This summer, I worked at the
nature center at Steele Creek park. I only live a couple minutes away from
Steele Creek, so I knew the park and the naturalists pretty well before I
applied. I hoped to have some sort of science job this summer, and this was
perfect.
The first couple days I worked, I
stayed in the nature center and the other naturalists showed me the ropes. Working
in the nature center meant answering phones, answering questions, giving guided
tours, and making sure kids don’t pet the taxidermy animals. The first day, as
soon as the nature center was empty, Lance showed me how to take care of the
reptiles, amphibians, insects, and spiders living in the nature center’s 20
tanks.
As soon as my spring finals were
over, the head naturalist sent me home with a mountain of reading material. I
got to give snake and turtle shows to school groups that came through, and
sometimes to the public. Steele Creek has a lot of scheduled programs, but we
do impromptu events too, like when a nature center visitor asks if they can pet
a snake. (You thought you were just here to feel the snake… haha NO! Now you’ll
be forced to learn about it too.)
My other exciting task was
helping with nature day camps. I didn’t have to do much teaching, but I did a
lot of learning. There were about 12 kids in each day camp, ages 7 to 14. The
naturalists took turns running the day camp, and I helped the designated
naturalist manage the kids.
This was really one of the most
exciting things I could’ve done this summer, and I’m so glad I had the
opportunity.
