People training to become Master Naturalists have varied interests. Some love wildflowers, trees, and aquatic plants. Many love birds, migration, nests, and everything avian. Still others love mammals. Those soft, sometimes cuddly creatures with expressive faces that we can relate to. However, many naturalists and the people they will serve have a fascination with things that crawl, slither, and seem very different from us, the amphibians, and reptiles. 
 
Luckily, Dr. Bruce Kingsbury, professor, and director of the Environmental Resources Center at Purdue University Fort Wayne, is an expert on reptiles and amphibians. It also does not hurt that he is engaging, approachable, and funny. His lecture on reptiles and amphibians for the Allen County Indiana Master Naturalist program was memorable. 
 
His lecture included photographs, live animals in the room, and artifacts. He talked about evolution and the relationship between the vertebrate: fish, amphibians, and reptiles. In the case of amphibians this included the metamorphosis that occurs, for most, when moving toward adulthood. He discussed the adaptation to the environment ectothermic animals need to make. He also talked about eggs and live births and the advantages of each.  
 
The amphibians were important for Allen County Master Naturalists to know about. This is a part of the country that has several wetlands and to avoid predators amphibians need ephemeral pools which are found in wetland areas. Besides, salamanders catch people’s attention. Frogs are fun to identify, especially by the early spring songs. Dr. Kingsbury introduced the students to apps that help identify wildlife and frog songs. 
 
Reptiles also grab people’s attention. Turtles basking on logs make us take our cameras or phones out. It is exciting to encounter the endangered turtles that live in Northeast Indiana. There are also several citizen science projects focused on turtles that Master Naturalists can participate in. This includes trapping, weighing, recording, and releasing the turtles. Dr. Kingsbury discussed the various snakes that live in Indiana. He discussed their contribution to the environment.  
 
Between Dr. Kingsbury’s presentation, the field experiences in the wetlands, and the introduction of apps and field guides the new Master Naturalists were prepared to begin helping the public appreciate the contributions of amphibians and reptiles.  
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The Allen County Master Naturalist program enjoyed the support of Purdue University Fort Wayne faculty. Many of our classes met at the Environmental Resources Center on the Fort Wayne campus. One of the lectures that clearly kept everyone’s attention was on mammals.
 
Assistant Professor Dr. Scott Bergeson shared his knowledge with the students.  His lecture started with the history of classification starting in the Jurassic Period. He emphasized that mammals make up a small portion of all the invertebrates. Fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles are far more numerous. However, Dr. Bergeson pointed out mammals are furry, cute and cooler!
 
He described the large classifications: Prototheria: montremata, Multituberculate, and Therians that included the Metatheria, marsupials and placental mammals. He pointed out the role of competition in the evolution of species. The multituberculate were squirrel-like creatures with prehensile tails. They dominated the arboreal environments for a very long time but were replaced by rodents. It was the teeth of the rodents, with their varied uses, that out-competed the older species.  
 
He described the features that unite mammals and the characteristics that define specific species. This included lactation, mostly live births, hair/fur, and teeth. The lecture utilized photos and charts but also animal artifacts. The latter were passed around class and helped make the theoretical very real.
 
The lecture focused on mammals world-wide and the various niches they fit into. This included varied land environments from deserts, forests, and artic environments to air and aquatic environments. He described behaviors: eating, habitats, mating, if they hibernated. He then narrowed the field to North America and finally to Indiana.
 
What is clear is that the Purdue University Fort Wayne professors all know their field of research is the most fascinating, their animals or environments are the “coolest”. Their jobs are the best. It now falls upon the new Master Naturalists to identify their focus and share their passion.

One of the exciting aspects of creating a Ripple of Hope column is realizing how many people in our community easily deserve to be recognized. For our first Ripple of Hope recognition I thought I would start with someone who  has impacted my work in nature in many ways. That would be the recent Preserve and Programs Manager Maraiah Russel. 

