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
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 Plan, 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."
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 Plan, 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
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Cats and Chickadees
Favorite Reptile: Painted Turtle
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: White Pine and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"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."
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Cats and Chickadees
Favorite Reptile: Painted Turtle
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: White Pine and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"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 - Naturalist Intern
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."
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."
Alison Jennings - Naturalist Intern
Favorite Bird: The Kakapo! It is a ground dwelling parrot native only to New Zealand, and the only flightless parrot.
Favorite Reptile: Diamondback Terrapin
Favorite Invertebrate: Horseshoe Crabs
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Understanding the web of nature and how all of the different animal species are connected has allowed me to think critically about my life and the choices I make that affect the environment. Teaching children to love nature and understand ecology, helps ensure that their future impact is positive and productive."
FUN FACT about Alison: "I’ve been playing the clarinet since 4th grade and was in the University of Pittsburgh Marching Band!"
Favorite Bird: The Kakapo! It is a ground dwelling parrot native only to New Zealand, and the only flightless parrot.
Favorite Reptile: Diamondback Terrapin
Favorite Invertebrate: Horseshoe Crabs
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Understanding the web of nature and how all of the different animal species are connected has allowed me to think critically about my life and the choices I make that affect the environment. Teaching children to love nature and understand ecology, helps ensure that their future impact is positive and productive."
FUN FACT about Alison: "I’ve been playing the clarinet since 4th grade and was in the University of Pittsburgh Marching Band!"
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!"
Duane Champlin - Custodian
Favorite Mammal: Shrew - there are 385 species. Fun Fact about shrews: They have to eat their body weight in food every day. If they don't eat every few hours they will die.
Favorite Bird: Cooper Hawk because they are sleek, quick, and beautiful.
Favorite Tree: Giant Sequoia - What can you say but WOW when you see one!
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
Family is #1: Wife: Julie. Daughters: Nicole and Lisa. 5 grandsons and 1 granddaughter - all are age 6 and under.
"Appreciate every good thing in life, not just the big things"
FUN FACT about Duane: "I used to catch skinks in some large sandpits in Northwest Austin about 50 years ago!"
Favorite Mammal: Shrew - there are 385 species. Fun Fact about shrews: They have to eat their body weight in food every day. If they don't eat every few hours they will die.
Favorite Bird: Cooper Hawk because they are sleek, quick, and beautiful.
Favorite Tree: Giant Sequoia - What can you say but WOW when you see one!
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
Family is #1: Wife: Julie. Daughters: Nicole and Lisa. 5 grandsons and 1 granddaughter - all are age 6 and under.
"Appreciate every good thing in life, not just the big things"
FUN FACT about Duane: "I used to catch skinks in some large sandpits in Northwest Austin about 50 years ago!"