Heather Hyland
Park Naturalists
El Dorado Nature Center
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
In between college I wasn't sure it was right for me. I joined a theatre group and traveled.
Touring was the best thing to ever happen to me, I took a new road and finished my degree.
I got the hell out of college and worked hard to get into the LA Zoo for work.
From there it wasn't a fit, I wanted more so I went to the desert and worked on greenhouses.
My boss in the desert was a wacko.. I left and got a job at the nature center.
I have never been so happy than when I am teaching about nature.
It was a long road to take me where I really wanted to be.
I went from theatre to biology .. Who knew?
Education
High School
Career
Park Naturalists
I educate the public about the importance of conservation.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Environment & Nature
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
I walk into work and inhale the lovely air.. It seems of real earth instead of stale coffee and bright lights. My office light is the sun. I walk into work refreshed and looking forward to finding dead mice on my desk to feed to snakes! We all meet in the hallway, tell some jokes and start the day. I grab my backpack, fill it with skulls and furs of cool animals and head out to teach a group of kids about the wonders of nature on a two hour hike. After that I feed our animals in our zoo.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
High school can help you find what you want instead of wasting your precious time and money in college! It took me over 6 years and student loans to help me decide my major. Your study doesn't matter!!!! Your experience matters. Get out there and volunteer. That helped me figure out I wanted to work with animals and help them!!!
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Family:
"You should really finish your degree and major in business so you have something to "fall back" on. So they were telling me I was going to fail my dreams and to just settle for a cookie cutter life."
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