I first met Maraiah at an event of Eagle Marsh. I was planning on retiring and I thought I would like to spend some of my free time volunteering  in nature. I attended a night lecture and hike that was focused on the beaver population at the marsh. I was introduced to "the barn" but also the wetlands. That evening we learned about beavers, their history of near extinction and current restoration. We were taught to recognize the difference in beaver and muskrat lodging (neither leaves a light on for you.) But I learned much more that night. I saw Maraiah in action. I observed how well she worked with Aly Munger, the Wetland Educator. It was Aly who in fact presented the formal educational component of the evening. I saw how well she worked with the public from the young to senior citizens. I saw early how well connected she was to other agencies and individuals in the community who cared for the earth. 

It was on the hike that she told me about the Allen County Master Naturalist program. I had never heard of it but I knew it was something I needed to check out. She also told me about neighboring agencies, LC Nature Park, ACRES Land Trust, and about programs at Fox Island and local state parks. She also told me how to explore becoming a volunteer for LRWP.

My life is enriched by the direction she provided. She introduced me to the concept of citizen science. That summer I was in wadders, in the marsh, helping to trap, collect, measure, record, and release turtles. I was in marsh heaven. She introduced me to a number of the citizen science programs they participated in. That included butterfly and monarch monitoring,  bird nest montoring, building bat houses, collecting native seeds, and observing the nesting habits of a local bald eagle pair.

She introduced me to the volunteer lead presentation on becoming a trail steward. She encoruaged me to talk to Aly about becoming a field guide. I received the training to be a guide through Fox Island and that was accepted by LRWP.  

She and Aly encouraged me to participate in some of the "big" events. That included Earth Day and Eco Fest. It also included inviting me to attend the Breakfast on the Marsh Program. 

Next to intoducing me to the Master Naturalist Program the other introduction that changed the trajectory of my life happened when Maraiah, as a participant at the AMANI Refugee Day celebration introduced me to a delegate of the ACCESS Fort Wayne TV program. It was through that program that I have recorded BoM lectures as well as other green-related activities.

Maraiah is involved in the greater Northeast Indiana green  community. She works with members of Purdue Fort Wayne University Environmental Resources Center programs. She  has volunteers out in the community preparing native plants at an local brewery in a program named "Volunbeeering". I attended a conference of the Indiana Wildlife Federation and she was there. She actively promoted Mugs on the Marsh,  a once a month hike that ends with coffee at a local coffee house next to LRWP. If you are at a green event look around. Chances are high she is also there.

I do not know what Maraiah Russell's next adventure will be. She has a B. S. in Veterinary  Technology. She has worked with avian rescue and rehabilitation. She is a superb educator and a master networker. I look forward to seeing her next green transformation. Maraiah Russell is clearly a Ripple of Hope. 

I have recently returned from attending the 2023 Parliament of the World's Religions. I was part of the Press Corps. That gave me the oppurtunity to interview eco-movers and changers from around the world. There were over 7000 attendess from 95 countries representing 210 religions and faith traditions.  I learned about initiatives to help heal a hurting planet. I saw programs and products used to care for people impacted by ecological disasters. I learned of the impact climate change is having around the world. So I was very impressed with indivudals who started movements, faiths that worked to heal the earth, and young people who felt called to act and than began to change their part of the world.

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the enormous impact of climate change. It is easy to look at eco-heros and to place them on a pedestal and act as if they are different from the rest of us. However, it is necessary to look around and see the impact of our local eco-warriors, our neighbors who are water, land, and air protectors.  If we are to remain hopeful in the face of climate collapse, if we are to remain motivated to act then we need to focus not on the few who have done globablly incredible things but also those individuals around us whose actions have served to heal our small piece of the planet.  These are the people whose actions serve as a model of hope and restoration. They are the pebbles who, by their behaviors, create a cacasading ripple of hope. 

So my goal is to identify people in my world who inspire by thier consistent actions in the service of creation. They may serve by teaching, research, artistic creation, writing,  networking, or by direct service to the environment. I want to highlight those eco-warriors, those green heroes who are around us and who are models we can aspire to emulate. So please, feel free to share your nominations of local eco-warriors, gia protectors. Please help me celebrate the individuals in our communities who are our Ripple of Hope.