This article was originally published in the BFEC newsletter, Vol. 20/No. 4, Fall 2016.
By Noelle Jordan, BFEC Manager
Howdy, y’all! Allow me to introduce myself...
My name is Noelle, and although originally from Cincinnati, I’ve been in Texas for the past 9 years. So I’m afraid it might take awhile for my “Texas-isms” to turn into “Ohio-isms,” but I’m pleased as punch to be here.
In September, I relocated from the small town of Orange, Texas to join the team at the BFEC. I left behind the steamy swamps of southeast Texas, “upland” forests that are only five feet above sea level, and slow-moving, muddy bayous. In exchange, I’m thrilled to be experiencing cool mornings, what I consider to be very low humidity, gorgeous hardwood forests, and clear streams with rocky substrates.
Unlike most people in my line of work, I became interested in nature in my twenties. Oh, sure — I played outside as a kid — splashing in streams and climbing trees in the suburbs of Cincinnati. But I didn’t really care about nature until I decided to learn what plants I could eat while backpacking along the Appalachian Trail in northern Virginia. I was working a very different job in those days, but started learning about nature in my free time. Eventually, I became so smitten with being outside that I decided to get serious about it. I moved across the country to attend grad school at Southern Oregon University. In 2002, I received a Master of Science degree in Environmental Education, and I’ve been having a great time outside ever since.
For several years after grad school, I worked seasonal jobs gaining experience in the breadth and depth of the many different facets of environmental education. I spent time on Lake Erie just outside of Cleveland, doing live animal programs for thousands of school children. Then I sailed on a tall ship teaching students about horseshoe crabs, oysters, and the wonders of the Delaware Bay. From there, I headed north to Maine where I splashed in tide pools and taught dune ecology (and so much more) at a resident outdoor school. I spent my last summer of “freedom” on Grand Manan Island, spotting whales and teaching tidal ecology in the Bay of Fundy.
Then I decided it was time for a “real” job. So, I headed south— to Texas — Oil Country — to the swampy backwaters and lowlands of the U.S. — a place where people say “sir” and “ma’am” all the time, and where laundromats are called “washaterias” - the land of alligators, armadillos, and fire ants.
I was selected to be part of the team that opened a brand new facility in Orange, Texas — Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. At Shangri La, I was able to build the education department and programming from the ground up. After 5 very busy years, we were serving up to 25,000 people per year with our education programs, and we had won several awards in the state of Texas and regionally. Our programs included on-site and off-site curriculum-based programs for pre-K through 8th grade students, family programs, adult programs, summer camps, special events, and more. After a total of 9 years, I was ready for another change.
I’ve traded in the “Lost Horizon” of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center (you really should read the book “Lost Horizon” by James Hilton) for the new horizons of the Brown Family Environmental Center.
On my 3rd day at work for the BFEC, I used a fancy harness, ropes and some cool knots to climb an old, beautiful sycamore tree — something I’ve never done before. I’ve been learning about tall grass prairies — habitats that I’ve never worked in before. And I’ve been spending time with many of our capable and ambitious Kenyon student volunteers — an age group that I’ve never worked with before.
I’m excited about these new adventures and new experiences! I’m looking forward to the possibilities that lie in store for all of us at the BFEC.
I’m hoping to meet each of you in the next few months. Please stop by soon to introduce yourself! In the meantime, take a deep breath and enjoy the crisp air of autumn, look up at the night sky and admire the stars, and find some small way to “be kind to your world.”