Kathy Schillemat

The numbers speak for themselves: this spring and summer, Kathy Schillemat worked with four Keene State College students to document 20 vernal pools in Nelson; two summers ago, she and her daughter Gretchen surveyed over 30 culverts for AVEO’s aquatic connectivity project with The Nature Conservancy; and over the years, she has helped hundreds of amphibians cross busy roads during their spring migration. When asked to describe Kathy for a May 2008 feature in the Keene Sentinel, David said it best: “Kathy is the kind of dedicated volunteer every organization needs. She is passionate about our efforts to learn more about our local environment. She participates throughout seasons and over long periods of time. And, most importantly, she collects good data.”

What do you do when you’re not a citizen scientist?

I work at MOCO Arts and enjoy spending time with my family.  I am also on the planning board in Nelson and very involved in the youth organization at my church.   And I disappear into the woods at every opportunity, just for the fun of it!

Why do you volunteer with AVEO?

I volunteer for AVEO because the many projects in which I have been involved feed my passion for the wonderful world of conservation biology.   And I have learned so much.  Someone this spring called me a herpetologist!  I felt that was a high compliment, and all because of what I have learned through volunteering with AVEO.

What is the most beautiful or inspiring or unexpected thing you’ve experienced while participating in an AVEO citizen science project?

Working on the culvert project with my daughter, Gretchen, was the most inspiring experience.  To be united with family in doing good for the environment in a tangible way was a great experience.  In addition, any time I get to talk with and work with children in connection with my vernal pool work is so rewarding!

What is your favorite place to go for a hike (or paddle) in the Ashuelot watershed?

My favorite place to hike is around Center Pond in Nelson.  My favorite places to paddle are Nubanusit Lake and Spoonwood Pond.

Do you remember what made you fall in love with nature?

My parents have always been my inspiration.  I fell in love with nature on Sunday afternoon walks with them growing up in Hartford, Vermont.

When you feel overwhelmed by bad news about the environment, where do you find hope?

I just look at the progress that we are making in the Monadnock Region and I feel hopeful about the environment: that there are people who care enough about amphibians to go out in the pouring rain in the middle of the night to help them cross the roads safely; that there is a wind farm in Lempster now; that I find moose tracks, coyote tracks, otters, beaver in my own neighborhood.  All these things make me hopeful about our environmental future.   AVEO has helped me to believe in my own ability to make a difference in my own community…to do more than just enjoy nature; to take an active role in preservation and restoration of natural resources is the joy of my life.  This is one of the things that I was meant to do.  I never feel more at home than when I am with others exploring the natural world. When I grow up, I want to be a conservation biologist, but until then, I am a citizen scientist and proud of it!