Hello, my name is Valenka! I am very excited to be at Upham Woods for this Summer of 2017 in the Wisconsin Dells. Home is 200 miles south in Walworth County where I spend school breaks with my dad fishing and shooting trap.

I go to school at the University of Massachusetts where I study Natural Resource Conservation. While in MA I work at a student run art gallery, hold a teaching assistant position and I have a partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

I have grown up outdoors and my love for the environment has grown along with my sense of responsibility for it has strengthened. In my household we have practiced simple sustainable ideals and it has taught me that you don’t need a lot of material goods to find happiness and purpose.

I hope to be an effective teaching naturalist by sharing my passion for the natural world and in return I hope to learn how the campers are interested in nature/ the environment. I’m excited to hear about the shows they do for 4-H, the sports they love, the projects they have at home and any and all jokes they want to share.