Meet the Hunt Hill Staff
Storme Nelson, Executive Director since 2002, and his wife Dawn live in the woods between Shell Lake and Siren, WI. They have four grown children and three grandchildren. Dawn works as office manager of the new Edward Jones Investments office in her hometown of Siren.
What does it mean to be the executive director of a nature center and sanctuary? Major responsibilities include: guiding the short and long-term plans for Hunt Hill to fulfill the wishes of Frances Andrews (original donor of the property); working with the volunteer Board of Directors; keeping a good working relationship with the National Audubon Society; managing the financial and legal responsibilities of the organization; managing the staff; being the chief public relations person welcoming visitors; speaking to groups; and developing new partnerships with outside organizations.
What I enjoy about Hunt Hill is the peaceful setting; the terrific natural resources; the diverse programs – always something new to learn; the deep concern for our environment; but most of all – the people. This family feeling is what really makes Hunt Hill special – the warmth and caring of our members and staff, the wonderful visitors (so full of questions!); and especially the volunteers who have cheerfully worked so hard for so many years.
Jan Killian, Office Manager is new to the area and to Hunt Hill. Jan lives outside of Cumberland with her husband Barry and their 6 dogs, 5 cats, 5 birds and house rabbit. Art, photography and gardening are some of her other passions.
What does it mean to be Office Manager and Secretary at Hunt Hill As Office Manager I enjoy meeting new people as they visit Hunt Hill for the first time and discover what a wonderful place this is! As I greet the ‘family’ of Hunt Hill regulars, on the phone or in person, I realize how lucky I am to have such a wonderful job! The official tasks are to keep the office running smooth and do tasks at hand. I am also responsible for the Nature Store and to find fun things that people must buy!
What I enjoy the most is everything! The setting is perfect, the birds, animals, flowers & plants, forest, lakes, bogs, praire and the people! It is all one perfect package! I feel like I come home every morning. I couldn’t work with nicer people in a better place.
Larry Piskie, Maintenance, has been keeping Hunt Hill looking great since the spring of 2000. Native to Illinois, he fell in love with the area and now lives on Long Lake with his wife Colette, 9 months out of the year and then they ‘fly south’ for some much needed rest before he returns for the busy season.
What does it mean to be the maintenance crew of a nature center and sanctuary? Major responsibilities include: all maintenance work, general cleaning, landscaping, and facilities improvements at Hunt Hill as assigned by the Executive Director and Board of Directors of the Friends of the Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary, Inc.
What I enjoy about Hunt Hill: I welcome the opportunity to work in the outdoors with nature. I enjoy talking with visitors about the special resources available at Hunt Hill and I am continually learning about wildlife and experiencing it firsthand. Being employed at Hunt Hill provides me with an opportunity to grow personally while having a hand in local land and wildlife preservation. I am an advocate for the Hunt Hill buildings, lands, flora and fauna. There is great enjoyment in the participation of a dedicated young organization as it continues to grow and reach out to more people right in our neighborhood.
Nikki Nelson, Program Director since 2008, and no relation to Storme Nelson (!!), grew up in nearby Cameron. Her dog, Ruger, is often the first face welcoming guests to Hunt Hill and is a friendly and playful 2 year old puppy.
What does it mean to be the program director of a nature center and sanctuary? Major responsibilities include: coordinating, planning, promoting, scheduling, conducting and evaluating all programs; hiring and training staff and volunteers; developing yearly program guide with guidance from the program committee; creating educational programs to meet our visitor’s needs; and to welcome guests to Hunt Hill.
What I enjoy about Hunt Hill:The PEOPLE! I work with the most wonderful group of people; staff, volunteers, program participants and resource people. Their enthusiasm, support and overall great attitudes make Hunt Hill such a fun place to work and live. It also doesn’t hurt that I am in one of the most unique and beautiful places in the whole world (no bias).
Summer Staff for 2011 includes:
Head Cook:
Lizzie L.
Environmental Educators:
Nikki R. I’m from a rural township south of Barron, Wisconsin and just finished my sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. I am majoring in Secondary Natural Science Education, with a minor in Biology. I hope to become a high school science teacher, which is something I never thought of pursuing before working at Hunt Hill this past summer. My favorite things to do include hiking, kayaking, reading, snowshoeing, frolicking outdoors, and, of course, eating! I am super excited to spend my summer as an educator and am looking forward to seeing the day camper’s eager faces as we set off on another fabulous adventure!
Catie K. I am from Kaukauna, Wisconsin. I am a senior at UW-Eau Claire. I am working towards a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Library Science. Hunt Hill is the perfect place to teach what I love about the outdoors and to spend the summmer enjoying the sun! I am excited to work with the day campers exploring the different trails, playing games, swimming, and fishing.
Sydney S. I come from the city of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Currently, I am attending UW- Barron County where I just finished my freshman year. Someday I plan on figuring out what I want to do, but as of right now I am undecided. Just a few things about myself: in the winter I occupy my time by curling and recently beat Nikki Nelson (Program Director) in the Championship Women’s Playdowns!! I also love eating cookies with an ice cold glass of water. I am very excited for this summer working as an environmental educator. Not only am I able to be away from Rice Lake, I have the opportunity of meeting many new people.
Kelsey C. I’m originally from Bellingham, Washington, but am currently going to school at Louisiana State University, where I am getting my master’s degree in Environmental Science. I have also lived in Sweden, The Other Washington, Virginia, and Nevada, but have never been to Wisconsin before! I enjoy reading, biking, playing board games, and taking my cat kayaking. In addition to being an environmental educator at Hunt Hill I am also an LLPA intern for the summer, so I’ll be spending half my time teaching awesome day camps and the other half checking your boat for weeds!
Sarah S. I am a native of the state of 
Rhode Island on the east coast. I just returned from a year’s study of environmental science at the University of Stirling in Scotland. I will be finished with my undergraduate degree in geography at Rhode Island College in August, in which thereafter I plan to take a gap year before studying a Masters in either geography or environmental science and a PhD in the same subjects. I am not sure exactly what I would like to do with my degrees, but I know that whatever it may be, I would love to be in the environmental field, whether it be researching, teaching, or fighting for the planet we live on. I have many hobbies and enjoy many sports, such as rock climbing and hill walking, ultimate frisbee, cross country running, sewing, the piano and guitar, dance, reading, cooking and eating, and many more. I am very excited to be a part of Hunt Hill this summer as an environmental educator and I look forward to all of the fun adventures here this summer!
Former Staff:
Summer Staff 2010: L to R – Travis VanBeek, Park Taylor, Kyle Green, PaHoua Lee, Nikki Rukamp, Nikki Nelson, Ruger, Storme Nelson, Karen Kress, Ava Gustafson, Ashley Enoch. Back Row L to R: Colette Piskie, Larry Piskie.
Summer Staff 2009: L to R – Elizabeth Shmikler, Kyle Green, Ruger, Nikki Nelson, Colette Piskie, Storme Nelson, Park Taylor, Kelly Winum, Ava Gustafson, Pahoua Lee, Karen Kress and Larry Piskie.
Summer Staff 2008: L to R – Storme Nelson, Cody Myers, Bailey Woodruff, Colette Piskie, Larry Piskie, Jessica Pettersson, Nikki Nelson, Jillian Bjorklund, Karen Kress, Amber Mealman, Eric Severson
