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Monthly Tree Ambassador

Get to know staff and learn what it’s like to be a tree champion at The Morton Arboretum.

Content Detail

Sheryl Woods

Floor Lead – The Arboretum Store

What is your favorite season at the Arboretum and why?

Sheryl began her employment at the Arboretum last March, so spring was the first season she experienced at the Arboretum. But being from the Midwest and living in Lisle, fall is actually her favorite season. Sheryl believes you can’t beat the change of colors, the crisp air, and the blue skies in fall. 

What is the best part of your job?
Most definitely the interaction with the members and guests is the best part of her job. Sheryl feels lucky that in the Store, she meets and interacts with so many diverse groups and people from other countries. The patrons will ask Sheryl and the team for information and suggestions on what to do at the Arboretum and they will engage in conversations about the Arboretum. She recognizes that one of their main roles in the Store is to sell products, but it’s also about being there for the members and guests. 

Do you have a favorite location on the grounds or a favorite tree?

The trail through the Conifer Collection is one of her favorite spots, partially because of the peacefulness of the spruces and pines, but also due in part to the Vanishing Acts exhibit along the dwarf conifer collection. Reading the information gives Sheryl hope that action is being taken to save the endangered trees of the world. 

What do you want guests to know about The Morton Arboretum and its mission? 

It’s important for guests to understand that the Arboretum is doing something to help the world. It is a beautiful place, of course, but the Arboretum is working to conserve trees, and that the mission will help everyone, not just The Morton Arboretum. Even though Sheryl works in the Store, and may not be working on the grounds as a researcher or a grower, she understands the importance of the work being completed. This was one of the reasons that Sheryl decided to apply to work in The Arboretum Store. She saw that employees cared about the mission regardless of their role, and she wanted to be a part of that.  

When thinking of the Arboretum’s Employee Core Values, which one resonates with you and why? 

Sheryl feels strongly about the Employee Core Value to Work Together. Some of the team in The Arboretum Store have been employed for several years, with varying levels of knowledge and information. Sheryl feels the team works so well together that they are able to use their collective knowledge and information to benefit the guests and members, creating a fun and exciting atmosphere for all. Wrapping up her first year of employment this month, Sheryl has learned a great deal from her colleagues and appreciates that it is truly a team effort in the Store. While they are still learning from each other, they also complement each other well and are able to share different perspectives, creating a collaborative environment. 

What’s an insider tip that you’d like to share with guests? 

In the fall, The Arboretum Store sells amazing mums that are sourced locally and are well-priced. Sheryl encourages patrons of The Arboretum Store to explore the courtyard for other unique seasonal finds.

Share an interesting fun fact about you:

Sheryl considers herself open to adventure, even though she may not appear so on her exterior. She is willing to give something a try, even if it pushes her out of her comfort zone. For example, Sheryl has been ATVing in the Red Rocks and has been snorkeling and paddleboarding in the Pacific Ocean. Sheryl really wants to stretch herself and eventually wants to give skydiving a try!

Kathryn Neuffer

Supervisor of Early Childhood Programs

What is your favorite season at the Arboretum and why?

Kathryn has learned to appreciate spring since working at The Morton Arboretum. While she had seen flowering trees before, she didn’t realize how amazing they really were and how colors change completely from week to week. Even with her spring allergies, Kathryn still finds beauty in those spring blooms. 

What is the best part of your job?
There are many amazing parts to Kathryn’s job, but the best part is having a classroom without walls where kids can be free to explore nature. Kathryn loves that she gets to work with children outdoors every single day. She is equally as fond of the people with whom she works within the Children’s Garden; they make her job amazing.  

Do you have a favorite location on the grounds or a favorite tree?

Kathryn has two favorite locations, due in large part to her role. First and foremost, though somewhat biased, Kathryn thinks the Children’s Garden is pretty awesome since that is her “office!” Her other favorite spot is Big Rock, especially in the spring and fall (summer has too many mosquitoes). At Big Rock, she can hike on her own or with friends. She also brings a weekly class of preschool students there as a part of the Curiosity Woods program. Kathryn appreciates that she can explore nature relatively easily from the Big Rock Visitor Station.  

