“It is rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when they hold their first frog or catch a salamander in one of our creeks. It still thrills me to see an unusual bird or get surprised by a snake along the trails,” she said, adding that some of her most rewarding work is new park developments.
“It’s wonderful to know that our parks will be here in the future for new generations of park patrons and that I had the opportunity to help with this,” said the Summit County native and 1978 Green High School graduate.
With a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, with a specialty in Conservation Biology, from Kent State University, Schide has had her own business, Earth Expressions, for 20 years, conducting environmental education classes for such clients as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources/Ohio Division of Wildlife, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery and local park districts.
After conducting classes for the Bellbrook Sugarcreek Park District for five years, she was hired in June as its chief naturalist.
“My job is to develop environmental/nature programs for our park patrons including preschool, family and adult programs along with the Nature Explorers camps in the summer. I also have been purchasing supplies to build the nature-based programs and organizing and doing inventory of these nature based supplies,” she said.
“I recruit volunteers for our Bluebird Trail, nature programs and nature camps. I have been working with our local taxidermist to update recent donated taxidermist specimens such as a Cooper’s hawk and short-eared owl. I work with our operations staff to develop a trail system and park improvements in our newest park, Sweet Arrow Reserve which is 248 acres.”
Schide, who worked as a veterinary technician in high school, lives with her husband, Lorenzo Schide, and son, Bryce, on a “mini-farm” in Bellbrook, where she trains her horse for cross-country jumping and competitive trail riding.
She can be reached at the Bellbrook Sugarcreek Park District office, which is located at 2751 Washington Mill Road in Bellbrook, by email at kschide@bellbrooksugarcreekparks.org or by calling 937-848-3535.
More information on the park district is available online at www.bellbrooksugarcreekparks.org.
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