A Summer to Remember

As I was taking one of my last morning walks through the wetland, (as an LTE at Heckrodt at least) I began reflecting on my summer here at Heckrodt and all the places it has taken me. I still remember how nervous I was for my Zoom interview and how proud I felt when Andrea told me that Heckrodt wanted me to be this summer’s Environmental Education LTE. I still feel proud and lucky every day that the Reserve was where I got to spend my summer.  

Here at Heckrodt, there is no such thing as “easing into summer.” Within my first week Andrea and Maddie were preparing me for the 8 weeks of Eco-Explorers camp. I will always remember that very first week of camp because firstly, I had absolutely no idea what was going on but more importantly it was my first time experiencing the excitement and joy that those little three and four year old’s show from learning about nature, even if they were doing activities as simple as hopping from lily pad to lily pad to pretend to feed a frog. As the Ed team got into their routine, Eco-Explorers camps turned into a well-oiled machine. I will always hold onto the memories of those camps and the kids that made them so special.

Another one of my favorite parts of my time here were the jobs Emma gave me. I learned how and what to feed the critters that live inside the nature center. Additionally, with some help from Maddie I redid all of the critters’ aquariums. I really enjoyed getting to know this aspect of the nature center. I appreciate Emma’s encouragement to get me out of my comfort zone and try new things.  

This position and the staff that I was lucky enough to be surrounded by every day have encouraged my love for the outdoors and my passion for sharing it with others. I was able to gain so much valuable experience that have helped me both personally and professionally. I can’t wait to see what path I will end up on in the world of natural resources.  

I could tell a million stories about every meaningful experience that as happened at Heckrodt this summer, but we would be here until Creepy Crawlies. All in all, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to Maddie who showed up early on my first day because she knew the newbie would get to work way too early, pushed me to get out there and teach regardless of how nervous I was, and always gave me the best advice. Thank you Andrea, who made me feel so comfortable right away and supported me whenever I needed help. Thank you Heather, for inspiring me with your passion for everything you do. Thank you Kelsey, for teaching me how to lay sod (never doing that again.) Thank you Emma for allowing me so many new experiences. Thank you Luke for working so hard and providing such a positive work environment. Lastly, thank you to every single visitor, camper, and volunteer I was lucky enough to get to know. Thank you all for sharing such a special place with me. I will truly never forget my summer at Heckrodt.

Written by: Lizzie Ramaeker
HWR Environmental Program Assistant LTE Summer 2024