Our first recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award is Jenni Semelroth. She has many qualities that make her an asset to ICNC, but tonight I will focus on three.  

First, Jenni is a master of flexibility. A trait that she has used to make the experiences for our visitors more rewarding. A prime example of this was when she volunteered to lead a program, but when she arrived was told the topic had changed. Her response was simply to shrug her shoulders and say “Okay.” She led the program as if she had been prepared to lead it all along. Confidence for this type of flexibility comes from her years in the classroom, a love of seeing kids learn and a wealth of knowledge.  

Second is her intuition as an educator. As a former secondary teacher she brings with her the ability to understand the educational needs of our participants. We have developed many great programs, but her ability to adapt them on the fly to meet the needs of our visitors improves their experiences in a way that cannot be overstated.

Third, is her ever-present willingness to help. She has shown up to lend a hand in last-minute situations many times and I know, if we need something, she will be there.

Jenni’s flexibility, intuition, and willingness make her one of ICNC’s Education Volunteer of the Year.

Our second recipient of the Education Volunteer of the Year Award is Kelle Kolkmeier.  

Kelle is a former teacher whose numerous traits make her a vital asset to ICNC.

Her creativity is one trait I appreciate most about Kelle. She listens to my ideas and provides feedback. Her insights help take a program from an initial idea and turn it into valuable learning experiences.  

Her passion for teaching and her energy serve to elevate the experiences of those with whom she interacts. This is best exemplified by the following message I received from a teacher after a field trip with Kelle.

“Our naturalist guide was exceptional! My class is extremely energetic, and this was our first field trip of the year, so I was a little worried about how it would go. She was so engaging and rolled along with their high energy (and it really takes A LOT to keep up with them!)”

Her dependability is another trait that I admire about Kelle. Besides assisting with our upcoming busy field trip season, she has already signed herself up to help with seven of our upcoming full-day inservice camps in the coming weeks.

Kelle’s unwavering support and positive energy is what makes her one of ICNC’s Education Volunteer of the Year.

Isaac is one of the youngest regular members of the Land Team. He started as a volunteer intern. We are always happy to provide internship opportunities, as a way for young people to learn about what goes into restoration work as well as maintaining amenities for our guests. 

Usually, when an intern is done with their internship, we wish them well and they go back to school or they go out to establish a career. They may stop by to visit, or they may ask me for a reference letter, but often they move away and our connection remains via Facebook or Instagram. Isaac couldn’t come out as often when he was done with his internship and classes started back up, but he kept coming back out to volunteer. He is always happy to help when a project needs some extra muscle, or a trail needs to be cleared. 

He helped get the windmill running again, helped with the controlled burn, and is really happy to help with absolutely anything. He’s a tremendous asset to the community, and when he graduates and gets a job in natural resources, wherever he ends up, the environment will be better. 

Isaac, thank you for going above and beyond what an internship would expect.

If you have met Steve Keane, you’ll know that he is here a lot. He helps with education programs, he helps with land restoration, he helps build things, and he helps at Sugar Grove Farm. His motto is “just tell me what you need.” 

At the farm this year, he built us a hand washing sink for the permaculture field, mowed regularly all growing season, helped with the chickens, rebuilt the steps in the farmhouse, and winterized the chicken house. 

One of the great things about Steve, Isaac and Kathy is none of them ever seem upset about last-minute project changes or inclement weather. Most recently, he helped me install shelves on a bitterly cold day in the new workshop at the farm, and helped install the fox fence around the chickens, along with Dan, Kelle, and Kim. The fox-fence day was also a cold one! 

Steve will be out here again soon, because we have unfinished projects and maple syruping season, one of his favorite activities, is also right around the corner.

One of the key components of Sugar Grove Farm is our chicken flock. The hens are certified organic and pasture raised. That organic certification means far more than just the fact that they eat food free from synthetic chemicals. It means we give them plenty of perch space to spread out; plenty of nest boxes in which to lay their eggs, and plenty of room to run around outside. 

Unlike many commercially available products, their shavings are free of pesticides. Unlike most commercial flocks, their wings are not clipped, which means they can fly outside of their fence and truly free range. Their eggs can be found in the gift shop here, and their manure goes into enriching the soil for the vegetable beds after it has been composted. The chickens are integral to the permaculture model.

And every day, 365 days a year, someone needs to make sure they are safe. Someone needs to make sure they have fresh water to drink, that their automatic doors to nature are working properly, and that they get enough food. Someone needs to make sure the doors haven’t blown open in a severe wind, that the fox isn’t sneaking in to get them, and that they have enough food. Someone needs to gather the eggs. When birds are injured or sick, someone needs to remove them to a small, adjacent enclosure so they can heal in a peaceful environment.

Caring for the chickens doesn’t necessarily take a long time every day, but they do need to be tended to every day. We currently have 9 volunteers who sign up to help with caring for the chickens, and I appreciate all of them.

But I would like to recognize Kathy Kupka as the Sugar Grove volunteer of the year. She goes out to the farm multiple times a week to tend the flock. She doesn’t let the cold weather stop her. She makes sure the nest boxes have shavings and the hens are all feeling good. She is a great problem solver, is reliable, and I know the chickens are in great hands when I see her name on the calendar to help.

Sunrise Builders, established in 2017, has been serving Cedar Rapids and the surrounding areas since the spring of 2020. They specialize in home improvement, with a focus on communication and transparency in remodeling homes within our community.

Sunrise Builders has made significant contributions to the Nature Center in numerous ways. Their support includes annual participation in community events such as Monarch Fest and Nature’s Noel, contributions to new volunteer projects like the Indian Creek Clean Up, and consistent individual volunteering efforts. Since 2021, they have sponsored a variety of events, including Farm to Table Dinners, Practice in the Prairie, Maple Syrup Festival, BioBlitz, the 50th Celebration Event, and Nature’s Noel for all four years since they began their sponsorship.

