Staff Lead Highlight: Erin Rowekamp, Education Specialist - Connecting People to Nature and Developing Tomorrow's Conservation Leaders

Oct 2, 2025

by Volunteer Services

Staff Lead Highlight: Erin Rowekamp, Education Specialist - Connecting People to Nature and Developing Tomorrow's Conservation Leaders

At MetroParks, we are fortunate to have incredible staff who work with the public and our volunteers! Each month, we introduce you to some of these amazing individuals. This month, we are highlighting a staff member many may not know, Erin Rowekamp.

Erin's primary responsibility is for implementing most of our youth programming across our park district and primarily works with our Conservation Leaders family volunteers. She began her journey as an apprentice with Outdoor Education 6 1/2 years ago. Erin shared, "My time in that position solidified for me that environmental education and connecting people with nature were something that I was deeply passionate about and confirmed that this was the work that I wanted to dedicate my career to. I am now an Education Specialist with Outdoor Education."

Growing up, Erin always enjoyed spending time in nature. Erin fondly recalls, "When I was young. I would bring pillows and blankets out to my outdoor playset and read books by the light of a hanging flashlight while watching the fireflies. We joke within my family that my mom "brainwashed" me, because a lot of the children's music that I listened to when I was little had a strong nature and environmentally friendly focus." She credits outstanding teachers and professors for fostering her deep interest in science and helping her consider it as a career. Interestingly, many may not know that Erin received her master's degree in biology from the University of Dayton, focusing her research on invasive species, specifically Amur honeysuckle and its terrestrial aquatic linkages and impacts. She was introduced to the field of interpretation while serving as an educator at Campbell County Conservation District (CCCD) in Kentucky. She quickly recognized a win-win for her childhood goal of becoming an educator: Involving the wonders of hands-on experience-based interpretation without having to worry about grading homework.

During her time at MetroParks, Erin has taken a leading role in managing school field trips, training volunteers, implementing teacher training programs, leading and facilitating the Conservation Kids program for families, developing the Conservation Leaders teen program, and collaborating with Conservation Leaders family volunteers to enhance opportunities for MetroParks and our community while developing young advocates for conservation. Joshua York, Education Coordinator, noted, "She is a natural at engaging diverse groups of people, emotionally connecting with all of them in the same program."

When asked why she enjoys working for MetroParks, Erin replied, "because no two days are every the same, and I get to move around and explore all of the different parks and the different unique elements that each offers for programming. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is the opportunity to connect with program participants and help them form meaningful connections with nature. It is incredibly fulfilling to witness the moment someone overcomes a fear or hesitation and then becomes genuinely excited and an advocate for something they once found intimidating."

Erin works with her volunteers to build their skills and knowledge around conservation, nature, and leadership. Joshua York, Education Coordinator, shared, "skills we take for granted, such as how to introduce yourself to someone you don't know, as well as how to work with peers in emotional distress due to a spider, snake, or darkness," are key pieces in her continued work in helping our volunteers grow. Erin emphasized that the most important aspect of being a Staff Lead for volunteers is recognizing and leveraging each volunteer's strengths and interests, which includes actively seeking their feedback and ideas. "Our volunteers bring a high level of dedication and capability to everything they do. It is important to show appreciation for their passion and be willing to learn from them. Each volunteer possesses unique skills and talents, and I continually learn and grow while working with them."

Erin acknowledges that these youth volunteers provide specialized attention to hesitant or shy participants, which staff may not always be able to offer when catering to large groups. Reflecting on the many programs she conducted with her volunteers, she shares, "Overall the energy, excitement, and enthusiasm that the Conservation Leaders teen volunteers bring to a program - especially as they celebrate the individual successes of participants - can change the entire atmosphere and trajectory of the program." Erin's work with the conservation leaders volunteers led to her publishing an article in the National Association of Interpretation Legacy magazine for others to learn from, Fostering Lasting Wonder.

Just recently, Erin was nominated by her peers and won the highly prestigious Distinguished Frontline Interpreter Award by the National Association for Interpretation! This is an international award, as NAI serves as the leading organization connecting storytellers across the globe with its international conferences, peer-reviewed journal, and professional magazine. To see one example of Erin's creativity and ability to engage many individuals, especially youth who spend so much time indoors, check out this link to Summer Camp. Erin worked with our local PBS station to develop content that became a virtual summer camp, combining cartoons from their popular show NatureCat with her content exploring nature. Erin's work is also featured in the latest Parkways.

Thank you, Erin, for being an amazing Staff Lead and educator for MetroParks!

Learn more about the teen Conservation Leaders program here.