Celebrating 20 Years of Knee-high Naturalists
August 9, 2024
Founded in 2005 by Conservancy friends Josie Kramer and Megan Morris, Knee-high Naturalists is the Conservancy’s leading youth education program. The aunt-niece duo started Knee-high as a way for families to learn together when Megan’s children were young. Their vision has introduced generations of Clear Lake youngsters to the wonders of nature. One of the biggest reasons parents bring their kids to the lake, summer after summer, is the chance to learn and experience this beautiful place up-close and hands-on. That is Knee-high education.
Today, the Knee-high Naturalists program is held on the Conservancy’s own Memorial Woods property and has an energetic following of young environmentalists and their adult learners. This year, we had almost 150 participants, including some with perfect attendance at all four sessions! Through the years, a variety of topics have been led by volunteers and environmental educators including:
- Frogs, Turtles, and Snakes, Oh My!
- Birds ‘N Bats
- Beautiful Butterflies
- Wild about Wildflowers
- Terrific Trees
- Lets Be ‘Clear’
- Gone Fishin!
- Sssss…Snakes!
- Reptiles and Amphibians
- Art and Nature
- Vermi(worm)-composting
- Bald Eagles
- A Day on the Farm
- Buzzing Bees
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Rock Out!
- All About Oaks
- Hike and Hunt
- Cicadas
- Family Yoga in Nature
- Mighty Mushrooms
- Wilderness Camping Skills
- Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl
This program has made a lasting impact on generations of youth and adults at Clear Lake for 20 years. We are honored to continue fostering these environmental connections and excited as we look forward to our 21st Knee-high Naturalists program next July.
Knee-high educator, Don Luepke, poses with a group of youth attending "All About Oaks" in 2020 after planting an oak tree in Memorial Woods.
Special thanks to Josie Kramer and Megan Morris for their vision and dedication. Thank you to Dana Buehrer who served as the Knee-high Naturalists volunteer coordinator from 2011-2016 and to Tracy Hughes who has led the program since 2017 both as a volunteer and now staff member.