Photo: A smiling Karen Schneider wearing a purple cap that reads do good and red glasses takes a selfie on a snowy day. She is dressed in winter layers with a backpack strap visible. Behind her is the red Markle Barn at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, surrounded by snow and leafless trees. Courtesy of Karen Schneider.
BY KAREN SCHNEIDER
Tell us a little about yourself. Family? Where do you live and work?
I live in Rushville, Indiana, which is in the neighboring county west of Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary. If you are driving in to the Sanctuary from the Indianapolis area, you have likely passed through. I was born and raised here, moved away, lived in many other locations, and was thrilled to move back and contribute to my hometown once again. I have a Bachelor of Science in elementary education, but now work at Rushville Consolidated High School as an instructional aide in our special education department. I love giving back to the members of our community and making a marked difference every single day at work.
What got you interested in birds and birding?
My other huge passion is nature. Growing up, getting out into nature and appreciating it was a family value for generations, and Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary has been a local spot where my family has done just that for years. My grandparents visited the Sanctuary, and my parents visited the Sanctuary and took me there from the time I could walk around, maybe even before. It felt like a magical forest as a child, with trees bigger than I saw in most places around. Walking in the woods made me feel like I was on an exotic vacation every single time we went.
The Sanctuary was a special place to my entire family, even though the magic seen through my child’s eyes had vanished for them and they appreciated it for its very real natural beauty. As a child, I was not yet a birder, nor was my family, but we escaped to the Sanctuary, which was just as much a sanctuary to us as it was to the animals and plants that lived there. We appreciated all of nature there, and it was one of the places that nurtured my love of the natural world as I was growing up. It has been a very special place to my family and me for generations.
Besides birding, what other past times or interests do you have?
About a decade ago, I learned about the Indiana Master Naturalist (IMN) program and wanted to participate, but at that time I was not a citizen of Indiana. I kept it tucked into the back of my mind as a goal. In 2017 I moved home again. In 2021 I saw that Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary was going to be a host site for an Indiana Master Naturalist class, and I signed up immediately. The class was more than I hoped it would be and opened incredible doors.
There is a volunteer component to the class, and I started volunteering at the Sanctuary through the IMN program. It felt so good to help out at the magical place I knew as a child. I met incredible people, many of whom happened to be birders. Their kindness and knowledge inspired me, and I started becoming interested in birding and have been learning ever since.
I also began volunteering for my local park department, which eventually led to a part-time job in programming. I now get to teach people in my community some of the knowledge I have gained about birds, plants, trees, ecosystems, and other aspects of nature. The Indiana Master Naturalist Program has absolutely changed my life.
You’ve been active with volunteering at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary over the years. Why is local stewardship important to you?
During my time studying in the IMN program, I also became a member of Indiana Audubon. I saw it as another meaningful way to support the Sanctuary that I loved as a child. It barely feels like giving though, because membership comes with so many perks. As a lifelong learner, I love the workshops, field trips, and learning opportunities. The events and festivals are so much fun and full of learning and fantastic people.
How long have you been an IAS member, and what’s your favorite perk?
My favorite perk of membership has to be the camping. I love primitive camping with quiet and solitude. That kind of experience is getting incredibly difficult to find, and the fact that I have access to it as a member only 30 minutes from my house is incredible. It feels like a guarded secret that I both want to keep for myself and share with everyone because it is so amazing.
So I guess you could say that in a long, roundabout way, the Sanctuary is what brought me to Indiana Audubon and to birding. For that I will be forever grateful, and I will continue to volunteer and support the Sanctuary that felt like it saved me for as long as I am able.
Tags: meet a member Q&A
