Featured Person: Jill Schmidt

​​Jill Schmidt, Clinton County Conservation

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Jill Schmidt, the environmental education coordinator for Clinton County Conservation, has a passion for connecting people to nature.

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She oversees one of the biggest environmental education departments for county conservation in Iowa. With the help of naturalists Jessica Steines, Hannah Edfors, and Emma Jacobs, she offers courses such as youth hunter education and provides opportunities like fishing for people with disabilities.

 

Schmidt received formal education from Iowa State University in animal ecology with an emphasis on the interpretation of natural resources. She held many jobs related to animal ecology and natural resources before coming to Clinton County Conservation thirteen years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jill Schmidt also writes for Clinton County Conservation’s triannual newsletter, The Heron. In a recent article titled, “From Manicured Grass to a Monarch Haven,” she stresses the importance of plant diversity for native pollinators. Schmidt points out that, “Iowa’s lack of plant diversity is one of the causes of population decline,” but says, “making baby steps in improving plant diversity in our landscapes is one way we can support our pollinators.”

 

Project by project, Clinton County Conservation is waking the talk. They recently converted a large patch of mown grass to prairie at Malone Park, increasing plant diversity for Iowa natives.

 

We asked Jill what the biggest challenge was in reestablishing healthy habitat. She said, “It’s easy to say, but you've got to do!” Her advice for those willing to pitch in: “Take a small section and do something with it. Start small. Nature is messy and it’s okay. The future will be better off if we can embrace that.”