Heather’s Journey to Heckrodt

With my 27 years of experience as a naturalist at Heckrodt, and 32 total years in the naturalist field, I would like to share with you my journey that brought me to Heckrodt and what has inspired me to stay for 27 years and counting.

I grew up in Milwaukee, WI, with my parents and grandparents fostering my love of nature and the outdoors.  My grandparents purchased forty acres near Minocqua, WI when I was five and ever since, we would go “up north” for holiday weekends, as well as family vacations, and deer hunting season.  I remember when I was in elementary school, getting my classwork and homework and completing it up north during the week of Thanksgiving every November.  With our homework done, my siblings and I would don our blaze orange knitted hats, mittens, and scarves (that my grandma had knitted) and we would go out to play in the snow, to make snowmen, go snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

Most of my summer family vacations were spent up north.  We went fishing almost every day, and I would always tell my dad, “One more cast” even if my younger siblings had gotten bored hours before.  Hiking on my grandparents’ land was always an adventure.  From picking wildflowers to picking berries, these are all my fondest childhood memories – those outdoor experiences in the Northwoods.

When I was a freshman in high school, (my high school had an Agribusiness & Natural Resources focus), we were assigned to do a report on a career in the Natural Resources field.  My dad pointed me in the direction of a naturalist, so I made an appointment to meet with a naturalist at Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee.  Upon visiting the naturalist and completing my assignment, I had decided that was what I wanted to do.  I wanted to be a “nature teacher.”

I attended Northland College in Ashland, WI, which gave me hands-on learning opportunities, like curriculum development and training, experiences in bird ID, spring ephemeral flowers, geology, habitats, and a month of teaching local middle school students about the natural world on Madeline Island.  Taking the ferry every day from Bayfield to the island and back was something I remember very fondly, as well as teaching “in the bush”.

Between my junior and senior year of college, I completed a summer internship as an LTE (Limited Term Employee) Naturalist with the WI DNR (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) at Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee.  I was mentored and taken under the wing by the staff at Havenwoods, including Jackie Scharfenberg – now retired WI DNR State Naturalist.  It was there that I solidified my decision…this is what I wanted to do with my life!

Upon college graduation, I worked one summer as the WI DNR LTE Naturalist at Wildcat Mountain State Park, in the driftless region of the state.  There I began honing my skills as a naturalist, by planning and giving a variety of programs, from night hikes, to wildlife, to canoeing down the Kickapoo River.

Shortly after that position ended, I was hired by St. Joseph County Parks in South Bend, Indiana as a park interpreter.  It was here that I worked for 2 ½ years, mentored by Evie Kirkwood – retired St. Joseph County Parks Director/ Director of Interpretative Services. During this time, I continued to expand my naturalist skills, including gaining experience with a historical living interpretative program about the local fur trade.  In that program I was able to lead students on a paddling canoe trip in a replica voyageur canoe.  During my time at St. Joseph County Parks, I became the lead staff for the park’s maple syruping program, from leading volunteers in gathering the sap, to using a wood fired evaporator pan to boil down the sap into syrup.  I also assisted in planning and leading many public program events, school programs, etc.  My favorite programs were the fur trade school program, maple syruping, and our Halloween program in which we created our own scripts and costumes for wildlife animals.  My animal was a wolf, of course!

I loved my job in Indiana, but I had been long distance dating the love of my life – now my husband of 26 years – (he was in Appleton, I was in South Bend) – for 2 ½ years, so it was at that time that I moved back to Wisconsin.

After I moved to the Fox Valley, I had another opportunity to work as a summer WI DNR LTE Naturalist, this time at the Northern Unit – Kettle Moraine State Forest as an Assistant Naturalist.  Here I was reunited with Jackie Scharfenberg – one of the WI DNR State Naturalists at that time, and together we had a great summer sharing nature and outdoor skills with the forest campers and visitors.  During this time, I shared my experience and knowledge as a naturalist – from forest drop-in family nature programs to outdoor skills, evening programs and night hikes.  The commute was hectic (Appleton to Campbellsport) every day, but I continued to gain experience from one of the full-time naturalists in the state.  Here I was able to share my love of geology with forest visitors, while utilizing some of the knowledge I learned in college about glacial formations.  Being able to teach glacial geology at one of the most unique places in Wisconsin (maybe the world) with glacial features, was an amazing way to continue my naturalist journey.

Now the story of how I came to Heckrodt…as my LTE position at Kettle Moraine was ending, I applied at many of the local nature centers, including Mosquito Hill, but I also happened to wander into a gravel driveway and parking lot with a wooden sign in the front that read “Heckrodt Wetland Reserve”.  I walked down a boardwalk trail that led me to an A-Frame building.  I knocked on the door and Kathi Stopher (HWR’s naturalist/director at the time) answered. I explained that I was looking for a naturalist position and once she had heard of my naturalist experience, she said she would discuss it with the board of directors.  In the meantime, she recommended I volunteer at the Reserve, which I did.  A couple of months later, I was hired as a part-time naturalist.  Coincidently, I was also hired as a part time volunteer coordinator (their first ever) by the Friends of Mosquito Hill.  Two half-time positions, both at nature centers, what more could I ask for?

Well, eight months later, my dream of finding a full-time naturalist position in the Fox Valley was realized.  I was hired as a full-time naturalist at Heckrodt and the rest is history!  I began as Naturalist Educator, then became the Education Coordinator.  In that time, I developed the Eco-Explorers Summer Day Camp programs, summer childcare programs (Summer Wetland Adventures), Roving Naturalist (traveling childcare programs) as well as the original Creepy Crawlies Family Halloween Event.  I also assisted in expanding our school program offerings and planned/developed many weekend public programs and events.   I have taught many children who now have brought their children to the Reserve for programs.  That makes me feel old, but it is also gratifying knowing that I have helped shape the lives of children in such an impactful way.

I have now been in the Administrative Coordinator/Naturalist position here at Heckrodt for three years.  Despite my administrative duties, you will still see me occasionally teaching a school, childcare, or Cub Scout group along the trail.  I also provide expertise and guidance as a member of the HWR Education Team.  Every day I continue to be inspired by the beauty of the Reserve and its wildlife, as well as all the folks that share their stories and their passion for nature.  I truly appreciate all of you and I look forward to continuing what I set out to do at the beginning of my career…for many more years…inspiring people of all ages in their love and appreciation of nature.

Written By Heather Weigelt, HWR Administrative Coordinator/Naturalist