Cece Hogan

From a young age I knew I would find my place in the world among natural spaces, though the specifics of ‘where’ and ‘what’ have been constantly evolving over time. Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin gave me the opportunity to both live in a beautiful city as well as have easy access to a plethora of state forests and waterways to explore, including the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, which I have fond childhood memories of. Working summers as a Youth Paddling Instructor in Madison gave me my first taste of being an environmental educator, which is something that has been a part of who I am ever since.

It wasn’t until college in the incredibly special town of Marquette, Michigan that I learned of the complete intersectionality between people and planet. As a student at Northern Michigan University, I was able to immerse myself in my subject of study through campus organizations and the vast expanse of wilderness around me. On campus, I was the Executive Director of the University’s Ecoreps, a student group that promoted students’ sustainable initiatives and environmental education, and the Co-Founder/President of our Apiary Club. It was through doing work for these organizations that I realized just how important being an effective environmental communicator is. Outside of class, I had endless options for hiking and spots to throw up my hammock, collecting sea glass, keeping watch for the Northern Lights, and a mere 100 feet separating me from the stunning Lake Superior.

After graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability with a minor in Biology, I found myself in a familiar setting of educating others from the cockpit of a kayak as a guide at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Working again in the “interpretation” world, I decided that the place in the world for me is between the scientists and the general public. While I love working with kids specifically, I believe that learning can happen at any age, and that nature can give us all a sense of childlike wonder.

When I’m not working, you can find me watching a StarWars or Jurassic Park movie, reading, hiking, rollerblading, paddling, scuba diving, and looking for new places to explore!