R.B. Winter State Park: New environmental educator looks to engage local communities

Emily Embrick loves butterflies.

“There is just something so fascinating about an animal that can completely transform itself into a whole new being,” she said.

The outdoor educator is part of a unique metamorphosis of her own. Nine months after the retirement of longtime R.B. Winter State Park environmental education specialist Maryann Bierly, Embrick has taken over the evolving role.

“While Maryann’s position was full-time, I’ve been hired for a seasonal position that runs from March through November,” she said. “However, we still plan to continue a lot of the same programs Maryann started.”

That includes annual gatherings such as Summer Fest, Winter Fest, a Fourth of July celebration and historic days.

“I am from Loganton, and R.B. Winter was always a place growing up to come fishing and camping. To have an opportunity to give back to the community I grew up in is important to me,” she said. “I’m really happy to be here — I’m looking forward to meeting new people and sharing some of the natural treasures R.B. Winter has to offer.”

Background in education

Embrick went to Lock Haven University planning to be a teacher while studying English.

“While I enjoyed that, I was getting away from the passion I always had for the outdoors. At the time, I didn’t know environmental education was an option,” she said. “I spoke with someone at the school and they put me in touch with the recreation department and I switched majors to focus on the outdoors. I was hooked from that moment on.”

Embrick also served as an intern at a nature center in North Carolina for two years.

“It was really unique. There were a lot of rescue animals there, so I got to work really closely with animal care along with helping out with the summer camps and interacting with the general public,” she said.

Drawn back to Pennsylvania and to jobs within the commonwealth’s state park system, Embrick was hired as an environmental education specialist for the Sizerville State Park in Emporium. She served there for a season and a half before applying for the R.B. Winter position.

Programs to continue

Embrick plans to continue to serve a strong base of local school programs, similar to Bierly, and has already received calls from numerous districts.

“I’m nearly completely booked for May already, with schools ranging from the Little Learners Preschool to the Shikellamy School District along with students from Centre Hall, State College and a variety of schools in the Valley region,” she said. “I haven’t heard much yet from the homeschool community, but I know Maryann was really close with this group and I’d like to continue that, too. They can feel free to contact me and we’ll see what we can arrange.”

With programs that have a longstanding tradition at the park, Embrick plans to add her own twists and has ideas for new initiatives.

“I thought about doing some evening programs during the summer similar to ones I started in Sizerville that went well. These would cover different animal topics, such as birds, bird calls and songs, rattlesnakes, bald eagles, elk and other natural history subjects. I would present for about 30 to 40 minutes and then show an educational film afterward,” she said. “I’d also like to possibly do a yoga series on the beach here. I think that could be fun.”

Embrick said her love of the outdoors started at an early age.

“I come from a pretty big family, and my dad is an avid outdoorsman. He’d be outdoors all the time, fishing and hunting, and that is where a lot of my passion for the outdoors stemmed from,” she said. “When I was a kid, playing for me involved the outdoors.”

Value of outdoor exploration

That sort of play is something Embrick feels is critical for all children.

“It is critical for kids to have time and space to disconnect. So many kids are overstimulated and wanting the next best thing, but they lack the time and ability to slow down and be aware of what is surrounding them,” she said. “Plus, I’m a believer in the saying that you love what you know and protect what you love. If kids today are not connected to and learn to love nature, they won’t be protecting it down the road standing up for our natural resources for the next generation.”

Bierly has long been an advocate for unplugging the children of this generation and getting them into a natural setting for unstructured adventure.

“Getting people outdoors to explore and really get out of their comfort zone requires someone to lead them,” Bierly said. “It doesn’t need to be someone who can identify every bird call or rattle off the names of every tree you come to — it can be a parent or a grandparent or an uncle or even an older brother or sister. It needs to be someone who has a vested interest, who can engage the child and help them take a moment to really look at what is around them. You can find nature in the middle of New York City if you take the time to look.”

Now, it will be Embrick’s job to champion the outdoors to the next generation.

“I love hiking, backpacking, trail running, kayaking and cross country skiing. I also love to garden, read and am a knowledge-hungry learner,” she said. “I have always been fascinated by birds (especially owls) and continue to learn more about them with each outing. I also am very passionate about the arts. I love to create and make art and jewelry from objects found in nature. I also love music and dancing.”

For more about the programs at R.B. Winter State Park, call the park office at 570-966-1455 or visit www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/RaymondBWinterStatePark