FIELD NOTES BLOG

Introducing Shannon

Shannon Osadjan
October 22, 2024

Hello! My name is Shannon (she/her/hers) and this is my first year serving as an AmeriCorps Environmental Educator here at Severson Dells! I am from Poplar Grove, IL and have spent most of my childhood exploring familiar Stateline attractions.



In Summer 2023, I graduated from Iowa State University with my bachelors degree in Geology and a minor in Environmental Studies. I’ve spent the past year exploring the United States and trying to see as much as I can (37/50 states, and counting). I’m looking forward to applying my education and travel experiences towards teaching the community. 



Since a young age, I have always had a great passion for nature and the great outdoors. Some of my earliest memories as a child are being at Rock Cut State Park, either fishing or floating on a kayak in the middle of the lake. I love going on road trips and I am always down for an adventure!



In my free time you can find me watching movies, hiking with my dog, at concerts, or nerding out on rocks. 



I’m grateful to be a new AmeriCorps member at Severson Dells and I can’t wait to see what I accomplish in my time here!


RECENT ARTICLES

Nature's Role in Early Childhood

By Alex Lunde • June 26, 2025
*please note: This blog was adapted from a blog series authored in 2023.

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

By Shannon Osadjan • June 18, 2025
How to Safely dispose of common corrosive and hazardous household materials

All About Bugs!

By Emma Zimmerman • June 12, 2025
When you think of summer in Illinois, you might picture swaying prairie grasses, tall oak trees, and, if you’re outside long enough, bugs. From the fireflies that light up July evenings to the pesky mosquitoes biting your ankles during a bonfire, insects are an inescapable part of our landscape. But they’re not just a buzzing background, bugs play essential roles in our ecosystems, gardens, and food systems. While some invasive insects threaten local biodiversity, most bugs are crucial contributors to a healthy environment. Insects are often overlooked– or worse, feared–but many are performing essential ecological services every day, and they deserve our thanks!