PROMOTIONS FOR TWO EMPLOYEES
Naturalists Staff Under New Management
We are thrilled to announce the promotions of Ryann Hoffman and Alexis ( Alex ) Weidman ! After we made a change in leadership among our naturalists in November , we promoted Ryann to Senior Park Naturalist and Alex to Park Naturalist , filling the spot vacated by Ryann . Both promotions took effect at the beginning of the year .
Ryann , a 2023 graduate of Indiana University Bloomington with a degree in Outdoor Recreation , Parks , and Human Ecology , joined our staff in December of 2023 . She has previous experience as a naturalist aide at McCormick ’ s Creek State Park and as a youth leader at Mooresville Parks & Recreation .
Alex began working for us in June of 2024 after graduating from Purdue University in 2023 with a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science . Her prior experience includes working with Brownsburg Parks & Recreation , The Dunes Learning Center , West Lafayette Parks & Recreation , and Louisville Metro Urban Forestry .
Both naturalists served in their current positions on an interim basis for the last six weeks of 2024 , and as a result of their exceptional performance , they each earned their current spots on a permanent basis .
Then they turned their attention to the significant decrease in the number of people interested in volunteering with us as a result of negative experiences with previous naturalist leadership . They observed that program attendance has also suffered for the same reason and are now making a concerted effort to make amends and to rectify both situations .
We ask for people who have volunteered with us in the past to please give us a second chance , and we sincerely apologize for
how things have gone in the recent past . We did not realize the breadth and depth of the damage done to our relationships with volunteers and park guests until Ryann and Alex looked into the matter .
We assure you that the entire culture of the naturalists staff – and our staff as a whole – has significantly changed for the better with Ryann and Alex in charge , and we are confident that volunteer and program experiences will be much more productive and positive now . We are also seeking additional volunteers who have not worked with us in the past .
To learn more about how you can volunteer at our parks , please look over page 20 and then reach out to us ! Thank you very much !
In the meantime , please join us in congratulating Ryann and Alex on well-deserved promotions !
Summer 2025 • 15