Olmsted County Parks Newsletter - Fall 2024

by: Celeste Lewis

Tell me a little about where you are coming from professionally…

I’ve had a lifelong career in parks that started in 1985 as an intern in college with a county park system leading to a seasonal law enforcement position for the DNR.  From there went on to work in the National Park System, working at Petrified Forest National Park in 1990 and at Rocky Mountain National Park from 1991-93.  In 1996 I returned to Wisconsin and obtained a permanent position Wisconsin DNR in 1998 in park management.  Over the years I have worked as an Assistant Park Manager, Park Manager, Team Leader and District supervisor in the park field.

What inspired you to join the team here/change position, organization and state?

I had worked with the Wisconsin DNR for 28 years and needed a change in life and a change in direction seeking a new challenge with a new organization.  The possibility of living at the park property also intrigued me.  With my previous park and life experiences I feel I offer good ideas in the management and leadership here at Chester Woods Park.

What challenges have you faced in your career?

The biggest challenge for me came in 2018 when law enforcement was taken away from park staff and handed over to conservation officers requiring myself and fellow credentialed managers and rangers to relinquish our credentials.  A lot of pride went into the law enforcement side of my career, and it was a personal and professional challenge giving that up.

What do you think is the most important skill that a successful professional needs to have

Patience and humility.

What is one thing that you have always wanted to learn/try or bucket list item?

I would love to circumvent the back woods of Australia in a jeep.  Take a long trip and really get in deep into the outback.

What do you think makes you unique as a team member?

I believe that all my previous park experiences bring a lot to this position

What are some challenges that you have faced since joining the team?

The hardest thing has been “fitting in.” Coming in as the new guy from outside and trying to get to know each other in a different culture and different organization.  With that said, I have loved the challenge thus far.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

This may sound a bit cliché but visiting other parks.  I find myself spending a lot of free time at other state, county and city parks learning how others do the things we do here at Chester Woods.    I also enjoy live music, biking and hiking.

Describe an interesting hobby or pastime that you have.

I’m a “history buff.”   Especially around the Civil war era.  I have visited many battlefield sites and hope to visit many more.  Anything history related interests me, visiting, reading, etc.

Do you follow and sports teams?

I am a Wisconsin fan, so The Packers, Bucks, Brewers and the Badgers.  Football is my favorite to watch though.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

Edward Abbey that wrote “Desert Solitaire”.  His description of the desert southwest was inspirational to me.   Also, my grandmother that totally exposed me to the love of nature, and my father.

What has been your most meaningful accomplishment so far?

My college degree by far, from Colorado State University.  I was the first in my family to get one.

What do you enjoy most about Chester Woods Park and Olmsted County so far?

The reservoir.  I also just like the “vibe” of the park.  It’s extremely well maintained with its grounds and amenities.

What methods do you use to stay motivated and focused?

Meditation, long walks or drives to clear my head

Regular exercise which is obviously good for the body and the brain

Talking to friends/family and my dog

What tips or advice would you give someone starting a new job/career?

Network, volunteer, and get to know people.  “It’s not just about what you know, it’s about what and who you know.”

What are you most looking forward to in your new position?

Taking the park to a “higher level,” helping to improve the existing park and assisting in the development and management of the new visitor center.  Making sure the needs of the staff are met.

Anything else that you would like to share…

I grew up camping and visiting parks which spurred my love in the outdoors.  I have found parks has equally been a part of my life both on a personal and professional level.

by: Clarissa Schrooten

When the words, “Climate Change” are uttered it brings up a wide range of thoughts and emotions. It is extremely unfortunate that these words have been used as weapons against people, used to make money, used in political fights and pushed to extremes to categorize people into teams against each other. Instead of taking the time to focus on facts and details used in the battle of climate change, I want to help us all find common ground in the natural world and the resource that surround us. I assume if you are reading this newsletter it is because you have an interest in parks, natural spaces, and all life within those lands.

The state of Minnesota has so many natural spaces and lands for people to unplug from the technology and truly enjoy Mother Earth. With the convergence of four biomes meeting in Minnesota the level of diversity in flora and fauna outnumbers many other places in this country. Here in southeast MN the deciduous forest graces the land with shade during warm summers, beautiful colors as the leaves fade for winter, and bare trees to allow the sunlight to warm the earth through the cold of winter. Northeast MN grows predominately coniferous trees, a.k.a. evergreen trees that provide windbreaks and shelter when winter cold and driving winds last the longest. Central and southwest MN are known for the historic prairie lands that once covered the entire landscape where remnants remain and restored prairies are making a comeback. This country has reaped the benefits of the prairie’s fertile soil using it in agriculture for feeding the people and now the realization is being made that habitat for prairie animals is also necessary to feed the people. Lastly the smallest biome in MN, tall grass Aspen parkland, offers the perfect balance of prairies and forest for wildlife living in the northwest corner of MN. All of this diversity just touches the surface since MN is known for over 10,000 lakes.

