Bernheim Receives Two Top Awards for Naturalist Program

Outstanding Interpreter from National Association for Interpretation

Bernheim’s Interpretive Programs Manager and Naturalist Wren Smith congratulates volunteer Bob Lenning for his recent Outstanding Interpreter award from the National Association for Interpretation, with several of the program’s volunteers in attendance. Photo credit: Tavia Cathcart

Bernheim’s Naturalist-in-Training team has received yet another Outstanding Interpreter Award, for volunteer naturalist Bob Lenning. This 2007 regional award is from the National Association for Interpretation. Bernheim’s Interpretive Programs Manager, Wren Smith (who received this recognition in 2004) accepted the award on behalf of Lenning in Charleston, South Carolina in February. Nearly 200 interpreters representing this nine-state region were gathered for this annual conference. Lenning has been a part of Bernheim’s Naturalists-in-Training program for three years. According to Smith, “Bob’s enthusiasm is matched by his curiosity and his generosity of spirit. He has the ability to an engage others with knowledge, humor and humility. Bob is just as comfortable down on the floor with preschoolers as he is when talking with members of a Rotary Club, a group of scouts or senior citizens. In fact, Bob exemplifies the notion that knowledge truly becomes ours the more we give it away.” Lenning has developed two outstanding interpretive programs on ferns that are available to visitors and he served as Program Chair for Bernheim’s first Naturalists-in-Training Retreat. His sessions included A Field Guide to the Field Guides and concentrations on drawing and journaling. He also began a blog for Bernheim’s nature interpreters that allows for sharing nature photos, ideas and natural history tidbits and insights.

Lenning is so generous with his time and talent that he would gladly give visitors the moon and the stars. In fact, he has done just that: he developed the popular series “Bernheim at Night” – hikes that match the cycles of the moon and major events, such as the solstices. He has made the night sky shine more brightly for hundreds of Bernheim visitors. Lenning is a familiar face at Bernheim. He has served as a sort of “eco” ambassador for many major events and weekend Discovery Experiences at the forest. When visiting Bernheim, be sure to look for Bob Lenning. He always has a warm smile and memorable story to share, and fun new ways of looking at nature.

Outstanding Program from the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education

Bernheim’s Interpretive Programs Manager and Naturalist Wren Smith and award-winning naturalist volunteer Bob Lenning show off Bernheim’s Outstanding Program 2007 award from the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education. Photo credit: Bernheim staff

Last fall, Bernheim’s Naturalist-in-Training program received the 2007 Outstanding Program award from the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE). Portia Brown, President of KAEE, accepted the award on behalf of Bernheim. She presented it to the group at a recent training session, where twenty-four volunteer naturalists and program manager Wren Smith were excited to receive it. Bernheim’s Naturalists-in-Training program has grown from a handful of volunteers since its inception in 2002 to a vibrant community of very active volunteers that offer a wide variety of nature programs, hikes and discovery experiences. These programs are accessible to Bernheim visitors and they are available off-site upon request. In 2006, seventy-five volunteer naturalists provided nearly 4,000 hours of service, many of which were spent helping visitors enjoy an “up close and personal” experience with nature. These close encounters with nature include such diverse opportunities as touching a toad with Joe Cichan, making bird feeders with Tina Newcomb, tracking wildlife with Cele Beckner; owl calling with Dick Denise, racing “wooly bear caterpillars with Corinne Mastey, discovering stories hidden in wildflowers with from Nola Lillie, Carol Hyatt, and others. In this program volunteers work together and actually develop program content, which is reviewed before use. Often they work in teams to provide truly outstanding experiences for young and old. The dedication and creativity of such volunteer teams create memorable experiences for individuals and families. “On-going mentoring is a very important part of the training. Mentoring creates a sustainable culture for learning and sharing and volunteers support one another each step along the way” says Smith.

According to Portia Brown, who knows this program from the inside out (she herself is a Naturalists Leader at Bernheim), “It is amazing to see trainees grow and flower as they gain knowledge, skills, and self confidence. This has inspired other organizations such as The Falls of the Ohio State Park and Salato Wildlife Center in Frankfort to develop similar programs. Bernheim’s naturalists program is by nature very organic as it trains and sustains volunteers who train and inspire others not only to care about nature but also for our natural resources. Hand to hand, mind to mind the love of nature and the desire to promote and practice sustainability grows through this wonderful program.”