Fall Seasonal Naturalists for 2009

The Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest is proud to introduce its two fall seasonal naturalists. Since arriving last month, Allison Houser (left) and Rachelle Snow have been learning about the old-growth swamp, helping with various maintenance/management activities, and preparing to lead school groups along the 1.75-mile boardwalk. This month, the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest has mainly played host to students from Dorchester District Four, but various private schools, homeschool groups, and other public school groups have taken advantage of the educational programs at the swamp!

Allison recently graduated from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Resources Management and a Master’s degree in Informal Science Education, both from The University of Tennessee. Allison has worked seasonally for the USDA Forest Service in Northern California, Alaska, and Tennessee. She enjoys teaching young people about the environment and staying fit. She also worked for the YMCA as a Youth Fitness instructor and as an Environmental Educator.

Rachelle is from the Adirondacks of New York. She went to school at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY, where she recieved her B.S. in Environmental and Forest Biology with a concentration in Wildlife Science in 2008. Since then she has been working with threatened and endangered shorebirds in the summer and teaching environmental education in the fall/winter.

There are still good-weather days available on the Beidler Forest education calendar. Don't miss the opportunity to provide your students with an experience available no place on the planet!

Image by Mark Musselman