May 22, 2025
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Chippewa Nature Center’s Allie Elliott
Named Outstanding New Interpreter
Chippewa Nature Center’s (CNC) Allie Elliott recently received the 2025 Outstanding New Interpreter Award from the National Association for Interpretation Great Lakes Region (NAI). Elliott is the Assistant Camp Director for Nature Day Camp and an Interpretive Naturalist. This award is a recognition of Elliott’s outstanding leadership, program development and delivery for a wide variety of audiences, and her commitment to the field of interpretation.
In her role with Nature Day Camp, Elliott’s responsibilities include front-line teaching, trip coordination and leading, managing the teen volunteer program, supporting campers facing challenges, communicating with families and managing the day-to-day functions of the camp. She creates experiences for 130 campers a week all summer long, and supports 125 volunteers who provide nearly 8,000 hours of service in a variety of roles.
During the school year, Elliott delivers monthly and weekly lessons to kindergarten through 2nd grade students at Bullock Creek Schools. Within this program, she works closely with classroom teachers to develop and deliver age-appropriate programs that connect students with curricular goals. Each lesson is designed to inspire curiosity, learning, and experiences that will remain with the students long after the visit is over. She has also delivered nature-based lessons to 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students at Coleman Schools.
At CNC, Elliott leads an interpretive Nature Book Club for adults, which includes an hour of discussion followed by an hour-long interpretive program based on topics or experiences from the book. Through this program, she has built a sense of community from retirees to young professionals looking for people with shared interests. She is a member of CNC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and led efforts for the first Birdability event in Michigan.
Elliott is a Certified Interpretive Guide and a member of the NAI Great Lakes Region Communications Committee, serves on the NAI Young Professionals Council and has led a Regional Interpretive Workshop session entitled “Creating Community Through Inclusive Interpretation.” A 2024 Leadership Midland graduate, she, along with her fellow classmates, led a fundraising initiative on behalf of Phoenix Community Farms to build a greenhouse to extend their growing season and expand their impact in the community.
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Chippewa Nature Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect all people with nature through educational, recreational and cultural experiences. Enjoy free admission to 19 miles of trails from dawn-to-dark, 365 days a year. The Visitor Center, located at 400 S. Badour Rd., is open 8 am-5 pm Monday-Saturday and 12-5 p.m. Sunday and select holidays. Learn more at www.chippewanaturecenter.org.
Named Outstanding New Interpreter
Chippewa Nature Center’s (CNC) Allie Elliott recently received the 2025 Outstanding New Interpreter Award from the National Association for Interpretation Great Lakes Region (NAI). Elliott is the Assistant Camp Director for Nature Day Camp and an Interpretive Naturalist. This award is a recognition of Elliott’s outstanding leadership, program development and delivery for a wide variety of audiences, and her commitment to the field of interpretation.
In her role with Nature Day Camp, Elliott’s responsibilities include front-line teaching, trip coordination and leading, managing the teen volunteer program, supporting campers facing challenges, communicating with families and managing the day-to-day functions of the camp. She creates experiences for 130 campers a week all summer long, and supports 125 volunteers who provide nearly 8,000 hours of service in a variety of roles.
During the school year, Elliott delivers monthly and weekly lessons to kindergarten through 2nd grade students at Bullock Creek Schools. Within this program, she works closely with classroom teachers to develop and deliver age-appropriate programs that connect students with curricular goals. Each lesson is designed to inspire curiosity, learning, and experiences that will remain with the students long after the visit is over. She has also delivered nature-based lessons to 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students at Coleman Schools.
At CNC, Elliott leads an interpretive Nature Book Club for adults, which includes an hour of discussion followed by an hour-long interpretive program based on topics or experiences from the book. Through this program, she has built a sense of community from retirees to young professionals looking for people with shared interests. She is a member of CNC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and led efforts for the first Birdability event in Michigan.
Elliott is a Certified Interpretive Guide and a member of the NAI Great Lakes Region Communications Committee, serves on the NAI Young Professionals Council and has led a Regional Interpretive Workshop session entitled “Creating Community Through Inclusive Interpretation.” A 2024 Leadership Midland graduate, she, along with her fellow classmates, led a fundraising initiative on behalf of Phoenix Community Farms to build a greenhouse to extend their growing season and expand their impact in the community.
# # #
Chippewa Nature Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect all people with nature through educational, recreational and cultural experiences. Enjoy free admission to 19 miles of trails from dawn-to-dark, 365 days a year. The Visitor Center, located at 400 S. Badour Rd., is open 8 am-5 pm Monday-Saturday and 12-5 p.m. Sunday and select holidays. Learn more at www.chippewanaturecenter.org.
Contact:
Jamie Hockstra, Director of Marketing & Communications
jhockstra@chippewanaturecenter.org, (989) 631-0830
