Being the President of Friends of the Hormel Nature Center is a natural position for Merlene Stiles. She teaches environmental science at Austin High School and has been a volunteer at the Nature Center for years.

"I love the Nature Center. I've been going out there since I was a teenager. It was like paradise to me riding my horse out there when I was young. It is so nice that the city acquired the property so everyone can enjoy it now," Stiles said.

As president, Stiles said she has made many friends and she loves the time she spends at the Nature Center. She has gotten to know the people on the board and she says that these nature lovers are a fun bunch of people. Stiles was employed at the Nature Center for several years as an educator/intern while she was going to school.

"Working with the director of the Nature Center, Larry Dolphin was a hoot," Stiles said, laughing. " I enjoyed the work so much. I learned so much working with him."

Stiles says her position as the president of the Nature Center fits in with her schedule. She conducts bimonthly meetings. She was involved in the "Evening of Entertainment" fund raiser held at Knowlton Auditorium, which was sponsored by the group. The money raised for this is to help restore acreages at the Nature Center to their natural setting with native plants and Burr Oak Savannah

"Seed is very expensive and we hope to get contributors for this cause," Stiles said.

Stiles started to volunteer at the Nature Center when she was no longer employed there. At first she had to force herself to take the time to volunteer, but now she realizes that the time she puts in volunteering gives her so much back.

"People nowadays are not as connected with nature. I love working with science and nature. The more you learn, the less you realize you do know," Stiles said.

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at newsroom@austindailyherald.com