JCHNC Staff
Luke Reese - Director/Naturalist
Favorite Mammal: Beaver
Favorite Reptile: The Blanding's Turtle that lives at the Nature Center
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Japanese Barberry
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"In my life, humans have both shown we can work to improve the planet for other creatures and make it worse. I want to make it a better place."
FUN FACT about Luke: "I have trouble swimming in a straight line. I blame my webbed toes on one foot."
Favorite Mammal: Beaver
Favorite Reptile: The Blanding's Turtle that lives at the Nature Center
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Japanese Barberry
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"In my life, humans have both shown we can work to improve the planet for other creatures and make it worse. I want to make it a better place."
FUN FACT about Luke: "I have trouble swimming in a straight line. I blame my webbed toes on one foot."
Julie Champlin - Office Manager
Email: info@hormelnaturecenter.org - scheduling rentals/general questions
Favorite Mammal: The Gray Wolf - I love to howl with delight!
Favorite Invertebrate: The dragonfly nymph, which grows up to be a beautiful dragonfly (that is, a "mosquito hawk") as an adult. I hate mosquitoes. The nymph has this very cool extendable lower lip with thorny ends called the "mask", which propels out from under the nymph's chin and makes them adept at grabbing their prey. It happens in milliseconds!
Favorite Plant, Tree, or Wildflower: Oh, too many to select a favorite. They are all so unique and individually distinguished. The Autumn Blaze Maple has a connection for me because we have two Autumn Blaze Maples planted on each side of the tower (east and west) in memory of my parents who both passed away in 2004. My parents especially liked maple trees.
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"All environmental conservation benefits humankind. The Lakota say, 'Mitakuye Oyasin' (pronounced Mee-tah-koo-yay O-yah-seen), which means 'we are all related'. Ecology - everything is connected to everything else, and we are all related and need to protect our Earth!"
FUN FACT about Julie: "My parents put me in dance classes when I was young because I was not very graceful and was kind of accident prone. I started out in tap, jazz, and ballet, but tap dancing was my favorite, and I taught tap dancing with a community education program all through my college years to earn extra cash for college."
Email: info@hormelnaturecenter.org - scheduling rentals/general questions
Favorite Mammal: The Gray Wolf - I love to howl with delight!
Favorite Invertebrate: The dragonfly nymph, which grows up to be a beautiful dragonfly (that is, a "mosquito hawk") as an adult. I hate mosquitoes. The nymph has this very cool extendable lower lip with thorny ends called the "mask", which propels out from under the nymph's chin and makes them adept at grabbing their prey. It happens in milliseconds!
Favorite Plant, Tree, or Wildflower: Oh, too many to select a favorite. They are all so unique and individually distinguished. The Autumn Blaze Maple has a connection for me because we have two Autumn Blaze Maples planted on each side of the tower (east and west) in memory of my parents who both passed away in 2004. My parents especially liked maple trees.
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"All environmental conservation benefits humankind. The Lakota say, 'Mitakuye Oyasin' (pronounced Mee-tah-koo-yay O-yah-seen), which means 'we are all related'. Ecology - everything is connected to everything else, and we are all related and need to protect our Earth!"
FUN FACT about Julie: "My parents put me in dance classes when I was young because I was not very graceful and was kind of accident prone. I started out in tap, jazz, and ballet, but tap dancing was my favorite, and I taught tap dancing with a community education program all through my college years to earn extra cash for college."
Sydney Weisinger - Teacher/Naturalist
Email: sydney@hormelnaturecenter.org - Austin school field trips/summer field trips
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Cats and Chickadees
Favorite Reptile: Painted Turtle
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: White Pine and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
"I grew up camping and hiking so being in nature is where I go to find my center again. I want to help kids find themselves in nature so that they can feel connected to something every time they step outside."
FUN FACT about Sydney: "I have a scar on my leg shaped like a half moon so my mom calls me Moon Child."
Email: sydney@hormelnaturecenter.org - Austin school field trips/summer field trips
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Cats and Chickadees
Favorite Reptile: Painted Turtle
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: White Pine and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
"I grew up camping and hiking so being in nature is where I go to find my center again. I want to help kids find themselves in nature so that they can feel connected to something every time they step outside."
FUN FACT about Sydney: "I have a scar on my leg shaped like a half moon so my mom calls me Moon Child."
