[Bristol-Birds] Charlie Parker era at nature center ends Sunday

From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:03:08 -0400
Six years later, now,  Assistant Park Naturalist Charlie Parker 
will turn in his keys at the Steele Creek Park Nature Center at
the end of his Sunday shift and move on to other challenges.

He joined the staff as a "Junior Naturalist"
in mid-July 2005 when Kevin Elam was
the park naturalist (nature center manager, 
according to the city).

As a 13-year-old birder, he began his duties
at the park as a volunteer, following an 
application and interview process with staff.

"I was very excited about becoming a Junior Naturalist," 
Parker said back then with a smile.  "I really looked forward 
to working here.  I hope to one day join the paid staff like 
Chris O'Bryan has done.  I have mostly enjoyed being able to 
work behind the scene, inside the nature center operation."

Tic ! Tic !  He did all of the above.  A very proud and successful
run thru the years. He worked with tremendous loyalty 
and dedication and leaves a proud legacy.

He was promoted to a paid position as a "Part-Time Naturalist" at 
the nature center in May 2008 at 16 years of age. 

During his three years as a Junior Naturalist, he volunteered 
more than 1,000 hours assisting the facility with everything from
maintaining exhibits, animal populations and summer camps
to field trips. In addition, he assisted high school and college
students with turtle trapping and research. He never had a 
shortage of duties and activities.


He has begun a small venture of making and
selling fishing lures and enjoying that very much.  
He is an avid outdoorsman and an accomplished 
naturalist.

Charlie attends Northeast State Community 
College.

He is the son of BBC members Bob and 
Ellen Parker of Piney Flats, TN.   
















BBC member Charlie "Chuck" Parker 
hired as Steele Creek Park naturalist 

It is with great pride that members of the Bristol Bird Club 
learned recently that our youngest member has been promoted 
to a paid position as a "Part-Time Park Naturalist" at the Steele 
Creek Park Nature Center in Bristol Tennessee. 

The sixteen-year-old joined the Nature Center staff  Aug 1, 2005
as a "Junior Naturalist."  Since that date he has volunteered 
more than 1,000 hours assisting the facility with everything from
maintaining exhibits, animal populations, summer naturalist camps
and field trips. In addition he has assisted high school and college
students with turtle trapping and research. He has not found a 
shortage of duties and activates.

For months he has been conducting his own research project: 
A Survey of the Aquatic Insect Population of Steele Creek Park.

He was originally chosen for the Junior Naturalist position by then
park naturalist and nature center manager Kevin Elam who is now a
graduate school student at Virginia Tech.  

Parker has been birding for several years and is well known to many 
area birders for his keen identification skills and active field efforts.

He is the son of Bob and Ellen Parker of Piney Flats, TN.
[Bristol-Birds] Charlie Parker era at nature center ends Sunday

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