By Pika, WOLF School naturalist

When I was little, I was a science geek. For my 8th birthday I asked for a microscope and lab goggles. My favorite books were the ones about weather patterns or cool animals. I had so many questions and wanted all the information possible to understand the world around me.

When I got to 6th grade, my class attended WOLF School at Monte Toyon. My little scientist’s heart nearly burst with joy! At WOLF School we explored exciting new environments, sang silly songs, and discovered cute creepy crawlies. I was so impressed by the naturalists’ passion and wealth of knowledge. They made it clear to me that following my dream of becoming a scientist was worthwhile.

I ended up studying conservation biology in college, and when it came time to look for my first real job after graduation, I knew exactly where I wanted to be- back at WOLF School! I am so thankful for the experiences WOLF has given me, both as a student and as a naturalist. I hope that I have helped my students see that being a scientist doesn’t always mean working in a fancy laboratory - you can do science in your own backyard, just by asking questions and exploring the world around you.