Naturalists on the Road
Learning and Growing at the National Conference for Interpretation
In December, CNC’s Naturalist Manager, Christie Hill, attended the 2024 National Conference for Interpretation in St. Augustine, the oldest continually occupied city in the U.S. Though the conference took place at the modern World Golf Village Resort—surrounded by highways and shopping centers—nature was still present. A small pond near the boardwalk teemed with waterfowl, offering a welcome connection to the coastal environment.
Much of the conference was spent learning from and teaching with peers. Over 600 in-person attendees and 1,500 virtual participants engaged in interactive sessions designed to keep everyone thinking, moving, and reimagining interpretation. What is the practice of Interpretation, you might ask? Interpretation is more than just sharing facts, it’s an artful, audience-centered approach to revealing meaning, sparking curiosity, and encouraging deeper connections to people, places, and history. It is communication designed to relate to each audience and to reveal mysteries, truths, or just the simple meaning of a place, person or thing. Whether in naturalist work, education, or guiding, interpreters are storytellers who help others see, feel, and engage with the world around them. It is about engaging others with methods that will encourage their interest and participation and excite them to want to learn more. It can be successfully used in every profession and relationship, and is a key technique we utilize at CNC as our staff and volunteers work to connect people with nature each day.
As naturalists, tour guides, rangers, historians and teachers, conference attendees came to be immersed – to be unafraid to dive in and open minds and senses to new ways of teaching and guiding. Interpreters live to share passion. They are learners as well as teachers, on a mission to touch other people with meaning and impact; to make a difference in conserving the resources we treasure in this world. Reflecting on her experience, Christie noted she enjoyed the engaging stories other centers used to show their visitors the essence of the natural world – almost anyone can take a walk in the woods, but to see, smell and touch, and to feel being a part of the whole is a very different experience. Christie was even able to attend sessions unveiling new apps for audio tours, participated in a game from NASA to help centers interpret climate change with visitors, learned about new practices in conservation, and learned about the essential work going on interpreting national parks in China.
Christie shared, “I really appreciated the chance to convene with and learn from others in my field and know that the lessons will continue to be helpful and will bring deeper understanding over time. I left the conference inspired, with new tools and fresh perspectives to bring back to CNC. From exploring innovative conservation practices to testing new digital tools for interpretation, every session reinforced the power of engagement in our field. This experience fueled my passion for my role as Naturalist Manager and Interpretive Trainer, reminding me that the heart of our work lies in creating meaningful, lasting connections between people and nature.”
Spring brings buds, blooms, and rains, and lots of calls to the Wildlife Department at CNC about baby animals. While CNC is licensed and trained only for raptors, reptiles, and amphibians, the Wildlife Department responds to over 150 requests each month in spring regarding wildlife babies of all species. Almost 300 animals less than one year of age were accepted for care at CNC, while the others were referred to rehabbers of those species if necessary. Generally, it costs about 3 times as much to rehab a juvenile than an adult, mostly because they eat so much more food. Overall, CNC takes in nearly 800 injured, orphaned, and kidnapped animals each year.
This day is a great opportunity to meet Wildlife Department staff and volunteers and learn about what they do as well as get up close to some amazing animals. Learn from professionals what to do when you find a baby animal. CNC will have unique wildlife walks with specialists dishing all the best stories about our rehabilitated animals, community partners, and fun games for the whole family to learn about their favorite baby animals.
Wildlife Director Kathryn Dudeck lays it all out: “With warmer weather approaching, plants are beginning to sprout and bud, which is delicious food for several smaller animals, such as rabbits, chipmunks, and songbirds. An ample food supply signals that it is suitable conditions to have offspring. With smaller animals being born, predatory species such as raptors coincide their breeding seasons.”
“Once raptors start to grow their adult feathers, they are too large for the nest,” Dudeck said. “At approximately 6-8 weeks old, they start perching on the branches around the nest and then start building up their flight muscles by jumping from branch to branch. Occasionally, they miss a landing and are found uninjured on the ground.”
In 2024, CNC’s environmental education programs will reach over 40,000 participants. This month, we will visit many schools and organizations, and many students will come out to CNC for field trips.
We are also proud to partner with 
Since 2020, CNC has proudly partnered with LNP, an organization dedicated to empowering Latino students and their families through holistic academic, leadership, and community programs. Previously focused on more singular experiences – this year’s CSP funding allowed the partnership to broaden its scope, offering year-round, repeat nature experiences for all grade levels, families, teen volunteers, and teachers. We believe that students who participate in repeated outdoor experiences at CNC and in their neighborhoods increase their comfort with being outdoors and allow them to develop a sense of place, leading to lasting benefits in their everyday lives.
