Welcome
The educational heart of Dixon's historic 200-acre Lowell Park. We are a resource for high-quality, hands-on learning, dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love for the natural world. We are a Park District resource for the people!
EDUCATION MEETS ADVENTURE
The Nature Center team is dedicated to the core principles of Conservation and Exploration. We merge formal environmental education with exhilarating outdoor recreation, ensuring every visit is both meaningful and memorable.
our team
We are a team of expert guides and passionate educators ready to partner with your organization. We specialize in creating one-of-a-kind, hands-on programs from educational field trips and ecological lessons to challenging adventure outings and team-building events all tailored to your group's specific goals.
Kaylin Newman
Environmental Educator
Kaylin enhances the Nature Center’s educational mission through a specialized focus on inclusive pedagogy and environmental connection. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a dedicated endorsement in Special Education, she is uniquely qualified to design and facilitate accessible outdoor experiences for diverse learner profiles.
Kaylin’s approach is rooted in the philosophy of "slow exploration" the belief that intentional immersion in the natural world is a catalyst for curiosity and long-term environmental stewardship. At the Center, she translates complex ecological concepts into engaging, inclusive programming that fosters a deep sense of community and conservation.
Ashley Jones
Environmental Educator
Ashley joins the Nature Center team with a robust background in primary education and a deep-seated commitment to student development. Currently an educator at Jefferson Elementary in Sterling, Ashley is further refining her expertise by completing a Master’s degree in Special Education. Her dual focus on general and specialized instruction ensures that her nature programs are inclusive, engaging, and tailored to meet the needs of every participant.
Beyond the classroom, Ashley is an avid horticultural enthusiast with a particular passion for floral cultivation. She views the natural world as an expansive classroom and is dedicated to fostering meaningful community connections through outdoor exploration. Ashley is eager to share her growing knowledge of local ecology while facilitating vibrant, educational experiences for children and families at the Center.
Sidney Bomkamp, M.Ed.
Environmental Education Advisor
Sidney leads the development of the Nature Center's formal and informal educational curricula. With a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education (endorsed in Reading and Special Education) and a Master’s in Educational Leadership, Sidney brings high-level academic rigor to our youth and community programs. Her expertise ensures that every experience at the Nature Center, from Summer Camps to our curriculum-based sensory libraries, is rooted in proven educational standards and accessible to all learners.
Ryan Jandrey
Recreation Coordinator
Ryan brings a unique intersection of physical wellness and creative expression to the team. With a professional background in fitness and therapeutic bodywork, he leads the Center’s "active living" initiatives, focusing on the healing and strengthening power of the outdoors. An accomplished fine artist specializing in realistic charcoal and graphite portraits, Ryan integrates his creative eye with his deep-rooted knowledge of local trails to design and lead challenging, curated adventures for the modern explorer.
Master Naturalists
university of Illinois extension
The Nature Center is proud to collaborate with our resident Certified Master Naturalists:
Nancy Wadsworth, Dee Lahey, and Jean Gornik.
Master Naturalists are elite environmental stewards who have completed an intensive 60-hour curriculum of field and classroom training through the University of Illinois Extension. To achieve and maintain this prestigious certification, these naturalists must perform 60 hours of initial volunteer service followed by yearly continuing education and dedicated community impact hours.
Our Master Naturalists bring hands-on expertise in Illinois' natural history and ecosystems directly to Lowell Park. By working side-by-side with these experts, the Nature Center is able to provide high-quality, science-based training and community service opportunities that "cultivate a love for nature" and encourage lifelong learning for every visitor.
