We took some time to interview our naturalists ; they shared some of their favorite aspects of their jobs and some surprises . Each day is different , which keeps things exciting and interesting .
FAVORITE THINGS :
SARAH WOLF I love connecting kids and families to our local Nature . We might not have the Amazon rainforest , but Hoosier Nature is spectacular , and sometimes we all need a little help seeing this . One of my favorite activities to teach are my monthly homeschool series . I enjoy incorporating my hobbies into park activities such as geocaching . And when we conduct prescribed prairie burns , I ’ ve been able to serve on the fire crew ! THAT is such an adrenaline rush !
JOE LEMBO I love getting people of all ages playing out in nature . Some of my favorite activities to do is create different nature games and recreation activities to help park visitors connect with nature . Fun fact : did you know that a squirrel ’ s heart beats at 250 beats per minute ? The squirrel is one of my favorite animals to educate teach about .
LINDA NICHOLS I love watching kids discover and learn new knowledge about nature . That lightbulb moment that can be seen by the gleam in their eyes encourages me to keep learning more myself ! This said , it is probably no surprise that Tadpole Time , Animal Tales , & school outreach programs are my favorite programming to provide .
However , there are some rather cool activities that I get to do as a naturalist , such as be present for a prescribed prairie burn , care for turtles , and play in the mud .
JOY FULK I enjoy empowering everyone to see the wonders of the natural world we live in through various “ glasses ”. Seeing beauty in the simple things and alternately seeing simplicity in complex organisms . By incorporating the creative arts or games , all people experience nature not just the “ scientist ”. I desire to stimulate a sense of awe and curiosity as people explore and participate in the world around them .
RANDOM THINGS :
SARAH We learn all sorts of new skills working in parks . I ’ ve driven a snowplow , used a blow torch , designed racecourses , …
JOE When I first started working for Hendricks County Parks and Recreation , I did not expect to learn some unique skills , such as beekeeping and designing active games for the public . As a naturalist , I ’ m always learning something new every day .
LINDA I have been volunteering and taking part in various educational opportunities for the last 15 years to arrive at this point in my professional life . However , I am continually surprised at how lessons and tasks learned in my previous jobs in the funeral profession and early childhood education are beneficial to this career .
JOY A take-home reminder of the day ’ s “ learning opportunity ” provide visitors a tool to describe an element of what they experienced in nature . Using technology and fostering a love for being in nature do no need to be exclusive of each other . A meaningful use of technology may include becoming involved in community science opportunities or geocaching .
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO WORK IN PARKS ?
Are you looking to switch careers ? Or do you have a young person in your life who might enjoy a career in parks and recreation ? Drop by the McCloud Nature Center or catch one of our naturalists before or after a program , and we ’ d be more than happy to chat with you about this . Volunteering is a great way to get started . To inquire about volunteering , email us at volunteer @ hcparks . net .
Summer 2023 • 21