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Norman, who grew up fascinated by the outdoors, was 8 years old when her mother enrolled her in the university’s Nature Reach Camp in 2013. Designed for students in first through third grade, the camp introduced her to hands-on environmental learning under the guidance of Director Delia Lister, who still leads the program today.
“I loved it so much,” Norman said. “The news people came one day — it was Insect Day — and Delia chose one person to be interviewed. It was me.”
Norman returned the following summer, and the experience quickly became a tradition. When her older brother, Elliott, aged out of the program, he was invited back as a helper — a pathway Norman soon followed.
“When I aged out, and I was invited to come back to be a helper each summer,” Norman said. “I was so happy — each spring I started getting excited about it.”
That opportunity proved pivotal: her experiences with Nature Reach guided her academic journey.
After graduating from high school, Lister invited Norman to take on a paid role as an animal caretaker at Nature Reach.
“I said ‘of course!’” Norman said.
Then, when Norman took Lister’s Natural History Interpretation class, she realized she truly had found her calling. She chose to major in Integrated Studies with a concentration in Sustainability & Resource Management, with plans to pursue a career in environmental education.
This year, her responsibilities expanded further. In addition to caring for animals, Norman now teaches youth programs — including weekly outreach at Camp Five Mile in Oklahoma, and programs at her beloved Nature Reach Camp.
Since her first camp experience, Norman has missed only two summers at Nature Reach Camp — one due to the COVID-19 pandemic and another because of cheerleading commitments. Her long-standing involvement reflects not only dedication, but a deep connection to the program and its mission.
Through her work, she’s gained a new appreciation for the impact of environmental education.
“It's fun to get to know siblings, to get to know families, and see them progress,” she said. “I love working with kids — they have such curiosity and passion for these things. When you make a connection with them, it’s great.”
Sometimes, those connections happen in small but meaningful ways.
“If I can get a kid to touch a snake who was afraid of a snake — that feels like a major accomplishment,” she said.
Norman’s connection to Nature Reach extends to the animals she works with every day.
“At the Nature Reach Reserve, it’s Stinky, a big vulture. He’s one of my favorites — he’s been around since I was a camper,” she said.
In the Nature Reach facility on campus in Heckert-Wells, she enjoys observing the desert tortoise and Texas tortoise.
“I enjoy watching them and learning their favorite foods and personalities,” she said.
Looking ahead, Norman hopes to one day work full time at a nature center, focusing on environmental education and outreach. She is considering graduate school and would like to remain involved in animal care.
Her passion reflects the influence of mentors like Lister — and the importance of programs like Nature Reach.
“Because programs like Nature Reach are not structured like school is, it allows for deeper connections — it allows kids to step outside of comfort zones,” Norman said.
She credits Lister’s teaching style and mentorship as transformative to her education and future career.
“I’ve learned so much. Delia's passion is very important. When I think back to the teachers I really enjoyed, the ones who had the most influence, they were doing things like her — not just teaching out of a textbook, but living it and doing it.”
Ultimately, Norman believes those connections — to teachers, to experiences, and to nature — can have lasting impacts.
“The more you learn about anything, the more you will care about it,” she said. “If you can get people to care — even if it is simple, like caring about one tree — that will make a difference. If you can get people to care, the world will change. They have to have a connection to care.”
Learn more about Nature Reach: https://www.pittstate.edu/science/biology/nature-reach/