Kelly Bahl - Teacher/Naturalist
Email: kellyb@hormelnaturecenter.org - out of town field trips/special events/Sola Fide Observatory
Favorite Mammal: Hippo, beluga whales, cats
Favorite Reptile: Chameleon
Favorite Invertebrate: Cuttlefish
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Nature is fantastical and magical and awe-inspiring and we as humans owe it to the world to help protect it against ourselves."
FUN FACT about Kelly: "I once talked to a beluga whale and it talked back."
Email: kellyb@hormelnaturecenter.org - out of town field trips/special events/Sola Fide Observatory
Favorite Mammal: Hippo, beluga whales, cats
Favorite Reptile: Chameleon
Favorite Invertebrate: Cuttlefish
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Nature is fantastical and magical and awe-inspiring and we as humans owe it to the world to help protect it against ourselves."
FUN FACT about Kelly: "I once talked to a beluga whale and it talked back."
Meredith Maloney - Teacher/Naturalist Intern
Email: meredithm@hormelnaturecenter.org - volunteering
Favorite Mammal: Blue Whale
Favorite Reptile: Green Snakes, as you can tell by my photo!
Favorite Invertebrate: Jellyfish
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Every day spent in natural spaces draws you closer to who you really are, and every moment spent in the natural world brings you closer to true peace."
FUN FACT about Meredith: "I once crossed a river with two crocodiles and a caiman in it!"
Email: meredithm@hormelnaturecenter.org - volunteering
Favorite Mammal: Blue Whale
Favorite Reptile: Green Snakes, as you can tell by my photo!
Favorite Invertebrate: Jellyfish
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Every day spent in natural spaces draws you closer to who you really are, and every moment spent in the natural world brings you closer to true peace."
FUN FACT about Meredith: "I once crossed a river with two crocodiles and a caiman in it!"
Greta Wilkening - Teacher/Naturalist Intern
Favorite Bird: Bufflehead duck (or any duck, really)
Favorite Reptile: False map turtle
Favorite Wildflower: Bee Balm (bergamot)
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple syrup
"Exploring the natural world not only helps connect me to the earth and all of its wonder and mystery, but to my local community and to new people. I have met so many amazing people through volunteering and working in the outdoors, and have learned so much. Those connections and that knowledge are such important tools for protecting our home."
Fun Fact about Greta: If you search "climate justice" on Google, I'm in the first image that pops up from the Climate justice Wikipedia page! My friends and I helped lead the Kids Climate Justice March back in 2017.
Favorite Bird: Bufflehead duck (or any duck, really)
Favorite Reptile: False map turtle
Favorite Wildflower: Bee Balm (bergamot)
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple syrup
"Exploring the natural world not only helps connect me to the earth and all of its wonder and mystery, but to my local community and to new people. I have met so many amazing people through volunteering and working in the outdoors, and have learned so much. Those connections and that knowledge are such important tools for protecting our home."
Fun Fact about Greta: If you search "climate justice" on Google, I'm in the first image that pops up from the Climate justice Wikipedia page! My friends and I helped lead the Kids Climate Justice March back in 2017.
Jill DeMoss - Custodian & Event Staff & Critter Expert
Favorite Mammal: Felines (and catnapping with them! [ and Kittens, lots of Kittens])
Favorite Reptile: Sssnakes. No legs and that doesn't stop them
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Humans :)
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
"My favorite memories are ones of discovery. The simple joys of a new scent, a small creature going about its business, or the calls of the birds floating on a breeze. To share this with others is spiritual."
FUN FACT about Jill: "I adore getting creative with my grandkids!"
Favorite Mammal: Felines (and catnapping with them! [ and Kittens, lots of Kittens])
Favorite Reptile: Sssnakes. No legs and that doesn't stop them
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Humans :)
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
"My favorite memories are ones of discovery. The simple joys of a new scent, a small creature going about its business, or the calls of the birds floating on a breeze. To share this with others is spiritual."
FUN FACT about Jill: "I adore getting creative with my grandkids!"
Sue Crabtree - Custodian
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Dolphin and Owl
Favorite Reptile: Gecho
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Birch and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
Fun Fact: I swam at the Nature Center as a kid!
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Dolphin and Owl
Favorite Reptile: Gecho
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Birch and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
Fun Fact: I swam at the Nature Center as a kid!