Shaping Island Trail’s scholarship.
Shelly MacKenzie spent much of her childhood surrounded by the forests and trails of rural P.E.I., where she developed a deep appreciation for nature. That love of the outdoors remained with her throughout her life, guiding her personal and professional choices.
As time passed, MacKenzie continued to explore P.E.I.’s trails, often running along wooded paths rather than city sidewalks.
“It’s much easier on the body as well, but it’s much more good for the soul,” she said. “It’s being out in nature. It’s fresh. It’s a liberating feeling when I can see the white (the snow) and go for a run.”
Mental Health and the Outdoors
MacKenzie works for the provincial government and dedicates time to volunteering with the Canadian Mental Health Association. She strongly believes in the connection between mental well-being and time spent in nature.
“Mental health is a very big issue. There’s not enough known about the brain and how it functions” she said. “And that can be connected with trails as well, because being outside, being active, is all linked to better mental health.”
She was also involved in fundraising efforts, including the Moo Let’s Talk event, where proceeds from ice cream sales at COWS supported mental health initiatives.
The Path to Island Trails
MacKenzie’s involvement with Island Trails began in 2020 when she met Bryson Guptill, who was seeking funding for the newly developing Island Walk. At the time, MacKenzie worked for the Department of Agriculture and happened to cross paths with Guptill at a meeting.
That conversation led her to start volunteering with Island Trails, where she later joined the board and became a certified Trail Guide through the Outdoor Council of Canada.
One of her proudest contributions was assisting with the Selkirk Trail, which had only been open for a short time before post-tropical storm Fiona caused significant damage.
“It was sad for everybody,” she recalled. “But we recovered from that.”
Introducing the Island Trails Scholarship
While she stepped away from the Island Trails board in the fall of 2024, MacKenzie remained a passionate advocate for trail conservation. One of her lasting contributions was supporting the idea behind the newly launched Island Trails Scholarship, a $500 annual award aimed at students pursuing studies in environmental sciences, conservation, or related fields.
“For me, it was more centred around stewardship and protecting our beautiful island,” she said. “It is a very unique place.”
At Island Trails, we believe this scholarship is a meaningful way to encourage and support the next generation of environmental leaders. By investing in students, we are also investing in the future of PEI’s natural landscapes.
The $500 scholarship, established in 2025 through the Community Foundation of PEI, aims to support students who demonstrate an interest in environmental stewardship.
MacKenzie recognized the financial challenges students faced:
“Resources can be limited, and when you’re looking at the cost of tuition, residency, food, and electricity, it can be pretty overwhelming,” she said. “This is a nice little bit of help.”
Apply Now!
Applications for the Island Trails Scholarship remained open, and MacKenzie encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunity.
Preference will be given to applicants with volunteer experience in trail work, particularly with Island Trails, local community trail groups, Island Nature Trust, Nature Conservancy, watershed groups, and other organizations that protect and enhance our natural spaces.
“Enjoy your education, and I hope you can put whatever you learn into practice here on PEI,” MacKenzie said.
📌 Applications close on April 18, 2025.
✅ Apply Here
Together, we can continue to protect and preserve the trails and natural beauty of Prince Edward Island.