Nearly 40 years ago, in a small patch of woods, I stood beside a giant. Although at the time I didn’t know it. I thought I was standing next to a fun, bubbly naturalist , with a contagious laugh, and who shared the same passion for nature as I did.

This giant was Kathy Heidel, a interpretive naturalist for what was then called Hennepin Parks, now called Three Rivers Park District in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. When I first met her she was teaching at Lowry Nature Center in Carver Park. I was a young man, with an intense interest in nature. I didn’t know why I had such a passion for nature, I just did. I was lucky, because I had found my mentor and teacher.

I would sign up for any and all programs offered by Kathy. Many times I would drag along my younger brother because we were both interested in nature.

I have so many wonderful memories of my adventures with Kathy. One spring afternoon, Kathy and I were walking down a trail and she made a comment about Morel Mushrooms. Having never heard of such a thing, we took a step, literally a single step, off the path and into the woods and low and behold before us laid a treasure trove of spongy mushrooms. We spent the rest of the time studying, sketching, dissecting the fungi. She told me all about these delectable mushrooms. I can recall so clearly how amazed I was at her knowledge and how we just took a step off the path into the woods and there they were.

That same spring Kathy took me to a part of the park that most visitors didn’t go. She wanted to show me something very special. We met just before sunset and we wondered the woods, we explored the ponds filled with chorus frogs and watched spring migrating birds, while we waited for the sun to set. Kathy wanted to show me the sky dancing timber doodle. In a small clearing we stood in the cool spring air and waited for the male American Woodcock to perform. I will never forget my feeling of amazement as I watched that tiny bird flying circles over our heads. Standing there with my mouth hanging open, I thought Kathy’s knowledge of nature was endless.

But none of that compares to the fond memories I have of her 10 course wild edible diners. She would put on a large sit down diner in the basement of the nature center, composed of dish after dish of the most amazing tasting wild edible dishes. I recall one of these diners where the main course was Raccoon.

For many years Kathy took me under her wing and taught me about nature. From plants, to bugs, to birds and mammals. Each time it was something new. She gave me my first chance to teach my own classes about plants and birds. She believed in me, and thought I would be a good naturalist. I cut my naturalist teeth based on what I learned from this pioneer in environmental education.

I returned many times over the decades to seek her advice and guidance. She edited many of my books over the years and always had excellent comments and contributions. I have dealt with many technical editors over the decades and she was one of the best.

Kathy had a talented for art, a wonderful writer and a poet extraordinaire. Many years later while I was visiting with her, she showed me some of her art. These were amazingly colorful prints, made by literally pounding with a hammer, wildflowers to imprint the shape and color of the stems and flowers on a white sheet of paper. After drying she would outline each part of the print in black ink. If you look closely you can see little faces that she hid in the flowers. I am very proud to say that several of these art prints are still hanging in my house. A daily reminder of the warmth and amazing knowledge of this giant of a naturalist and I am proud to say my mentor. A true old school naturalist.

Stan Tekiela is an author / naturalist and wildlife photographer who travels the US to study and photography wildlife. He can be followed on www.facebook.com or www.twitter.com or you can visit him at his web page at www.naturesmart.com