(by Danielle Fradet)
You never know who is going to walk through the doors of the Paradise Point Nature Center, and that unpredictability is exactly what makes my role as this summer’s Paradise Point Lead Naturalist so interesting. Whether young or old, novice or expert, or first-time visitor or seasoned regular, my goal is to meet people where they are at, meaningfully engage with them, and hopefully leave them more curious about the natural world than when they entered our rustic building in the woods.
The main component of my position is to plan and run multiple weekly educational programs. These programs include nature art activities geared towards young children, guided paddles on the pristine Newfound Lake, family programs filled with games, and guided hikes focused on nature identification. Many of these programs have themes that change from week to week, which keeps me on my toes, and can ideally provide a topic of interest for everyone. In a typical week, I may talk about the power of observation and curiosity as I help a child craft their very own pair of binoculars, explain the unique adaptations of the Common Loon as awe-stricken paddlers watch one forage on crystal-clear water, search the rich, teeming soil with a family during an insect scavenger hunt, or help visitors improve their plant identification skills while we hike under the cool shade of Eastern Hemlocks and listen to the enchanting melodies of the Hermit Thrush.
Educational moments are not exclusive to the programs. Some of my favorite moments this summer have come from conversations with visitors over our exhibits, or simply through them sharing their latest backyard wildlife spotting with me. While my mission has been to educate the public and facilitate others’ connection with the natural world, I found that preparing my programs and chatting with our visitors has indirectly furthered my own knowledge and natural appreciation. I cannot wait to see what discoveries the remainder of this summer will bring to visitors (and to me)!