Current Position: Natural Resource Educator
How long have you been with Wisconsin State Parks and in what capacity?
I started with the Wisconsin State Park System at Pattison and Aminicon Falls State Parks in 1998 and moved to my current park, Whitefish Dunes, in 1999. Prior to this, I worked as a seasonal Limited Term Employee (LTE) Naturalist Guide at Interstate Park. In addition to working as a seasonal, during the winters I volunteered at the park and within the community.
How did you become involved in working as a Natural Resource Educator?
I always seem to be teaching some one about something, even in high school. I stared college wanting to be a wildlife biologist but switched to an environmental education/interpretation program that allowed me to learn about the environment and teach it too. After graduation I stared as a seasonal with the Wisconsin Park System leading public programs and school groups. Following many interviews, I was hired as a permanent educator with the state.
Describe a typical day at your job.
(If there is no such thing as a typical day, then please tell us about your primary responsibilities and duties.)
During each season the job changes from working with school groups to leading public programs to develop exhibits to working on master planning to training new staff and volunteers to coordinating special events. The main responsibilities include overseeing the personal (programs) and non-personal interpretation (exhibits, brochures, websites) of the park and three other park properties within the county. I get to assist with invasive species control, endangered species monitoring, habitat management and daily operations of the park.
How many hours a week do you work in this position?
Normally the work is 40 hours per week but that varies based on the time of year. Spring brings school groups and long hours during the week and a few weekends to start the public programs. Summer is long hours with mainly weekend work and some evenings. Fall is a mixture of weekdays and weekend hours. Winter brings some weekend work with mainly a 40-hour work week.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
The diversity! From being able to research and present programs to all ages, create exhibits and brochures that provides education to the visitor, write grants to fund educational and environmental projects to developing long range goals for the property is the part I enjoy most.
What do you find to be the greatest challenges of your job?
The diversity! When I entered this field I didn’t think I would be needing to play plumber one day and educator the next. Understanding the cultural, environmental and social history of each property I work with and being able to relay that to a variety of visitors, partners and staff so that they take an active role in preserving the properties.
What kind of training/schooling is required in your position?
A four-year degree in environmental education, interpretation, science education or natural resources relevant field is generally required for this position. Training in presenting and teaching techniques is very important, having more than book knowledge provides experience.
Is there any kind of training or general experience that you wish you had before taking your job?
More experience in grant writing and management of personnel would have been helpful. Having a variety of experiences within private and public sector organizations helped a great deal. Diversity in experiences is also helpful.
What are a few of the projects that you've been working on recently that have been the most interesting?
Developing Interpretive Master Plans for Rock Island State Park, I enjoy working to combine the historical and environmental information and combining it with visitor needs to develop future projects for the parks. The other project is designing trail signs based on geologic features. Writing text, working with illustrators and designing the layout to bring the ancient history to life is hard work but wonderful when visitors come away with a better understanding and knowledge.
If someone were interested in working as a Naturalist, what advice could you give them?
Work within the field and try to get as many different educational experiences as possible. Show initiative and don’t be afraid to say "I don’t know, but I can learn." Having a college education is important but so is on-the-ground experience. Work with school groups, in urban nature centers, residential camps, and state parks to gain a diverse experience. If you can’t get a paid job within the field work as a volunteer, but also work with the public in a paying job such as clerk, waitress, etc. Don’t give up.
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