FIELD NOTES BLOG

(Re) Introducing Emma!

Emma Zimmerman
February 24, 2026

For those who may not know me, I previously spent two wonderful years here at Severson Dells working in environmental education and community science, helping our community connect with the land in meaningful ways. I am so excited to announce that I am back at the nature center for the next few months! In this role, I’ll be leading all things Science Communication, so be on the lookout for educational blogs, behind-the-scenes restoration updates, and social media posts that (hopefully) make ecology feel a little less intimidating and a lot more exciting.

In my 6 months hiatus from Severson I got up to some exciting things! I traveled to Denmark to work on a sustainable farm with Sydney, another former AmeriCorps member! We learned about regenerative agriculture, practiced living with less, and gained a new perspective on how communities can support climate-forward living. After our work away, we backpacked for a bit through Europe, and I visited 6 new countries! Oh, and I also got bangs.

Now I’m back, but in a slightly different role. While I’m stepping away from leading education programs, I’m leaning fully into science communication. That means translating research into stories, turning restoration updates into accessible explanations, and helping connect our community to the “why” behind the work we do. I’ll be authoring blogs, contributing to newsletters, and sharing updates across our platforms to keep you informed about what’s happening on the land. There are especially exciting things unfolding with the rewilding of the former Elliot Golf Course. This restoration is a process, and I’m thrilled to help document and share that journey with you!

I am so grateful to be back in a place I adore, surrounded by passionate staff, volunteers, and community members who care deeply about this land. If you find yourself at the Nature Center, please swing by and say hi! I’d love to catch up, hear what you’ve been up to!

RECENT ARTICLES

June Climate News: 2026 Fire Season Is Becoming a Fire Year

By Emma Zimmerman • June 4, 2026
Experts are warning that 2026 may bring a record wildfire season to the United States, so severe that many researchers and fire agencies are no longer calling it a “fire season” at all. We are off to such a start that experts are now referring to it as a fire year. Traditionally, the wildfire season in the United States peaks between May and October, but we have seen many fires throughout the southern and western United States already this spring. Most major fires occur in western states. However, impacts from wildfires can be felt across the entire country, including here in northern Illinois. Wildfire smoke can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, affecting our air quality here in Rockford. Maybe you recall the hazy skies and dangerous air quality alerts from the last few summers caused by fires burning far away in Canada. Unfortunately, these days are not going away, and if anything, we should expect more of them in the future. So why is this year a “fire year”, and why are experts concerned? Let’s dig into it.

From Prairies to Skyscrapers: Nature and Architecture in Northeastern Illinois

By Olivia Price • May 28, 2026
Nature and Architecture in Northeastern Illinois

Science Literacy In the Rockford Region

By Emma Zimmerman • May 19, 2026
Science literacy may not be a term you hear every day, but it is something that shapes your life and the community around you in more ways than you might realize. Science literacy is the ability to understand, evaluate, and apply scientific concepts to make informed decisions regarding the world around us. Science is intertwined in nearly every part of our lives, but it can still feel intimidating and inaccessible at times, and that is largely because our society has a science literacy gap . Science can be complicated and challenging to understand, and this feeling is more common than we often admit. By making science more accessible through environmental education, we work to break down these barriers and build a more scientifically literate society. A scientifically literate society is a resilient society that is better prepared to solve climate problems, advocate for change, and build a more sustainable future.