The boardwalk between Shaver's Creek and Stone Valley Recreation Area is closed for repairs until further notice. When hiking the Lake Trail, please follow detour signs to avoid this section.

Mehl, Kristen (Fawn)

Kristen standing on the shore of a still body of water.

Those who are observant are rewarded.

– Doug Wentzel

Years at Shaver’s Creek: 2016

Positions Held: Intern, Summer Camp

Current Company/Organization: Graduate Student, Bradley University

Hi! I’m Kristen (Fawn), a summer camp intern during the 2016 season. After leaving Shaver’s Creek, I went on to serve as the environmental education director at Nature’s Classroom Institute in Wisconsin, then transitioned to elementary teaching at a private Montessori school in Chicago. Most recently, I’ve begun graduate school at Bradley University in Illinois, working toward becoming a licensed clinical professional counselor.

While my path has taken me away from EE, the lessons I learned at Shaver’s Creek have followed me everywhere. I’ve carried the spirit of team building into every role, regularly leading staff challenges using the UBUNTU and Blocked Perspective resources I learned from Chris Ortiz. The power of observation Doug Wentzel instilled in me has never left, and slowing down, staying mindful, and truly paying attention have become practices I brought into my past roles, helping me notice the small but meaningful moments that let me better support my students and clients.

Shaver’s Creek also gave me something I didn’t expect: a forever friend in fellow intern Gabe Imler (Barred Owl). I’m so grateful our paths crossed that summer and that we’ve been best buds ever since!