2023-24 Student Naturalists

Student naturalist Amelia Leonard '24
Amelia Leonard ‘24

Amelia Leonard ‘24 grew up hiking, backpacking, and Nordic skiing through the forests of the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she was eight, Amelia first started visiting the Wenaha River Canyon, and when wildfire swept through it a few years later, she was driven to better understand the functions of the ecosystems she wandered. In high school, she worked with the Hoyt Arboretum, eager to share her knowledge of trees and native plants, and, more often, learn from the visitors to the park. Carleton’s Arboretum has provided another space to listen and explore. As a student naturalist at Carleton, Amelia is thrilled to learn about prairie ecosystems, the geology of the Midwest, and to get to better know her community.

Student naturalist Dexter Cole Pakula '26
Dexter Cole Pakula ’26

Dexter Cole Pakula ‘26 grew up in Brooklyn, New York, though spent his childhood summers hiking, biking, and swimming with his family in Acadia National Park, Maine. He always had a particular interest in the wildlife and rock formations, leading him to participate in Junior Park Ranger programs and seek out destinations which were once unknown to most tourists, like Sea Anemone Cave. More recently, Dexter studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, centrally studying ice core science. With his program he went on a trip to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, hiking on the ice sheet and seeing physical evidence of the effects of climate change, rooting his studies of geology in concrete experiences. At Carleton, he loves wandering and running in the Arb and has a goal to walk on every path before he graduates. As a student naturalist, he is excited to learn more about the geologic formations, birds, and plants of the Arb. 

Student naturalist Geoff Bynum '25
Geoff Bynum ’25

Geoff Bynum ’25 Hi I’m Geoff. I grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs. As a kid, I was transfixed by maps and wildlife photographs and had an inner curiosity to explore the world. I went on family trips to locations including California and Maine, where I went to national parks including Pinnacles National Park and Acadia National Park, which sparked my interest in nature. Now I enjoy spending time during summers visiting the countryside of Pennsylvania in the Appalachian Mountains. I love going for a drive through the countryside, exploring places I have never been, and stopping at a trailhead or park. At Carleton, I love visiting the Arb on runs, cross country skiing in the winter, and on walks. Unlike the East Coast, Minnesota has many prairie ecosystems, and by visiting the Arb and several local Minnesota state parks, I want to learn more about the ecological role that these landscapes provide. As a student naturalist, I want to learn more about the plants and birds that inhabit the Arb as well as conservation strategies for wildlife such as the implementation of nest boxes for threatened species.

A selfie of Gerrit Hoving '25 in a desert.
Gerrit Hoving ’25

Gerrit Hoving ’25 grew up on a small farm in rural Michigan where he spent his time exploring the local woodlots with friends and hiking with family. The son of a historian and a biologist, he has always been immersed in the details of the nature around him and prompted to think about the history of place. He has also followed his own interest in geology into quarries in Northern Michigan and caves in Southern Minnesota. Hiking and backpacking around Michigan and beyond with his family gave him an appreciation for nature and the Midwest and an enduring passion for conservation. At Carleton, he has been active in leading trips for CANOE and enjoyed exploring the Arb in all seasons. As a student naturalist, he is excited to learn about the arboretum’s geology, history, ethnobotany, and hidden nooks, and share that excitement with others.

Student naturalist Klara Kjome Fischer '26
Klara Kjome Fischer ’26

Klara Kjome Fischer ’26 knows she’s home when she smells the firs and rain of the Pacific Northwest. She grew up hiking and camping during the summers, and making mud potions on the far side of the playground field during the school year. Once a summer camper who would wade through fields of stinging nettle, Klara cautioned students against the same in high school and now volunteers as a trail steward and guide. She is always amazed by the change from wet to dry climate when crossing the Cascades, and wants to learn more about why plants grow where they grow, and how that relates to the underlying geology and weather patterns. As a student naturalist, she hopes to learn more about her place in the ecosystem, and help others do the same. 

Student naturalist Maxima Gomez-Palmer ‘26
Maxima Gomez-Palmer ‘26

Maxima Gomez-Palmer ‘26 is most at peace sitting in her rickety folding chair overlooking Lake Sedgewick, observing avian behavior with her camera in one hand and binoculars in the other. She is especially fond of eccentric gulls and overly-sociable nuthatches, but appreciates all facets of the natural world. She recalls many childhood (and recent) memories of interacting with worms, insects, and other creatures with fascination – often picking them up to observe them up close. She gets very excited about campus critters and hopes you reach out to her if you ever encounter one (even a worm, seriously!) While most of her friends and family regard these creatures with disgust, Maxima can’t help but be drawn into their world. As a student naturalist, she is especially eager to delve into the unfamiliar world of plants and seeds. Maxima hopes to study the interconnectedness of flora and fauna – after all, without plants, there would be no wildlife to study!