What's it like to be a naturalist?

Naturalists often answer as many questions about their career as they do about wildlife. Minnesota State Parks and Trails naturalist Retta James-Gasser is based at Gooseberry Falls State Park, and provided these insights into life as a naturalist in a recent interview with a student.

Is it fun to be a naturalist?
Oh yes! It's the best job I've ever had. Sometimes I feel as though I'm just a big kid. Basically, the only things that I don't consider fun are doing the administrative functions or having to be the "first response" to emergency situations.

What is it like being a naturalist?
As a year-round state parks and trails naturalist - sometimes also called an interpreter - I have the opportunity to meet and talk with a lot of people from all ages and backgrounds. Some of these people come alone or with their family or friends, while others come as part of a school, college, or community group. My main duty is to help visitors learn about the area's natural, historical, and cultural resources through interpretation and appropriate recreational opportunities. I do this in two ways: by directly talking with the people (called personal interpretation), and by creating displays, exhibits, handouts, brochures, signs, or other forms of communication that do not involve me talking with the public (called non-personal interpretation). At Gooseberry Falls State Park, we have just under one million visitors per year, and most of them come in contact with what I do one way or another, which also makes my job very rewarding!

I get to work both outside and inside while doing a wide variety of duties. Being a naturalist isn't a career for anyone looking for a nine-to-five job. The job description clearly states it is a seven-day operation, and involves some weekends, evenings, and holidays.

What do you do for your job?
Almost every day is different. As a naturalist, some days I am a teacher (conducting talks, walks, and demonstrations highlighting area resources), a writer, a researcher, a graphic artist (designing non-personal interpretation), a photographer, or a historian, just to name a few. I am also involved in park and trail resource management, working with the local communities, and providing technical assistance to other agencies. I love the diversity of my job! Most tasks require creativity.

As an experienced naturalist, I have the freedom to plan my own day and make decisions about the types of programs and activities to offer the public. My supervisor, Paul (he's the park manager), offers guidance and sometimes must grant approval, but he generally trusts my judgment.

Do you like being a naturalist?
Yep-a-roo, I wouldn't trade being a naturalist for almost anything else in the world!

What training do you need?
Most naturalists have a college education in the natural sciences. To be a state parks and trails naturalist, you need a college degree and experience. In my case, I started out as a volunteer naturalist until I was hired as a part-time naturalist at a nature center; then I worked my way up to being a program supervisor and director. Finally, I was hired as a seasonal state park naturalist and then as a year-round state parks and trails naturalist.

I must mention that in addition to training, a person couldn't be a good naturalist without liking to work with people! This is a basic prerequisite, the love of working with people, since they are the ones with whom you will be sharing your knowledge of the resources.

Is it fun working with people?
Yes, this is one of the main reasons why I truly enjoy my job! Most people who visit the park are in a fairly happy state of mind, which makes working with the public fun for me.

Have you seen any wild animals?
Yes. I've seen animals that are fairly common like birds, deer, and rodents, to less commonly seen critters like foxes, coyotes, fishers, martens, black bears, ring-neck snakes, and even wolves. I must admit that seeing the "everyday" common animals still thrills me as I am often surprised by some of their behaviors. Sometimes I just get to see their tracks or other signs of their presence. Some of the animals that visitors see at Gooseberry Falls State Parkappear to be tame, but they are all truly wild animals.)

Why did you pick being a naturalist?
It kind of picked me. I always loved being outside and always loved animals since I was a little kid. When I grew up, it just became the natural thing for me to do. It's in my blood, so to say.

How much money did you make at first and how much do you make now?
Hmmmm....I didn't go into this field for the money. A naturalist friend put it this way: "Do you want to drive a Lamborghini or some other fancy, expensive car? If so, don't become a naturalist!" Seriously, I started out as a volunteer making zip, zero, nada dollars. Then I was hired as a part-time naturalist and made around minimum wage until I gained more work experience. The current salary range for a state naturalist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is around $13 to $23, depending upon experience.