Shout Out: Teri Radke, nature center manager with green thumb
By Pioneer Press - UPDATED: May 15, 2019 at 5:55 PM CST
This article was originally published May 30, 2018
Teri Radke at the Emily Oaks Nature Center
Teri Radke said she is coming up on her one year anniversary as land management coordinator of the Emily Oaks Nature Center in Skokie.
This is the busy season at Emily Oaks with plants and trees springing to life with the warmer weather approaching.
Q: What did you do before coming to Emily Oaks?
A: I spent about 20 years as an ecologist doing natural area survey type work. I worked at wetlands and looked for endangered species. I was with an environmental engineering firm. I then started working at the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
Q: What is your favorite part of the job?
A: I like the fact that I get to keep an eye on what's going on in the woods as the season goes on. I look at what's growing — the native species that are growing there because we do collect seed from them. We look for any invasive species that might be coming in. I like keeping an eye on things.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: My parents grew up in the city and they're both Chicagoans. My mom and dad built a house in Melrose Park and that's where I spent my childhood, but I spent a lot of time in the city because all my relatives were there.
Q: Do you have pets?
A: I have a cat — Felix. He's a tuxedo cat and he's a real charmer. He's 14. I had others. Felix had his buddies but his buddies have passed along.
Q: What book are you reading and what book would you like to read next?
A: I'm reading a book about trails. It's called “On Trails.” It's about humans making pathways in the woods. My next book is going to be the one about trees. (“The Hidden Life of Trees.”) I love reading about natural history and the natural world.
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: Actually, when I was a kid, I wanted to be a writer. But I had an early fascination with plants. I actually have my first botany book. My parents always took my brother and [me] out to see the forest preserves. We were always walking along trails.
Q: What was the first job you ever held?
A: The first job I ever had was right out of high school as a hotel reservationist on the phone. I helped people make their vacation plans. After that, I was a cashier at Toys R Us.
Q: Do you have a movie you'd recommend?
A: There are so many. I'm an old movie fan and am partial to things like “Casablanca” and that sort of thing. I did like “The Shape of Water.” I thought it was very unique and a sweet story. I usually try to go see all the movies up for Oscar nominations.
Q: Favorite charity?
A: I've volunteered at many places. I am a volunteer for The Chicago Bird Collision Monitors. They do active conservation. They go out and rescue birds that hit windows during the spring and fall migration.
Q: Words of wisdom?
A: As much as I love nature, humans are still my favorite species. I think that we are a lot nicer and kinder and more honest than we're often depicted to be.
Q: Favorite local restaurant?
A: I do love Asian food. And for the first time, I tried Village Inn in Skokie and thought it was fantastic.
Q: An interesting factoid about yourself?
A: I sometimes do a little guerrilla gardening. When I'm walking on the street and see somebody has put the mulch around their tree in the wrong way, sometimes I'll correct it. Mostly it's a parkway tree and not on someone's property.
Read the original article on-line in the Chicago Tribune