A conservation education specialist facilitates, leads, and provides support to the forest-wide conservation education program. I work as part of a team with employees and community partners to provide services and programs.
Enthusiasm and passion for teaching and learning, finding creative ways to connect with people and learn from them, and sharing the joy to explore and learn about our natural world.
When COVID-19 first arrived, suddenly not being able to connect with people in person was challenging. Teaching and sharing in front of a screen did not come naturally, though with time and some experience, I felt more comfortable.
I use a variety of hands-on objects to enhance teaching and reinforce concepts, like animal skulls and hides, puzzles, puppets, tree branch samples and cones, and items to model how wildfire spreads using a cake pan with sand and matches.
Running the Forest Service Summit Nature Center, on top of Big Mountain in Montana. The nature center is a partnership project with Whitefish Mountain Resort. I ride the chairlift to the summit; meet and engage with people from all over the United States and the world; work with a creative, enthusiastic crew; and hike down the mountain.
During and right after college, I worked as a seasonal State park ranger. The favorite part of my job involved leading interpretive programs for visitors! Working in a seasonal wilderness education role with the Forest Service further reinforced my desire to work in this career.
