Community Spotlight: Ben Regester, Wake County Coordinator

Our core staff keeps on growing! We are so, so excited to introduce our newest staff member for today's Community Spotlight: Ben Regester, Wake County Coordinator. (He's the one on the left!)

A North Carolina native, Ben grew up an hour west of Durham in Greensboro, NC. "I've always felt very connected with nature," Ben says, "especially animals." This love for the natural world led him to attend North Carolina State University, where he graduated last May with degrees in Environmental Science and Marine Biology and a minor in Environmental Education.

When Ben joined PWC as a camp counselor in Fall 2023, our Education Team quickly recognized his leadership skills, nature knowledge, and passion for teaching. He officially became our new Wake County Coordinator in January, and is already making big plans for summer and fall camps at Umstead State Park!

Ben was drawn to work here at PWC because of the opportunity to work outside and share his love for nature. "My favorite part of working with campers is watching them develop skills and friendships over the course of the season," Ben says. His favorite activities to lead in camp are "nature-based crafts like pottery or leaf rubbings" where campers can learn about the environment while letting their creativity run wild.
His favorite PWC Ambassador Animal? "Parsley," Ben says, "because of her funny personality and wiggly nose!" When he's not planning or leading camps at PWC, Ben enjoys building banjos and snuggling with his two cats. He also likes hiking, swimming, and "just existing outside."

We can't wait to see how our Wake County programs grow under your leadership, Ben. Welcome aboard!

Community Spotlight: Dave "Crescent" Cook

What makes Piedmont Wildlife Center's outdoor education programs the Best Summer Camp in Durham? It could be the supportive, close-knit community among our campers and staff. It could also be our hands-on approach to nature education through fun skill-building activities and games. Maybe it's that we get to use some of the best parks in the Triangle as our classroom, or the occasional exciting visit with our Ambassador Animals. Or maybe it's how much fun we have climbing trees and wading in creeks!

But at the end of the day, it's our amazing staff (and their passion for sharing the wonders of the natural world) who really set our camps apart. This month, we're celebrating an educator who goes above and beyond to help our campers connect with nature: Dave Cook, better known by his camp name Crescent!

A longtime outdoor educator, Crescent has spent most of his life here in the Piedmont, learning its plants, animals, and ways. He joined our staff as a specialty counselor in Summer 2023 because, in his words, he wanted to "help give children the opportunity to develop a relationship with nature." Crescent quickly impressed the rest of our team with his vast knowledge, musical talents, and ability to inspire campers! When summer camp ended, Crescent opted to stay on with us as a lead counselor in our Homeschool in the Wild program.

Crescent's favorite part of working with our campers is their enthusiasm for life. His favorite outdoor skill to teach at camp? "Fire," Crescent says. "Definitely fire." When he's not leading camp at PWC, Crescent enjoys playing music, cooking, reading books and poetry, and wandering. He also enjoys connecting with nature by walking outdoors. While he likes all animals, his favorite bird is the crow!

Thank you, Crescent, for sharing your expertise, mentorship, and sense of fun with us this year. We're so grateful to have you on our team, and we know our campers have grown so much learning from you.

Community Spotlight: Arisa Fourie

School is back in session - and so is Homeschool in the Wild, Piedmont Wildlife Center's unique outdoor program for homeschoolers ages 5-17! Help us celebrate the person who's been working extra hard to make this season the best one yet. Meet Arisa Fourie, our new Homeschool & CIT Coordinator!

Arisa grew up in New York and moved to North Carolina three years ago to attend North Carolina State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. An avid hiker, skier, and swimmer, she loves being outside and helping others experience the natural world. Her favorite animal? The ostrich!

Arisa is no stranger to Homeschool in the Wild. In fact, she joined PWC in 2022 as a counselor for that very program! She loves giving our homeschool campers opportunities to explore nature at their own pace, especially at Pawpaw Creek and other cool spots around Leigh Farm Park.

"I'm excited to continue to connect kids with nature as the new Homeschool and CIT Coordinator," Arisa says. "I was a counselor for the last few seasons and am ready to continue to help the program thrive and grow."

We're excited, too, Arisa! We can't wait to see how much our Homeschool in the Wild campers, counselors, and CITs (Counselors-In-Training) will grow and learn under your leadership.

Register now for Spring 2023 camps

Come grow with us this spring! Registration for all Spring 2023 homeschool, intersession, and Wild For A Day camps is now open. Spring intersession camp offerings include:

• Wild Worlds (March 13-17)

• Fairy Folklore (March 20-24)

• Coyote Camp (March 27-31)

Plus single-day Wild For A Day camps on January 16th, January 17th, February 20th, April 7th, and April 10th!

Aftercare may be added for an additional fee. Scholarships available for campers with financial need (applications due December 1st). Learn more and register below!

Community Spotlight: Meet Katie Zimmerman!

Autumn always brings many changes our way, from colorful leaves to the start of sweater weather. The change we're most excited about this year? Welcoming our new Education Programs Coordinator, Katie Zimmerman!

Katie grew up camping and exploring in the forests and streams of Georgia. After graduating from Georgia Tech and obtaining her Master's in Teaching from Kennesaw State University, she moved to North Carolina to teach Barrier Island Ecology in the Outer Banks.

Since 2009, Katie has been involved in both formal and informal science education, but outdoor environmental education is her passion! When not busy connecting children to nature, Katie enjoys reading, climbing, snuggling with her two cats, and acting in local community theatre productions.

Katie has been with us for about a month now, and we're already super impressed with her leadership, creativity, hard work, and sense of fun! Welcome to the team, Katie. We can't wait to see how our outdoor education programs grow under your leadership!