With more than 10,000 lakes the biodiversity continues to impress. These lakes range from being oligotrophic such as Lake Superior with cold, crystal clear water to mesotrophic lakes such as Chester Woods Lake where both fish and aquatic vegetation live, to eutrophic such as Rice Lake that supports lots of vegetation and waterfowl. The thousands of lakes across the state gives home to a wide range of wildlife. Then to add in the diversity of life living in rivers, streams and wetlands, Minnesota has a lot of life dependent on a healthy environment.

In Minnesota we all have a lot to take pride in when speaking about our natural world. If we can remember our appreciation for wildlife when approaching the topic of climate change, we can start with common ground to move forward making decisions to best serve all lives on this earth.

I'm Caleb Leavitt, I'm from Southern Utah and I'm a proud member of the Chester Woods Park staff! Why on earth am I here, might you ask? Well, my wife is a nursing intern here in Rochester this summer, and being without her in Utah would be more of a desert than it already is (right now it is just rocks and sagebrush). I grew up on a cattle ranch and I love the outdoors! Other hobbies include wrestling, playing the piano, and swing dancing with my wife. We're a long way from home but we're very glad to be here :)

My name is Soren Turgeon. I grew up in Eyota and just graduated from Dover-Eyota High School. I’ll be attending the University of Minnesota, Duluth this fall and majoring in Chemistry. When I am not working at Chester Woods, I enjoy kayaking, yard work, mountain biking and playing video games and electric bass.

Meghan Kosmala is an intern this summer at Chester Woods. She is currently attending Minnesota State University, Mankato, majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Geography. She’ll be a senior at the start of school this August, set to graduate early in December! She is overjoyed to be able to work an internship close to home within one of her favorite park systems! In her free time, she loves being outdoors, line dancing, spending time with her friends and playing video games!

Hi, my name is Sam Rivas!

At the time of writing this I am a senior Social Studies Education major at Winona State, about to student teach in the fall. It is my first summer working for Chester Woods Park and so far, it has been great! Working outside and having the privilege to explore our parks system is a treat. A little about me; my favorite thing to do during the summer is hangout with friends either to see a movie, play tabletop games or go on trips across the US and abroad. Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Europe for three weeks where I got to explore London, swim in the Adriatic and road trip the lengths of Bosnia and Croatia. In the winter I love going to watch Vikings games (even though they break my heart every year) and skiing when I get the chance.

Hope Chappius is Oxbow Park’s seasonal naturalist. This is her third season here at the park and zoo. Hope has experience as a veterinary assistant and was also a Naturalist Intern at Oxbow in 2022. When asked about her future career goals Hope said she hopes to continue being a naturalist, as she enjoys working with animal ambassadors and educating people about the natural world. Fittingly, she said her favorite job at the park is teaching people about the animals while doing zoo chores. Her favorite memory at Oxbow is helping with the new wolves. When not at the park Hope enjoys reading, hiking, and painting.

Lacey is also a returning maintenance worker in the Olmsted County Park system. In the off season she is a forestry technician and is a wealth of knowledge in the maintenance position. Lacey has an associate’s degree in liberal arts and sciences and in her free time loves to spend time outdoors and with her boyfriend Grant and two dogs. Lacey’s favorite tasks at Oxbow are maintaining the trails and feeding the bison. 

Aubrey is in her second season as an Oxbow Park maintenance worker. Outside of the summer season she is studying at University of Wisconsin-Superior studying biology and environmental science. She enjoys hiking and baking and she would love to work at National Park someday. Aubrey’s favorite memory at Oxbow Park was the Maintenance vs. Naturalist sand volleyball match last summer.

Gabe is a first-year seasonal who graduated from Dover-Eyota Elementary. In his spare time Gabe enjoys biking, frolfing, fishing with his dad, and ballet. Gabe likes working outside and loves animals; his dream job is working in Australia as a zoologist. He enjoys working at Oxbow and stated his favorite person to work with is Jaide and least favorite is Tim.

Jack is a longtime maintenance worker and volunteer at Oxbow Park. Him and his lovely wife Eliza have been spending their summers at Oxbow Park for eight years. Jack is from the small town of Goldthwaite, Texas and enjoys woodworking, biking with his wife, and learning new things. Jack is a wealth of knowledge and has past work experience as campground host, service station manager, painter, automotive technician, semiconductor worker among many other things!

Layna is Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo’s naturalist intern. She graduated from Mayo High School and currently attends the University of Wisconsin- Madison studying environmental studies and conservation biology. During college she has worked as a barista and lab researcher in wildlife and forest ecology. Layna enjoys reading, crocheting, playing the piano, and tennis. Her favorite Oxbow memory was the first time feeding the bison when they ran right up to the fence in anticipation of food.