Karen Rendell --Office Manager
734-997-1553 |
Karen and her husband
moved to the Ann Arbor area in 2007l. Karen has a BS in Park, Recreation &
Tourism with an emphasis in Interpretation from Michigan
State University. She has worked at various
environmental education programs throughout the U.S.
teaching environmental education and leading adventure
courses. Karen enjoys hiking, biking and gardening. |
Francie Krawcke
Raptor Specialist & Camp Director
734-997-1075
|
Francie’s dad once asked
her what she wanted to be when she grew up. "Happy” was
her reply. Little did he know that meant getting a
degree from Northern Michigan University, discovering
miraculous things in the natural world with kids (of all
ages) and working with birds, raptors to be specific. If
that isn’t enough to fill the day, Francie can be found
either with her dog Skye, sailing, camping/backpacking
or completing a major life goal to visit all the
states…just 4 more to go!
|
Amanda Lodge -- Education Director
734-997-1553 |
Amanda
graduated from Allegheny college in 1999 with an
environmental science degree. She started at LSNC in
2000 as a program coordinator. Amanda looks forward and
enjoys wee little surprises such as tiny insects hiding
on blades of grass, tadpoles swimming in the water,
miniature flowers, Cecilia (her daughter), and so much
more. This isn't the end of Amanda's story, because she
also likes exploring, hiking, laughing with children,
the way the sun turns the world crazy colors in the
morning and the evening, and chocolate.
|
Susan Hutton -- Development Director
734-997-1075 |
Susan Hutton moved back to Ann Arbor with her family
in 2006 after spending ten years away. She's
worked in the literary non-profit world and the
corporate world, and even did a little stint in a bean
sprout factory. In her other life she is a poet,
and she published her first book On the Vanishing of
Large Creatures in 2007. She loves to hike and
be outside, ride her bike, and spend time with her
husband and their two
scrumptious kids. |
Pam Bailey -- Critter Room Care Coordinator
734-994-1692 |
Pam graduated from California State
University at Humboldt with a BS in Biology a very long
time ago. She has written Environmental Impact Reports
in California, and managed the Toledo Zoo Library. She
has lived in several states, moving for her husband's
job. In every place, she was delighted to find new
wildlife and new habitats to enjoy. Pam is married to
Ted and they have two sons.
|
Program Coordinators
|
|
Rita Clinthorne |
Rita has lived in Ann
Arbor for 32 years, has three children, one grandchild,
and she has been married to her husband Neal since 1984.
She has Associates Degrees from Washtenaw Community
College and Eastern Michigan University. Rita has worked
at Leslie Science and Nature Center since 1991, but also
works in the Washtenaw County Parks and volunteers with
the Ann Arbor Public Schools. One of her favorite
hobbies is photography and she loves just being outside
(unless it is 40 degrees and raining). |
Joe Reilly |
Joe Reilly has been
an environmental educator for over 12 years,
working at the Kalamazoo Nature Center and for
the Chicago Park District before joining the
LSNC staff in 2005. Joe uses his skills as a
singer and songwriter to help children
investigate and celebrate the natural world. In
2007, with the help of staff and campers from
LSNC, Joe released a CD of environmental songs
for kids called Children of the Earth. Joe's
favorite tree is the Bur Oak, Quercus Macrocarpa,
and his favorite animal is a monkey.
|
Stefan Szumko
stefan@lesliesnc.org |
Stefan Szumko is a middle
school science teacher by trade, an outdoor
environmental educator by calling, and a homedaddy by
choice. Stefan joined the LSNC in 1994, taking a five
year hiatus to accompany his wife, Christine, a former
officer in the US Air Force. Stefan is a Master
Educator, earning his MAED in Curriculum and Technology
from the University of Phoenix. His classroom experience
has been at a charter school in Michigan, on air bases
in Germany, and in a public school in Fairfax County,
Virginia. Stefan has taught and developed outdoor
environmental education programs in numerous setting to
a spectrum of ages throughout southeastern Michigan. He
has
two sons who enjoy accompanying him on his teaching
adventures whenever they can. |
Mary Strickler
mary@lesliesnc.org |
Mary is originally from
Iowa and moved to Michigan three years ago. She has
been married to her husband Doug for 23 years and has
three children. Mary received a Bachelor of Science in
Education and MSE from Western Illinois University.
