Before I started, I had just finished my second year as a middle school teacher and was looking for something different. Seemingly out of nowhere, comes this opportunity to work at a nature center and learn how to be an environmental educator. I was excited to jump in with both feet, and it has been a whirlwind ever since.

I remember my first day at Wild Roots, then Severson Dells, and being told that I would finish the day with a full moon hike. Which I was excited for… and also worried I would trip in the dark and cause a domino effect that ended with everyone in the creek. Thankfully, that didn’t happen and I got to experience the joy of another word that is Severson Dells Forest Preserve at twilight. I finished that day knowing I had made the right choice for the next step on my career path.

The next year brought a lot of learning experiences both for me and all the people I got to meet through our educational programming. I learned about all the wonderful plants and animals that live here in Northern Illinois, and I got to tell everyone in the office that Southern Illinois has swamps. My innate need to share fun facts aside, the most valuable things I learned were from the kids. I learned to notice the small things and to keep noticing them, because each time you saw a chipmunk on the path or a dragonfly in the sky it was special. I learned that knowing the name of a flower isn’t nearly as important as remembering the way it smells or the way it looks on a sunny afternoon. I learned the importance of being quiet and patient, and letting the rest of the world in. All these lessons solidified my sense of wonder and the importance of stewardship in my life.

I’m finishing up this term with the whirlwind of summer camp, creek walks, restoration work day tag-alongs, exploring the blooming prairie, and rescuing wasps from the porch. I’m not exactly sure what the next step looks like, but I know I’ll be taking everything I learned and everyone that I know along with me.