The Connecting Los Ninos with Nature program kicked off with a training session for LNP teachers at CNC’s campus, introducing them to outdoor spaces for field trips and brainstorming ideas on how to incorporate the outdoors into their lessons. From here, over 600 LNP students, teen volunteers, and staff visited CNC this summer for a naturalist-led program, where students met live animals and learned about connecting with the nature around us. These field trips were complemented by outreach programs delivered at LNP locations in the community, where CNC Naturalists shared engaging nature activities and animal encounters with students. In September, the Young Naturalist After-School Club began, providing middle school students weekly programs. Through engaging activities, such as nature journaling, animal encounters, and exploring surrounding natural habitats, students honed their skills to deepen their connection to nature and become environmental stewards. CNC was also proud to host LNP’s Youth Volunteer Leadership meeting in the fall. Along with providing an event space for their meeting, the Youth Leadership team enjoyed a team bonding experience canoeing on one of CNC’s ponds.
The Connecting Los Ninos with Nature program also engaged LNP families. This summer, CNC hosted LNP for the annual Mayors Summer Reading Club (MSRC) event. The MSRC is a program for children ages birth to five and their families that takes place in various locations throughout Atlanta each summer. In summer, organizations like CNC hold “book club reads” to model research-based methods of reading books with children and host enrichment events based upon the stories. The books come to life as children enjoy activities, drama, and other hands-on activities designed to make the language in the stories meaningful to children. Families were also treated to a bilingual live animal encounter presented by one of CNC’s incredible docents. In the fall, CNC continued to engage families and hosted LNP Family Days. These monthly invitations provided free admission to LNP families to enjoy CNC’s 127 acres of forestland, wetland, and riverfront property together.
Your Place on the River provides exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the Wildlife Department, where experts share insights into the behavior and care of the resident animals. Wander through the lush landscapes of the Horticulture Department and discover the secrets behind the vibrant flora that paints the center’s picturesque scenery. Journey through the educational initiatives with the Education Department, gaining a deeper understanding of impactful programs designed to connect people with nature. Oh, the places you’ll go!
In recent years, CNC’s fall quarter gallery hanging has been Double Vision. Double Vision is a special exhibit that shows the connection between nature and art by viewing one subject as envisioned by the photographer and the artist. Double Vision begins with a theme, and then the GNPA photographers take photos of anything related to that theme. For example, the theme could be Georgia’s natural water bodies. Once the GNPA selects 24 photographs for the show, they give them to the RFAA artists who create any kind of artwork they’d like with the freedom to reinterpret the photography however they choose. The exhibit’s focus is to illustrate the multiple ways of viewing and interpreting art, and CNC’s partnerships with GNPA and RFAA perfectly illustrate the different ways to connect with nature via art.
VamosChicos is another partnership that helps us connect people with nature through art. Katterina and Michael Nangle of VamosChicos are talented artists who contribute beautiful, eco-friendly art pieces to CNC’s seasonal exhibits such as Naturally Artistic and the Enchanted Woodland Trail. For two years, VamosChicos has created art entirely from recycled materials for display outside for CNC’s Naturally Artistic exhibit. VamosChicos strives to help CNC’s members and visitors see the connection between art and nature by reusing materials to create new and amazing works of art!
Unsurprisingly, I get many questions and a few comments when I share with people that I’m a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide: “What’s that? You’re a therapist? Why do that outside? I don’t really need therapy, thanks.” When I share that Forest Therapy is also often referred to as Forest Bathing even more questions arise: “What’s that? A bath in the forest? Do I need a towel? How does that work?”
Though we can and often do have these experiences on our own, having a guide can assist the process by holding a safe container and relieving you, the participant, from the pressure of keeping track of time, decision making, or thinking about the next moment. A guide sets the pace, encouraging a downshift from our often hurried, fast-paced thinking and busy-ness. Just as one might turn to a personal trainer, yoga instructor, or walking group, many find being guided in Forest Therapy to be deeply supportive. And just like exercise or yoga, Forest Bathing is a practice that can be deepened by returning again and again, through different seasons.
Kathryn Fidati is a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and a former CNC Interpretive Naturalist and canoe guide. She holds these certifications: Georgia Master Naturalist, Certified Interpretive Guide, Wilderness First Aid/CPR, PT, LMT.