My friend Amanda possesses a heart of gold. She has always loved the environment and all the critters native to both her hometown in Virginia and her new home in Destin, Florida. She is alsoContinue reading
Author: Erika Zambello
Erika is a 2015 MEM graduate with a concentration in Ecosystem Science and Conservation. She grew up in southern Maine surrounded by a beautiful environment, inspiring her to pursue conservation in her graduate work. Studying Government and Anthropology as an undergraduate at Cornell and working in the development department of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace between her undergrad and graduate studies has prompted her to bring multiple disciplines to her study of the natural world. She is a National Geographic Young Explorer, and currently works as a Marine Economic and Tourist Development Resource Coordinator, using ecotourism to strengthen conservation and restoration along the coast of Florida.
Unique Fundraising from the Yellowstone Park Foundation
Many of us must be involved in some aspect of fundraising as part of our job responsibilities, be it grant applications, content generation, or direct contact with individual donors. I’m no different, and as aContinue reading
Three Species of Rescued Sea Turtles
While at the local Gulfarium to film educational interviews about sea turtle monitoring, I had the opportunity to go “behind the scenes” to meet the rescued turtles currently recuperating in their C.A.R.E. center. As IContinue reading
Releasing Four Sea Turtles on Okaloosa Island
A Gulfarium staff member carefully opened the plastic container, lifting a flapping Green Turtle into the morning sunlight along the Emerald Coast. Walking quickly, but carefully, she made her away across the beach sand andContinue reading
Meeting Inspirational New Colleagues at the Natural Resources Leadership Institute
The best part of my time at the Nicholas School of the Environment was meeting fellow students. Everyone was passionate about their study areas, plus hiking, birding, herping, and improving the environment. We commiserated overContinue reading
A Moment in Nature to Relax
This summer I have been on the move. From New Orleans to Miami to the mountains of North Carolina to Maine, I drove and flew all over the place. My travels have been both for funContinue reading
Visiting New Orleans’ Aquarium
Aquariums and zoos often describe themselves as educational institutions. For example, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is part of the Audubon Nature Institute, which states as its mission: WeContinue reading
Art and Community Collaboration Reduce Fishing Line
As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, leftover fishing line can be a big problem in coastal communities throughout the United States and the world. Leftover line is nearly invisible to wildlife, who can getContinue reading
Summer Plover Chicks
We approached the nest slowly, watching where we stepped on the white sand of the Emerald Coast dunes. There had been three eggs the day before, but only one chick and egg remained. The teamContinue reading
Dune Walkovers: Simple Yet Effective Erosion Solutions
I shielded my eyes against the bright summer sun as I hopped out of the county vehicle. We are in the busy tourist season here on the Florida Panhandle, and I could hear the beach-goersContinue reading