John Helmuth, the owner of Sunrise Builders, emphasizes community giving and engagement by consistently supporting other non-profit organizations in Cedar Rapids, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and the Cedar Rapids Public Library. We are grateful and proud to have Sunrise Builders and John Helmuth as part of our Indian Creek Nature Center community of supporters. It is always a pleasure to see John representing his company throughout the year at our events.

Collins Aerospace has been a steadfast supporter of environmental education at the Nature Center for over 30 years. Their generosity extended to the Amazing Space campaign and the most recent All-Terrain Wheelchair campaign.

Collins Aerospace and the Indian Creek Nature Center have forged a strong partnership centered on community engagement and environmental stewardship, particularly emphasizing STEM education for children. Collins Aerospace has made significant investments in K-12 STEM programs at the Nature Center, sponsoring yearlong educational initiatives and supporting citizen scientist programs like the BioBlitz. These efforts align with the Nature Center’s mission to provide immersive outdoor learning opportunities and promote environmental education.

The partnership also includes volunteer projects, such as the removal of a damaged hoop house after the derecho. Removing these structures promotes new plant growth, which in turn attracts butterflies, bees, and other resident wildlife. Collins Aerospace employees also engage in volunteering, contributing to both awareness and fundraising efforts for the Nature Center’s programs.

By combining their resources and expertise, Collins Aerospace and the Indian Creek Nature Center collaborate to inspire the next generation of engineers, innovators, and environmental stewards.

Amanda is a partner at Grit Capital. Her drive helps clients bring their strategic plans to life. Amanda has extensive experience in marketing, branding, strategic planning, internal communication, and recruitment strategies.

Amanda has been a dedicated member of ICNC’s board of directors for five years. Throughout her tenure, she has leveraged her business expertise and wholehearted commitment, not just in board meetings, but also as a volunteer for events and development initiatives, and as an all-around advocate for the Nature Center. Most recently, Amanda served as a table host at the Farm to Table dinner, where her eloquent and courageous appeal helped raise over $53,000 to support the All-terrain Wheelchair Campaign. She firmly believes, “We cannot accomplish our mission to create Champions of Nature until nature is accessible to all.”

Amanda recently shared some insightful advice: “Build the community you want to be a part of.” Observing Amanda in action, it’s clear that she truly embodies this principle, leading her life with the same dedication and proactive spirit that she champions in her community.

Our first award recipient is Dave Cook. I asked my colleague, Jean, to share with me a few things about Dave, and here is what she expressed: “Dave Cook is a man of action. He can run a chainsaw, build a bird blind, and weld metal. He’s often behind the scenes, but keeps us going – whether it is helping with the wide variety of Wednesday Warrior projects we have, building trails, Planting a Prairie at Sugar Grove, or Prepping the Věčný Prairie for planting, he is always happy to jump in, help problem solve, and stay until the work is done. We can’t count the number of projects he’s been heavily involved in over the years, but know that the Nature Center wouldn’t be the wonderful place it is without his support.” Dave, we are pleased to recognize you as a Jack-in-the-Pulpit recipient.

Our next volunteer, Mary Woods, has been giving of her time for more than 20 years. You’re as likely to run into her helping on a prairie fire line as you are seeing her in the woods, taking kids on a field trip, or helping with a scouting program. She sets up for special events and helps at those events. She is active behind the scenes as a member of the Friends. She is one of those fantastic individuals who is passionate about both the land and the people. She’s not afraid to haul brush when we’re chainsawing, or slow down to help collect prairie seed. She has a smile for everyone. Mary is a treasure in our community, and we are delighted to present her with the Jack-in-the-Pulpit award.

The third recipient of our Jack-in-the-Pulpit award is Ruie Chehak. If you have ever come to Project FeederWatch, you are sure to have spent time with Ruie. She is our most dedicated Project FeederWatch volunteer and rarely misses a count session. When she isn’t counting birds, she has given her time generously to our field trips, engaging hundreds of kids as they learn about plants and animals and the process of maple syruping. Ruie has volunteered at several special events and is always quick to lend a hand. We are thrilled to recognize her commitment this evening with the Jack-in-the-Pulpit award. 

Our final Jack-in-the-Pulpit award recipient is Renee Konrad. Renee has been volunteering for nearly a decade and shines bright when leading preschool field trips and maple syruping programs. Her warm smile makes our youngest visitors feel at ease. You may find her counting birds during a FeederWatch session or helping with Maple Syrup production in the spring. She helped us launch our Fresh Air Academy program and has hiked miles of trails with kids. We are honored to have Renee as a member of the ICNC community and elated to present her with the Jack-in-the-Pulpit Award.

Denny has served as a member of the Indian Creek Nature Center Charitable Trust. A former board member, he served as president in 2000 providing leadership to the board of directors in carrying out ICNC’s mission. Denny is a recipient of the Jack in the Pulpit award. Denny and his band have been steadfast in their support of the Maple Syrup Festival playing on the Festival’s Sunday morning for years.

harlie currently serves as a member of the Indian Creek Nature Center Charitable Trust and has been a lifetime member since 2012. Charlie served as one of the co-chairs of the Amazing Space fundraising campaign. Charlie has a passionate story about growing up along the creek and how it shaped his childhood – I’d encourage you to talk with him about it.

Candy has been a member of the Nature Center since 1993 and has been serving as a Friends/Guild member for decades. She is known for creating some miraculous decorations for Nature’s Noel and she has served several terms as president of the Guild. Candy is a recipient of the Jack in the Pulpit award. She has devoted hundreds of hours to advance the mission of Indian Creek Nature Center and she and her husband, Rich, remain active supporters to this day!