Mary started out as a middle school science teacher and
in 2004, she earned a Master's of Arts degree in
Educational Administration from the University of Iowa. |
Lauren LaRocca
lauren@lesliesnc.org |
Lauren graduated from the
University of Michigan where she studied two things she
loves: the environment and rocks! Lauren is a total
bookworm and thinks libraries are ultra exciting. She
absolutely loves cooking and considers the Food Network
to be the best television channel. Life motivates her
and yoga calms her. Lauren would be incomplete without
cheese, beautifully ripened tomatoes, tangy oranges, and
fresh raspberries. Jar jar is the coolest animal in the
critter room hands-down. |
Jessie Spalding
jessie@lesliesnc.org |
Not too long ago there was a girl named Jessie -
(Whose family and coworkers agree she
can be quite messy.)
She lived in the state of Washington
most of her life,
Enjoying the water, the mountains,
the tree so rife.
"You can't beat," she said with
glee
"standing on the mountains and
seeing the sea."
She went to school there, learning
to teach kids
while running around outside and
trying to keep on their lids.
One day, her family said, "Hon, it's
time for a change...
I want to see what's on the other
side of that mountain range."
They packed up their things and
moved out east.
It was a long drive, to say the
least!)
She's a Michigan girl now, playing
outside with new friends,
new plants, new animals, new
habitats to no end.
|
Bob Voakes
bob@lesliesnc.org |
Bob is from the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan and received his BA in Outdoor
Recreation Leadership and Management from Northern
Michigan University in 2007. Bob is a member of National
Association of Interpretation, Wilderness Education
Association and has taken classes in wildland
firefighting. He completed an internship at LSNC during
the summer of 2007. After finishing his internship, Bob
was offered a Program Coordinator position. Before
working at LSNC he worked for the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources Park and Recreation Division and also
worked a year in the Michigan Civilian Conservation
Corps. Bob has continued to pursue an interest in black
and white photography he gained in college. Bob enjoys
biking, golfing, bowling, hiking, camping and strolling
around. His favorite vegetable is the cucumber. |
Etta King
etta@lesliesnc.org |
During the winter, Etta
King (aka Clivus Multrum) hibernates in Waltham, MA at
Brandeis University where she throws herself into the
academic rigors of Education, Social Policy and the
global hip-hop movement. When she is not at LSNC hanging
out with the hissing cockroaches and the Redbud Trees,
she spends her time dancing, hiking, reading and
completing an extensive watercolor study of the native
plants of Black Pond Woods. Etta enjoys Arnold Palmers,
vegan nuggets and crisp fall mornings. She is the proud
founding member of the Leslie Science and Nature Center
Boogie Woogie Dance Party Club (LSNCBWDPC). |
Leanne Chadwick
leanne@lesliesnc.org |
Leanne moved back to Ann Arbor in the fall of 2008
after living overseas for many years with her husband
and their three children. She has a BS in Elementary
Education and her work experience includes everything
from teaching elementary school to taking African
elephants for walks in the bush to rebuilding a school
in Thailand. Her love for raptors began at a early age
when her parents would pile all of the kids in the car
on the weekends and scour the rivers in Kansas and
Missouri looking for bald eagles! Leanne is thrilled to
work at LSNC because she can share her passion for
birds, wildlife and nature with young and old alike!
Leanne loves meeting new people, exploring, photography,
reading, antiquing, golfing, and being outside! She
looks forward to meeting you at LSNC! |
