Every superhero has an origin story, and the superhero staff and interns at Monk Gardens are no different!

Read on to learn what were the influences and experiences that made our Executive Director, Darcie Howard, pursue a career in a nature-based field!

“It’s a brisk, foggy morning as I grab my jacket and run out the door to “help” my father cut wood. I am five years old and am heading straight for the ankle-deep stream that flows through the eight acres of forest behind our home. I sit at my favorite spot next to the creek and feel the soft moss between my fingers, imagining myself a deer curled up and sleeping soundly until dawn breaks. After the sun warms my face, I decide to cross the stream. I have spent days trying to balance myself on the log that spans the stream, but so far can only accomplish it with the aid of a large walking stick. Today, I am determined to do it on my own. For the next 20 minutes, I try, falling into the shallow water and soaking my boots each time. As I stand in the water, frustrated, I notice two water beetles in front of me and squat down to watch them swim in circles around each other, making patterns in the water that I trace with my finger in the air. As I am about to catch them, I hear my father call me. I jump up, yelling, “Coming!” and head toward his voice, knowing I will return soon to conquer the log crossing.

In the woods and beaches of New Hampshire, I found my love for nature, where I  developed my need to understand what animal lives in the conch shell I found at the beach or how this pair of loons can nest on the banks of Moosehead Lake and survive dangerous storms. So, it was natural for me to seek degrees fostering my inquisitiveness. After receiving my master’s of science, having spent months radio tracking a bat species to understand their roosting and feeding behaviors, I wanted to move on from research and commit my career to teaching about nature, ecology, and wildlife to children.

My privileged childhood gave me many opportunities to connect with nature; I wanted to provide similar opportunities to children of all backgrounds. I spent the next 25 years doing just that. Even today, I continue this work every time I speak to a visitor, member or donor, educating them on the importance of children spending time in and learning about nature. It makes me hopeful for future generations, knowing I have sparked curiosity and love in hundreds of students. These are our future conservationists.”