Alder Nichols, Lead Naturalist

Alder grew up in Evanston, Illinois and has been obsessed with animals for as long as they’ve had a personality. After discovering the delight of birding at summer camp in the Smoky Mountains, they studied biology and anthropology at Beloit College in Wisconsin and spent two summers researching painted turtle populations in Michigan. Alder has since had the opportunity to teach environmental education, including live raptor and reptile programs, in Alabama, Minnesota, and Colorado. They are particularly excited to return to the Great Lakes with their true love, gulls! When they’re not birding, Alder is usually swimming, knitting, cooking, or hanging out with their pet snake, Daisy.