TriDistrict Community Education

About Traveling Naturalist

Almost twently years ago in Homer, Alaska the senior center began bringing small groups into the Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, where I worked. The seniors sat and watched nature-based VHS tapes for an hour, as a monthly field trip.
One of the regulars, after each scene, would smile warmly, clap her hands together, and say “Isn’t nature wonderful!” One month she did not attend. Her health was failing and the outing was too much for her. I missed her youthful joy –still do. She couldn’t come to me, but I could bring nature to her doorstep.
The programs evolved into personally-designed nature programs instead of static audio-visuals. I moved to Minnesota while still keeping my Homer home. The topics keep growing with the wildlife and wildlands that I personally study and experience throughout the world.
I am delighted to see over 90% of my audience as repeaters. They feel as if they have their own personal naturalist to ask questions of and share their stories with. My goal with every presentation is to encourage each learner to look at the natural world with “new eyes”; be it the rabbit in the backyard or the polar bear known only indirectly. The love of wildlife and wildlands is ageless and whether presenting to a five-year old or an eighty-five year old, my intention is for my learners to feel a spark inside that says “Isn’t nature wonderful!” About Melonie One of my regulars recently commented, “You’ve had such a fascinating life. Why do you think that is so?” My intuitive response was, “I guess I have always been willing to say ‘yes’ to new opportunities". Professionally, that willingness took me from high school Biology and Earth and Space science teacher to environmental education coordinator for Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge to park naturalist in Minnesota to Co-Executive Director of a Residential Environmental Learning Center, and now to happy retired life. That’s the titles. The experiences and constant self-education include, among other items: creating an Aleutian Islands World War II role-play program, working with Native culture-keepers at summer youth camps, using “commando” birding techniques, assisting with barn care for raptors, and acting out sea otter behaviors. Personally, that willingness has taken me to every state, much of Canada, New Zealand, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and Baja, Mexico. That's the locations. The experiences and constant education include, among other things: handling dog teams for the Iditarod, assisting with wolf pup care, touching gray whales, and studying polar bears at a week-long intensive course. My best friend and travel mate, Karen, always said she brought along her own personal naturalist, photographer, and journalist on every trip. Fittingly, at the end of a formal photo shoot – we took photos of our adventures, but never of us - to celebrate 35 years of friendship we told the photographer we wanted something that captured our real personalities. Then we saw the globe, then we saw a camera bag like the one Sherpa Karen always carried for me, then my 15 ½ year old golden retriever decided she and the squeaky toy needed to be in this photo series, too. Both Karen and Tilly now travel among the stars and I am left with the words from the movie “UP”, “Thanks for the adventures, now go and have some more. “ And so I do and then bring them home to share with you.