Meet our Urban Naturalists!

By: Benjamin Shine

Summer is around the corner, which means its time to welcome our newest team members: our Urban Naturalists! This year’s Urban Naturalists (UNs) represent four universities and will spend the next few months doing meaningful, environmental work for our city while engaging neighbors in community-based environmental stewardship.

What kind of work exactly? The Urban Naturalists focus on the maintenance of multiple horticultural projects across the city, including native landscapes and green stormwater infrastructure, which capture and filter rainwater. The team works on a variety of green projects to manage the city’s stormwater, with contracts from Citizens Energy Group (CEG) and the City of Indianapolis. The UNs will also restore habitat along Indianapolis waterways and do various in-house projects with KIB, like maintaining some of our GreenSpaces and KIB trees.

Our Urban Naturalists will be out and about all throughout the city this summer, so be sure to stop and say “hi!”.

Bronte

• Bronte graduated from IUPUI where she majored in Anthropology.
• She enjoys hiking, traveling, being outdoors, as well as arts and crafts. Bronte also collects CDs.
• If Bronte had to give an hour-long presentation on a topic with little to no prep, it would be on Watcher (YouTube channel), climate change, mental health or Adventure Time.
• Favorite flower: Tiger Lilly
• Favorite tree: Tulip Tree
• Favorite place in Indy: Newfields
• Favorite game to play: Guitar Hero
• Favorite snack: Trader Joe’s Chili Lime chips

Casey

• Casey completed their undergraduate degree at the University of Indianapolis and is currently working on their Master’s at Indiana University.
• She enjoys painting, puzzles and hiking. Casey also collects vintage toys and dolls. And of course buggies!
• If Casey had to give an hour-long presentation on a topic with little to no prep, it would be on Rupaul’s Drag Race and drag queens.
• Favorite flower: Butterfly Milkweed
• Favorite tree: Catalpa
• Favorite place in Indy: Broad Ripple or the prairie area at Newfields
• Favorite game to play: Minecraft or Scattegories
• Favorite snack: Popcorn

Dana

• Dana graduated from IUPUI where she majored in History.
• She enjoys film photography, paddle boarding and thrifting. Dana also collects CDs and pins.
• If Dana had to give an hour-long presentation on a topic with little to no prep, it would be on Ancient Rome / Greece.
• Favorite flower: Snapdragons
• Favorite tree: Ginkgo or Tulip
• Favorite place in Indy: Any coffee shop. Shout-out to Helm and Commissary!
• Favorite game to play: Animal Crossing
• Favorite snack: Jalapeno chips

Ellie

• Ellie is a student at Indiana University where she studies Environmental & Sustainability Studies.
• She enjoys sewing, quilting and reading. Ellie also collects pop tabs!
• If Ellie had to give an hour-long presentation on a topic with little to no prep, it would be on raccoons.
• Favorite flower: Sneezeweeds
• Favorite tree: White Oak
• Favorite place in Indy: Still exploring!
• Favorite game to play: Any card game
• Favorite snack: Dark chocolate

Kae

• Kae is a student at Purdue University where they study Natural Resources and Environmental Science.
• They enjoy playing piano and swimming, as well as collecting rocks from their travels!
• If Kae had to give an hour-long presentation on a topic with little to no prep, it would be on the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Favorite flower: Allium
• Favorite tree: Redwood
• Favorite place in Indy: The Garage
• Favorite game to play: Egyptian Rat Screw
• Favorite snack: Cheese stick

Mary

• Mary is a student at Indiana University where she studies Parks, Recreation, and the Outdoors.
• She enjoys going to antique malls and cuddling her English Cream Golden Retriever. Mary also collects trinkets and antique wall art.
• If Mary had to give an hour-long presentation on a topic with little to no prep, it would be on the Yellowstone Wolf Project.
• Favorite flower: Snowdrop
• Favorite tree: Spruce or Sycamore
• Favorite place in Indy: Southport Antique Mall
• Favorite game to play: Hay Day
• Favorite snack: Munchies

Sofi

• Sofi is a student at Indiana University Bloomington where she studies Environmental Science.
• She enjoys cycling, 3D art, obsessively listening to music, and playing piano. Mary also collects lego cars!
• If Sofi had to give an hour-long presentation on a topic with little to no prep, it would be on Lucy Dacus’ Home Video album or the Little 500.
• Favorite flower: Zinnia
• Favorite tree: Cherry Blossom
• Favorite place in Indy: Fountain Square
• Favorite game to play: Minecraft, Animal Crossing or Hay Day
• Favorite snack: An entire jar of Nutella

Categories: AES Indiana Project Greenspace, Community Forestry, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Urban Naturalists