on a dynamic mother-daughter duo who’ve been part of the Great River Greening family since the very beginning. Sally McNamara and her daughter, Caitlin Hughes-Parry, aren’t just longtime volunteers—they’re deeply rooted community stewards, committed to making Minnesota greener one shovel, one sapling, and one brush pile at a time.
Meet Sally and Caitlin
Sally McNamara, Greening volunteer since the very beginning with the Greening the Great River project.
After leaving her dairy farming roots in California, Sally McNamara found herself working in the dawn of early computing in Minnesota where she also discovered a new passion as a Dakota County Master Gardener. What began as a way to connect with her community grew into a lifelong commitment to restoring native landscapes and removing invasive species like buckthorn.
Caitlin Hughes-Parry, volunteer with Greening since 2000.
Her daughter, Caitlin Hughes-Parry, grew up in Minnesota but spent years living on both coasts and abroad before returning home. Now rooted again in the Twin Cities, she combines her work in home remodeling with a passion for environmental education. She recently earned her master’s in environmental education from University of Minnesota Duluth, focusing on participatory science, and brings that knowledge to every volunteer project she joins.
How It All Started
Sally was part of the very first Great River Greening event—called Greening the Great River project—an ambitious effort to revitalize the St. Paul riverfront and transform it into a vibrant, sustainable, community-connected space. At that inaugural event, she helped plant trees around cracked pavement near the Power Plant on Shepard Road. Now, 30 years later, those same trees offer cool shade to the dog park beneath the High Bridge—a living reminder of what long-term stewardship can achieve.
Caitlin volunteering at Copperfield Ponds Park.
Caitlin wasn’t far behind. She got involved with Greening at a clean-up in Swede Hollow and, in her words, “has been hooked ever since.”
A Legacy of Hands-On Healing
Over the years, Caitlin and Sally have left their mark across dozens of Greening restoration projects. Some of their favorite efforts include:
Event signage from Swede Hollow volunteer event in 2000.
Clearing buckthorn at Valley Park in Mendota Heights and Pine Ridge.
Restoring Swede Hollow on a very steep slope!
Planting trees in medians, floodplains, roadways, and beloved parks like Crosby Farm Regional Park, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, and Copperfield Ponds Park.
Supervising volunteers at Minnetonka, Theodore Wirth Park, and other sites.
Winter brush pile burns, National Public Lands Day events, and lots of sandwich breaks shared after a hard day’s work.
For most of these projects, Sally and Caitlin were not just volunteers — they were volunteer supervisors, leading by example and lending their experience to new participants.
Why They Keep Coming Back
What fuels three decades of dedication? For Caitlin and Sally, it’s simple:
“We’re inspired by a shared commitment to returning our communities to a natural state that is more friendly to our more-than-human neighbors and healthier for everyone.”
And it’s also about the connection — with each other, with the land, and with the community that shows up, shovels in hand, ready to make a difference.
One of their favorite parts? Watching the landscape heal — and knowing they were part of that transformation.
“Driving by places which are better today for the work we did is always a joy in our lives.”
Caitlin volunteering at a Greening event at Copperfield Ponds Park in Mendota Heights.
A Message to Future Volunteers
If you’ve ever thought about joining a Great River Greening event, Caitlin and Sally have a clear message for you:
Want to get involved?
Join us! Check out our events calendar to sign-up for a restoration event or learn how to become a volunteer supervisor!
“You won’t regret it! GRG makes it so easy to volunteer. They provide training, equipment, and opportunities all over the Twin Cities and beyond. Plus, the people you meet and the places you discover will leave your soul a little lighter — and your hands maybe a little dirtier!”
Thank You, Sally and Caitlin!
You've shown that stewardship isn’t just about caring for the land—it’s about showing up, year after year, and leaving things better than you found them. Thank you both for your quiet leadership, your muddy boots, and your deep, lasting impact.
er supervisor.