The Shaver’s Creek motto of “connecting people to people and people to nature” has been woven through my life, from graduate school to my career.
Years at Shaver’s Creek: 2018–2022
Positions Held: Graduate Assistant, Native Plant Landscaper
Current Company/Organization: Penn State Extension
My time as a graduate assistant (2019–2022) at Shaver’s Creek taught me to meet people where they are and to communicate science-based education effectively to any group, in any setting.
While in grad school, I gained experience with informal and formal educational settings that were influential for my career. I led interns through the maple sugaring process from sap to syrup and taught the public at the Maple Harvest Festival. I gained formal experience and creative problem-solving skills as a teaching assistant, with one memorable semester teaching tree identification online during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, I work as a forestry educator for Penn State Extension, and I lead programs focused on native plants and non-timber forest products that reach local, state, regional, and national audiences. The lessons I learned through my work at Shaver’s Creek inform how I engage with those audiences, network with my fellow natural resource and education professionals, and connect emerging professionals to opportunities in the field.