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Darke County Parks
Introducing the DCP
Naturalists
Darke County Parks had vast staff changes in the past year and is happy
to introduce the newest staff member Kathi McQueen, hired in January as
the Volunteer Coordinator/Naturalist. Kathi grew up in the Adams County
farmland and began her career in finance. In 2006 she returned to
school to pursue her outdoor passion, earning her masters in zoology
from Miami University, and eventually worked as an AmeriCorps
naturalist at Five Rivers MetroParks. Her favorite things so far has
been meeting and working with enthusiastic volunteers, and she looks
forward to warmer seasons with more park visitors and to learning about
the historical ties to the land so ingrained in this county. In
addition to coordinating volunteers, she teaches the monthly Park PALS
program, and manages the animal care at Darke County Parks and loves
working with the reptiles and amphibians. In her spare time Kathi
reads, hikes, and spends time with her husband and young
daughter.
Naturalist Hannah Linebaugh is also new to the park district. A
native of Darke County, she grew up exploring, hunting, and enjoying
nature near Rossburg and reading every historical fiction book she
could find. In 2014 she earned an English degree from Wright State
University and worked as a substitute teacher before joining the Darke
County Parks team. She loves inspiring others by sharing her passions
for history and the outdoors. Her favorite memory so far has been
camping with the long hunters at Prairie Days in full historic style.
In addition to regular naturalist duties, Hannah writes the park press
releases and teaches the Jr. Naturalist program.
Naturalist Mandy Martin has recently rejoined the Darke County Parks
family after some time away. She started at Penn State University
knowing she loved nature and wanted to teach. This led her to Ohio
State Parks and in turn led to Darke and Miami County Parks. Mandy is
the resident Monarch butterfly expert, and she loves sharing her love
of nature with her community. Mandy heads up the “Naturalist in the
Classroom” program and teaches the monthly preschool Little Explorers
and Seedlings programs.
Chief Naturalist Robb Clifford grew up going to Aullwood Audubon
Center. He studied natural resources at Ohio State University and
worked seasonally for Darke County Parks for two summers before being
hired full time in 2007. His favorite memory from working at the park
district was the year there was a “perfect” snowfall occurring during
the Winter Wonderland event. The glow of the luminaries had a mystical
effect. He loves to hike and teach about birds and medicinal plants.
Robb schedules programs, manages the digital media, edits the Nature
Notes newsletter, and leads the majority of the nature hikes.
The entire staff encourages everyone to come out and enjoy the parks’
trails, programs, and community events this year. For any questions
about parks, programs, or to volunteer, please call the Nature Center
at (937) 548-0165, or email the Darke County Park District at
info@darkecountyparks.org.
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