2025: The Best Year Yet by Chester the Turtle
2025—what a whirlwind! (Well, as much of a whirlwind as life can be when your top speed is 0.2 miles per hour.)
Hi there, I’m Chester. I’ve called Heckrodt Wetland Reserve my home for over 20 years. While most of you humans visit us to “get away from it all,” for me, this isn’t a getaway—it’s my home. From my cozy spot in the Nature Center, I’ve watched the seasons shift and my human family works harder than ever. As we tuck into the end of the year, I wanted to share some of the successes from 2025.
The biggest news of the year happened right under my feet—literally! Heckrodt officially resigned its lease with the City of Menasha. This ensures that this beautiful 92-acre Reserve is protected for another 75+ years. This is a huge accomplishment for the team and guarantees that visitors will be able to come and admire the Reserve and myself for many generations to come.
I may be a turtle of leisure, but I’m also an educator. This year, the Education Team and I helped inspire over 6,500 children! I love the sound of little footsteps coming to say hello. But I’m not just a homebody. I hit the open road for over 60 outreach programs this year. There’s nothing quite like the wind in your… well, near your shell… as we travel to childcare centers and senior living facilities. Spreading the word about why turtles and frogs matter is some of the most important work I do.
Have you seen our new Tale Trail? It’s a magical path that leads down to the Wild Space play area. I’m a big fan because it connects literacy and nature together. It’s like a snack for the brain!
Speaking of snacks, my four-legged, furry friends—the goats—returned this summer! They spent their days munching through 7 acres of pesky buckthorn. They’re much faster eaters than I am, and they certainly brought a lot of smiles to the trails.
The HAM Team (Habitat and Maintenance) have been busy bees. They coordinated 1,350 volunteers from local corporations to keep the Reserve pristine.
They also spent a lot of time “playing” in the water—though they call it Water Quality Monitoring. With 143 participants from local high schools and universities, they conducted 23 sessions to track the health of our wetlands. This data is helping to build a baseline that helps us track the health of our wetland over time. This is helping to ensure clean water for both humans and my turtle cousins who call our local watershed their home.
Each member of the Heckrodt team plays a vital role in helping fulfill the mission of the Reserve, and I am extremely proud of each of them.
Heather, thank you for helping to keep the Reserve organized and on schedule. Without you, I wouldn’t get the pleasure of meeting so many lovely students.
Andrea, thank you for always being a champion for wildlife. Whether big or small, furry or scaly we are all equally important to you, and you love us all the same.
Maddie, thank you for bringing excitement to each program that you teach about my species. Your passion and excitement are truly something that myself and everyone you teach are inspired by.
Emma, thank you for always working to provide a better habitat for my outdoor friends. Without your efforts many of them wouldn’t have such a beautiful place to raise their families.
Kelsey, thank you for making sure that the trails are always safe and accessible. Your commitment helps to keep visitors coming out to the Reserve and of course visiting me.
Finally, thank you to Luke you do a wonderful job of leading the team. You encourage the team to work together, drawing on everyone’s strengths, and sharing your love of nature with the community.
I’ve been stretching my neck out and overhearing some very exciting whispers about 2026. I can’t tell you everything yet, but let’s just say the future looks bright from down here.
Thanks for being part of my 2025. I hope to see you soon!
With slow and steady love, Chester