What do you want guests to know about The Morton Arboretum and its mission? 

Working in a mission-based program, Kathryn understands first-hand that the Arboretum is more than just an amazing place to visit or a place to have an event. More important, the Arboretum is planting and caring for trees here, in our communities, and in the world. The mission works to connect people to trees in the natural world beyond a single visit. 

When thinking of the Arboretum’s Employee Core Values, which one resonates with you and why? 

Kathryn appreciates the Employee Core Value to Make the Arboretum Exceptional, because it encompasses the other four values to Be Inclusive, Work Together, Take Ownership, and Keep Learning. By embracing them all and committing to making the Arboretum exceptional, Kathryn believes it makes the Arboretum an awesome place to work. 

What’s an insider tip that you’d like to share with guests? 

Visit the Children’s Garden early! Many guests don’t realize that the Children’s Garden closes before the rest of the grounds close, so Kathyrn recommends making it a first stop when visiting. 

Share an interesting fun fact about you: Kathyrn is fluent in American Sign Language, and is an ASL interpreter for Arboretum walking plays. On a more personal note, Kathyrn met her husband while working at the Arboretum. Daniel Neuffer was also a featured Tree Ambassador in July 2020. Kathryn introduced more family members to Arboretum employment; her father was a tram driver in 2022, and he recently joined the part-time staff in the Security department. Now that’s keeping it all in the family!  

Dr. Christy Rollinson

Forest Ecologist

What is your favorite season at the Arboretum and why?

Christy has always loved fall. Having grown up in the mountains in Virginia where the trees define the season, Christy enjoyed seeing the mountains covered in colors. Fall also has the best weather, in her opinion, and she appreciates soaking in the sun before it becomes more elusive in the winter. 

What is the best part of your job?

Christy says that the reason she is working at the Arboretum instead of other settings is that she gets to do science that the Arboretum actively puts into use. Her favorite part is that she has the opportunity to work with people who have a need for information, and she can help answer those questions. She sees that her work in science has an immediate impact, not just maybe at some point in the future. 

Do you have a favorite location on the grounds or a favorite tree?

In general, the East Woods is Christy’s favorite location. In 2022, Christy took a picture once a week from March through December on the road by P10 while out studying the changes of the vegetation community in different parts of East Woods. As a forest ecologist, Christy is not accustomed to thinking about a particular tree; rather, she thinks about trees as a whole and their overall role in the ecosystem. 

What do you want guests to know about The Morton Arboretum and its mission? 

The fact that we even have a mission is important for our guests to know, and that we are more than a beautiful place to see trees. Also, what would amaze guests is to learn about the depth of the expertise that we have in areas other than science, including the horticulture staff and the education staff. And all of our staff are invested in and committed to sharing their knowledge and information with guests. As a scientist, Christy would also like to impart to others that the Arboretum uses science to be activists for trees. This sometimes isn’t as evident to others in the public and even the science community. 

When thinking of the Arboretum’s Employee Core Values, which one resonates with you and why?

Two of the Employee Core Values particularly resonate with Christy, but because her job already is to “Keep Learning,” she selected “Work Together.” Christy recognizes that one person cannot do everything, and by leaning on the strengths of others, they can have a much bigger impact than any one person can. Christy appreciates the strength in diversity of skills and perspectives that working together can yield. 

What’s an insider tip that you’d like to share with guests?

While guests should generally stay on the trails in the woods for their safety and for the sake of the forest plants, where they see green grass, they should definitely venture out and explore. Trees are meant to be looked at and spark curiosity; that is best done up close!

Share an interesting fun fact about you:

Christy started knitting in 2021 after losing her apartment in a tornado. While she was in transition, she felt the urge to make something and decided she would teach herself how to knit using online resources. She started slowly, but it has since snowballed, and she has added to her wardrobe with hats, scarves, and even sweaters!

Find the full list of 2022 Tree Ambassadors here.

Find the full list of 2021 Tree Ambassadors here.

Find the full list of 2020 Tree Ambassadors here.