[Student Naturalists 2012-2013] 

2012 - 2013 Student Naturalists 

Jasmine Cutter ’13 simply loves being outdoors!  She loves having the Arb so close by and being able to go for trail runs whenever she wants.  Coming from the prairie-less state of Delaware, Jasmine is fascinated by the unfamiliar plants and critters living in this unique ecosystem.  She is looking forward to understanding how prairie and savanna ecosystems work and to share her passion for nature with others. 

Brandon Valle '14 grew up in Spokane, Washington.  Happy to escape his local pine forests for the more varied prairie, savannah, and deciduous forests of Carleton's arboretum, he enjoys spending time in the Arb and learning its secrets.  He takes particular interest in wildlife management, and what tools or strategies humans can use to restore and modify native lands.

Jared Beck '14 grew up in southeastern Wisconsin where he spent much of his childhood outdoors hiking, camping, fishing and exploring nature.  From these experiences and his early fascination with birds, Jared's passion for the natural world developed.  At Carleton, he can often be found wandering around the Arb, searching for interesting wildlife and working to familiarize himself with the native plants.  Jared looks forward to participating in Carleton's restoration projects and continuing to learn about the natural world.

Maddie Reynolds ‘14 spent her childhood in St. Louis, MO, reading animal stories and watching suburban squirrels.  She is fascinated by the relationships between plant species and animal species, and sees these forces of nature as inspiration for art, dance, and writing. The Carleton Arb has provided her with a tranquil hideaway, a place for friendly conversations, and a great spot to seek out critters and familiar plants. Maddie can’t wait to learn more about the restoration projects Carleton uses to preserve the ecological integrity of this beautiful swath of nature.

Callum McCulloch '15 grew up in the tall redwoods of the California Coast. He found his passion for natural history observing four ton Elephant Seals on the local beach, admiring the high nests of Great Horned Owls, and appreciating wild edible plants. More recently, he is excited for the reintroduction of Bald Eagles into his home county this year. He worked on Arb crew from 2011 to 2012 and conducted seed research in the Winter of 2012 for the Arboretum Office. In his free time, he likes to explore the Arboretum to glean how distinct habitats change through Minnesota's drastic seasons. Callum strives to reduce the dichotomy between people and nature through responsible re-inhabitation of the land and sustainable farming practices.

Marie Schaedel '15 was towed along on hiking and birdwatching ventures by her enthusiastic mother as a child. She eventually came to the realization that these once dreaded outings instilled an appreciation of nature and its inhabitants. She now plans to major in biology in order to study plants professionally. Marie grew up in a small suburb north of Chicago and chose to attend Carleton primarily because she fell in love with the Arb during her first visit to campus. Marie enjoys cross-country skiing, running in the Arb, and watching British television.

Emily Buckner ’15 grew up in Seattle, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She developed a love for all things outdoors from her numerous adventures hiking, biking, backpacking, canoeing, bird watching, and camping with family and friends. She has found that the Arb is a wonderful place to escape to when faced with the stresses of college life, or just the desire to get outdoors, and is eager to learn about its ecology as a student naturalist.

Anna Persmark '15 grew up playing in creeks, exploring the woods, hiking, and backpacking. As a member of the cross country and track teams, she loves running in the Arb, and also enjoys cross country skiing and long wanders. As a native of Eugene, OR, the prairie is a refreshing change from the rainy coniferous forests. Anna looks forward to finding turtles and frogs and generally learning more about the wildlife of the Arboretum.