New Seasonal Naturalists Are Here!

The new seasonal naturalists have arrived at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest!

Denise Ecker hails from Allentown, PA. She attended Penn State University and graduated with a degree in Biology. Denise worked here in The Swamp (as she refers to it to all of her friends) two seasons ago as a Seasonal Naturalist. When she was offered the position of Project PROTHO Field Technician (and sometimes guide), she eagerly jumped on the chance to return to South Carolina driving through a Nor’easter Snowstorm to make it back. When she isn’t jaunting around the swamp, Denise likes to spend her time reading, hiking and just generally being a nuisance to all the people around her...oh, and birding!

Amy Johnson was born and raised in West Columbia, South Carolina. As a kid she spent countless hours outside fishing, playing in the woods, and chasing around her two older brothers. Due to this, and her father’s love for the outdoors, Amy developed an interest and admiration for nature at a young age. She continued on this path when she attended Clemson University and majored in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology. In addition, while at Clemson Amy worked for the nature television show, “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan,” which opened many doors for her. After graduation she worked at Clemson’s Youth Learning Institute as an instructor teaching Environmental Education to school groups.

Amy’s hobbies include running, reading, hiking, cheering for Clemson football, and now -thanks to Beidler Forest- canoeing. She is very excited to be a seasonal naturalist and cannot wait for warmer weather and all the animals and plants that come along with it!

Spring is a fantastic time to bring students to the Francis Beidler Forest! All the education program information, including standards-based lessons, can be found on our webpage. Bring your class or encourage teachers to bring their classes to the swamp and help put these young ladies to work.

Image by Mark Musselman