Educator Brings Passion for Nature to Parks

Porter-County-Parks-Carolyn-Jones-2Carolyn Jones fell in love with nature as a child, when she discovered that a groundhog had made a home in her backyard.

She was curious about meeting the creature, so she cut up some carrots and sprinkled them into the groundhog hole and made a trail of them into the grass. Then she waited. Eventually, the groundhog began eating the carrots and came out onto the lawn.

That was the moment I was hooked on nature and I decided I wanted to learn more,” Jones said. “I am still learning.”

Jones has now brought her passion for nature and learning to Porter County Parks and Recreation, where she began work as an educator-interpreter in early May.

She is currently expanding the field trip curriculum at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Road in Valparaiso, and will also lead the various nature programs during Camp Funset, the Porter County Parks and Recreation summer camp program, also located at Sunset Hill Farm County Park.

Teaching children about nature is one of the best things we can do for the future,” Jones said. “I am very excited about summer camps, especially our Wilderness Campouts.”

Jones will help organize the Nature Rangers Camp, which takes place from June 13 to 16, the Wilderness Camps from June 20-23 and July 25-28, and the Wilderness Campouts from June 24-25 and July 29-30.

Porter-County-Parks-Carolyn-Jones-3Katie Rizer, who is the Program Coordinator for Porter County Parks and Recreation, said Jones has brought exciting ideas to the parks programs.

Carolyn is a great addition to our team,” Rizer said. “She has a story about nearly every plant you’ll find along the trails at Sunset Hill Farm County Park. She’s incredibly animated when she talks about the self-guided hikes she’s working on for school groups and casual hikers.”

Some of the programs that Jones has started developing include teaching students how to identify animal tracks and plants in the woods, prairies and ponds throughout Sunset Hill Farm County Park. She has a great interest in wild edibles and medicinal plants.

Rizer said she has seen Jones passion for these topics in action, and knows that her involvement will make the school and camp programs at Sunset Hill Farm County Park all the more interesting for students.

Carolyn is a gifted naturalist whose enthusiasm is contagious,” Rizer said.

That enthusiasm will serve her well during Camp Funset, when she said she will be focused on getting kids excited about nature and being active outdoors.

We have great activities planned for each camp session, and I can’t wait to get started,” she said.

For more information about field trips or Camp Funset, call Rizer at 219-465-5192, or e-mail her at krizer@porterco.org.

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Nature programs at Camp Funset

Here is a look at the programs that Carolyn Jones will be leading at Camp Funset this summer at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Road in Valparaiso. Each camp runs Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 219-465-5192, or e-mail krizer@porterco.org for more information.

Nature Rangers Camp
June 13-16

This camp will highlight all of the amazing features of Sunset Hill Farm County Park. Each day, campers will get to examine a new facet of the park – from prairies and woodlands to the wetlands and ponds.

Wilderness Camp
June 20-23
July 25-38

Campers will learn the skills necessary to responsibly live outdoors. They will experience how to confidently handle life alone in the woods and gain the knowledge needed for “roughing it.”

Wilderness Campout
June 24-25
July 29-30

After campers have graduated from the Wilderness Camp, they can apply their new skills to a night under the stars at the Sunset Hill Farm Campground. The campout will feature dinner, a bonfire, storytelling, and breakfast the following morning.