KAEE Member Feature: Debbie Howes

You may not have heard of Debbie Howes and all the work she does for her Morehead community, but her impact reaches far and wide. From volunteering to save natural areas in her city to hosting environmental day camps for local fifth graders, Debbie puts her passions into practice and we’re so glad to welcome her to the KAEE network of educators! KAEE: Where do you volunteer and what is your current role? Debbie: In 2017, 10-15 community members formed a group to befriend a local park. This park was originally owned by the Daniel Boone National Forest. It was conveyed to the Kentucky Division of Forestry in the 1990s and continued as a recreational facility until 2003. Ownership was transferred to the City of Morehead in 2003.

The fate of the park has remained largely in limbo since that time, resulting in a gradual decline of the facility. The group which befriended the park had memories of the park from its days as part of the Daniel Boone National Forest. They hoped to contribute to its revival as the only natural park in the city, and promote it as an outdoor classroom for the community. The group was soon recognized officially by the City of Morehead as a helper arm to the park in 2018. It now has nonprofit status and membership has doubled. The official mission of the Friends of Rodburn Hollow Park (FOR) is to protect, promote, and preserve the park. FOR has held at least two cleanups each year (other than during the COVID year of 2020). FOR has collaborated with community partners to install a variety of signage: informational, interactive educational, trail signs, and tags for ephemeral wildflowers. They have rebuilt a bridge, upgraded the kiosk, and developed new trails, as well as reopened old ones. In June 2019, PRIDE of Southern and Eastern Kentucky recognized Fred Howes, FOR’s Chair, for extensive volunteer hours at the park. In August 2019, FOR received the Commonwealth Award for Beautifying the Bluegrass. My original role with FOR was as Chair for the first two years, and then as Vice-Chair. As Vice-Chair, my focus was on education projects and developing collaborative partnerships. In the upcoming year, I will be part of the Education Committee. I am also a volunteer with the Rowan County School system. Prior to 2020, I often taught science classes for various classrooms. This summer, I will be teaching science classes for K-5 summer school. I will also be teaching classes in an art camp at the Rowan County Art Center for K-5 students, where I will integrate art with science. KAEE: What projects or programs are you working on that particularly inspire you? Debbie: FOR recognized early on that the best way to gain a positive perspective for the community regarding the value of Rodburn Hollow Park was to include opportunities for Environmental Education for the children of Rowan County. We collaborated with 4H, and 7 other community organizations to pilot an Environmental Day Camp at the park for the 5th graders from the three smallest public elementary schools in our county. The camp served 300 students in 2018. In 2019, FOR expanded the pilot to include all 550 fifth-grade students in the county. We were unable to continue the camp during 2020, but are hoping to try again in 2022. KAEE: What goals do you have for your organization or programs within the EE field? Debbie: My hope is to add various environmental education classes via FOR in the upcoming year. Personally, I would like to offer field trips and learning opportunities for individual classrooms which would take place at Rodburn Hollow Park. KAEE: What is an area you feel you could use support in from this network of fellow educators? Debbie: I would like to learn about ways in which I can become involved in additional learning and teaching opportunities in EE. I would especially appreciate hearing about ideas and experiences in Environmental Day Camps. KAEE: What is something you feel could be beneficial to share with this network? Debbie: As a retired educator and volunteer, I only have the benefit of my past experiences in education to share. My background includes 25 years of teaching in the areas of Basic Math, Earth Science, General Science, Biology, and AP Biology. I have worked with many science camps over the years, and I have taught science to students from preschool to college Freshmen. For many years, I taught in the Upward Bound Program at MSU. I served as a middle school assistant principal for one year, an elementary principal for 4 years, and then as a high school principal for 4 years. After retirement, I served as an elementary science curriculum specialist for a year and a half. However, I retired in 2013, and it is very easy to quickly become obsolete in the field of science. KAEE: Share one fun fact or random tidbit you would like to share with the group! Debbie: I attended Hindman Settlement School for my senior year of high school. It was there that I learned to weave on floor looms. After I retired, I learned to weave Nantucket style baskets.

KAEE Member Feature: Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery

Although Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Jamestown, Kentucky, has been a long time organizational member of KAEE, we are pleased to have recently welcomed two of their newest staff members to the EE community! Marsha Hart and Meg Redmon form a dynamic education duo with a lot to share with our network of educators. Read on to learn more about the hatchery and what inspires these new staff educators.

Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery was constructed in 1975 in response to the disruption of species and habitats along the Cumberland River. The Cumberland River is a major waterway which covers most of southern Kentucky and dips into Tennessee. When Wolf Creek Dam was built, there was a vast ecological transformation. The whole ecosystem above and below the dam were damaged and habitats were destroyed. The Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery was built as a mitigation tool for some of the species that Wolf Creek Dam disrupted. Working alongside the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, the hatchery’s goal is to replenish damaged waterways and stock a million trout at around 100 stocking sites each year.

​Marsha and Meg both serve as Environmental Education / Outreach Specialists at the hatchery and they are tasked with educating the public about the hatchery’s work, native fish populations and habitats, as well as related environmental issues. They work with numerous volunteers and school groups to inform and inspire Kentuckians.

​​KAEE: What projects or programs are you working on that particularly inspire you?

Marsha: We have recently reopened our Visitor’s Center and are currently scheduling group tours and activities. We are excited to be reopening, and welcoming visitors to our hatchery. We are currently replenishing our displays/aquariums since the Visitor’s Center was closed during the pandemic. We are also planting seeds and planning on starting a pollinator garden, as well as sprucing up a rain garden that we have inherited.

KAEE: What goals do you have for your organization or programs within the EE field?

Marsha: Our main goal is to increase the environmental literacy of our visitors. When groups come to the hatchery, we want them to enjoy all the displays, the raceways full of fish, the nature trail, and hatchery creek. We want to be able to educate them about what we do here, and foster a deep appreciation for the Earth.

KAEE: What is an area you feel you could use support in from this network of fellow educators?

Marsha: Support is essential when increasing environmental literacy, because there are so many avenues to take when trying to educate the public. We could use support in ideas for getting the community excited and involved in environmental issues and events, and also with the planning of new events.

KAEE: What is something you feel could be beneficial to share with this network?

Marsha: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has many programs to foster conservation. They have an informative website and Facebook page that would be a great resource to anyone in environmental education.

KAEE: Share one fun fact or random tidbit about you would you like to share with the group!

​Marsha: Meg and I both started work at the hatchery on the same day. Although we live in a small town, we had actually never met before. We have learned so much about the hatchery together, but we have also become close friends!

KAEE Launches Monthly Webinar Series

Have you heard? In April, KAEE launched a dynamic monthly webinar series geared toward formal and non-formal environmental educators and enthusiasts. Featuring a wide variety of presenters and topics, the aim of this series is to educate, inspire, and help connect KAEE members and friends with available and relevant environmental education resources and ideas. The programs will typically be hosted on the third Thursday of each month and registration is required. Webinars are free for KAEE members and only $10 for non-members. Sessions are also recorded so members and paid registrants can view at a later date if desired. Last month, the series was off to a great start with a session featuring the important connections between nature and mental health. The presentation was given by one of KAEE’s long time members and supporters, Amanda Patrick, MA. We looked at research and innovative ideas around the value of connecting individuals and communities with the outdoors. ​ On May 20th at 3:00 pm EST, we will host an exciting presentation all about global research and university partnerships that can be useful right here at home! We hope you can join us. Click here to register.