Category Archives

Urban Naturalists

Celebrating a Season of Impact with our Urban Naturalists!

Posted by: Birdie Ratliff
Posted: November 26, 2025
Categories: Education, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Urban Naturalists

As our project season comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible work of our Urban Naturalists (UNs) and all they made possible in 2025. From pruning thousands of trees to removing invasive species and restoring habitats across the city, this year’s UN teams made a massive impact on the health […]

Meet the 2025 Urban Naturalists

Posted by: Birdie Ratliff
Posted: June 20, 2025
Categories: Education, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Urban Naturalists

Say hello to the passionate crew of Urban Naturalists bringing joy, energy, and environmental know-how to every corner of the city this season! Each of these Urban Naturalists brings something unique to the field. Whether it’s a deep knowledge of dystopian novels, a passion for local ecology, or a great playlist. Follow along this season […]

Meet our Urban Naturalists!

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: May 28, 2024
Categories: AES Indiana Project Greenspace, Community Forestry, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Urban Naturalists

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 […]

From Indiana to Florida: Post-Grad Adventures from an Urban Naturalist

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: February 1, 2024
Categories: Education, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Urban Naturalists

Anna Hopkins has taken her love for the outdoors from the heart of Indianapolis to the sunny landscapes of Tallahassee, Florida. After graduating from IU, she swapped the desk job for boots on the ground as an Event Coordinator at a state park, later transitioning to her current role as a Regional Coordinator for the […]

Bridging Cities and Nature as an Urban Naturalist

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: January 29, 2024
Categories: AES Indiana Project Greenspace, Community Forestry, Education, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Urban Naturalists

Sydney Geckler is currently pursuing her fifth (and final!) year of Urban Planning at the University of Cincinnati. Over the last five years, her journey has been filled with growth, exploration, and passion… a lot of which stemmed from the Urban Naturalist program! As an alum, she was able to not only expand her knowledge […]

Celebrating a year of impact

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: December 27, 2023
Categories: Adopt-A-Block, Clean Neighborhoods, Engaged Citizens, Great Indy Cleanup, KIB Ambassadors, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Urban Naturalists, Volunteers

We’ve been making our city cleaner, greener, and friendlier since 1976. With the support of our volunteers, advocates and partners, we continue to accomplish extraordinary things together. This year was no exception! Just like ecosystems in nature, communities that are connected and support one another become stronger and more resilient. None of our work would […]