Hormel Nature Center 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 - Outreach Naturalist/Teacher
Email: kellyb@hormelnaturecenter.org - out of town field trips/special events/Sola Fide Observatory
Favorite Mammal: Hippos, beluga whales, cats
Favorite Reptile: Chameleon
Favorite Invertebrate: Cuttlefish
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Nature is 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: Hippos, beluga whales, cats
Favorite Reptile: Chameleon
Favorite Invertebrate: Cuttlefish
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Nature is 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."
This position was created through a grant project. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
Akiko Nakagawa- Teacher/Naturalist Intern
Email: akikon@hormelnaturecenter.org
Favorite Bird: Scarlet Tanagers
Favorite Mammal: Cat
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Birch Trees and Black Eyed Susans
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Zebra Mussels (also humans :) )
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple syrup
"Minnesota is home to so much incredible nature. It's so special to be able to spend every day working in and teaching others about this magical place."
Fun Fact about Akiko: I practice a niche Japanese martial art called naginata! It's similar to fencing but with two meter sticks instead!
Email: akikon@hormelnaturecenter.org
Favorite Bird: Scarlet Tanagers
Favorite Mammal: Cat
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Birch Trees and Black Eyed Susans
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Zebra Mussels (also humans :) )
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple syrup
"Minnesota is home to so much incredible nature. It's so special to be able to spend every day working in and teaching others about this magical place."
Fun Fact about Akiko: I practice a niche Japanese martial art called naginata! It's similar to fencing but with two meter sticks instead!
This position was created through a grant project. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
Kara J. Page - Teacher/Naturalist Intern
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Email: karap@hormelnaturecenter.org
Favorite Mammal: Pax (my Great Pyrenees) Favorite Invertebrate: Paper wasps Favorite Bird: Guka Maple Syrup or Honey? Both! "I find my peace every time I step into a forest or prairie. Being a part of something that preserves our natural landscapes helps remind me that we are all connected. I'm so grateful to be here and to help others find their own inspiration in nature!" Fun Fact about Kara: I am a published poet and artist! |
Sue Crabtree - Custodian
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Dolphin and Owl
Favorite Reptile: Gecko
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: Gecko
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Birch and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
Fun Fact: I swam at the Nature Center as a kid!
Duane Champlin - Custodian
Favorite Mammal: White-tailed Deer
Favorite Reptile: Skink
Favorite Tree: Aspen - because I love the gold color in the fall.
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
Fun Fact: I worked at a resort in northern Minnesota for two summers. My second year I cleaned over 2,000 fish.
Favorite Mammal: White-tailed Deer
Favorite Reptile: Skink
Favorite Tree: Aspen - because I love the gold color in the fall.
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
Fun Fact: I worked at a resort in northern Minnesota for two summers. My second year I cleaned over 2,000 fish.