Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire and Stellar Star Gazer!
February 2012
For this month’s spotlight, we’re introducing a community member that we admire for their innovations in science education. Nancy Kaiser, a partner of Community Resources for Science (CRS), has been a member of the East Bay Regional Park District team for the past thirty years. As a member of the District team, she has had the privilege of introducing “beautiful outdoor spaces, from the shoreline to the hills” to the youth in our community, inspiring them to appreciate the nature surrounding them in their everyday lives.
Nancy’s passion for her job is a continuation of her interest in nature and science since early childhood. As a girl, Nancy enjoyed learning all about growing plants and observing how seeds turned into plants, despite some of the adverse growing conditions she imposed on them as a part of her scientific experiments. In Flagstaff, Arizona, where she grew up, Nancy and her family enjoyed observing the night sky and star gazing. Nancy’s favorite science class experience was dissecting frogs, although she is “sure Mrs. Von Uhlit wasn’t happy” with the typical middle school behavior that went along with the experiment. Through college, Nancy found the humor even in her most challenging class, Zoology. “My inability to remember individual species was very entertaining,” she says, “or so my classmates told me.”
Her exposure to science and nature through the years allowed Nancy to develop continued interest in the field. Today, she enjoys gardening to relax. “I keep trying to fit the right plant into the right space so my garden will grow.” Nancy’s zeal for science made a difference not only in her life, but also in her community, where she invigorated the entire City of Oakley with enthusiasm for science. In 2001, she introduced “Oakley Science Week,” which provided “one week of after school science experiences for kids and families.” The entire community “collaborated to bring fun and excitement to science. Last year, Oakley Science Week celebrated its tenth year of science adventure!” says Nancy.
Nancy sits on the CRS Advisory Council on Science Education. She is also helping us host our next Field Trip for Teachers at an EBRP park! Nancy’s passion for science not only influenced her career, hobbies, and interests, but also the community around her, introducing the same passion she experienced as a child to a future generation of scientists. Today, she works as a parks and recreation professional at the East Bay Regional Park District and continues to spread her passion for science and nature.