Intern Spotlight: Cade Campbell

I've had the pleasure of working alongside a handful of superb collections volunteers and interns over the past few years. Each contribute invaluable insight and energy into the work we do at the Museum. This week, we'll learn a bit more about an extraordinary young naturalist and one of our new summer interns, Cade. 

Cade shares the wonders of nature in many ways - here he displays a skull
from the Museum's collection for younger naturalists during a program.

In your own words, tell us about your work so far at the Cable Natural History Museum and what you're excited about working with or learning in the collection.

Traveling to the Museum for the summer naturalist internship from Tennessee, my journey has been an immersion into a new ecoregion. The collection is no different. So far, I've had the opportunity to familiarize myself with some of the teaching specimens for the Junior Naturalist programs we have been hosting, as hands-on relics of Northwoods nature. It's extremely fulfilling to share the portions of the collections with others, and especially since I've been working with kids, to see how interacting with preserved nature can spark detailed observations, scientific questions, and fun conversations between people of all ages.

Can you describe a favorite museum specimen, display, or exhibit? It doesn't have to be from the Cable Natural History Museum!

Walking into the Museum, my favorite display was the Gray Wolf. The tangible reality that these monumental predators still freely roam and fulfill their ecological role in Northwest Wisconsin is a wonderful snapshot of the functioning world outside, a displayed secret from deep in the woods. To me, this specimen is not only a great opportunity to see and learn about a wolf's anatomy at close range, but it also represents the intertwined story of all plants, animals, and fungi that maintain this refuge of wilderness of the Northwoods.

What are some of your hobbies/interests involving the natural world? What would you like to learn or what new skills would you like to develop?

I am an avid naturalist, and enjoy spending much of my time exploring forests, fields, and waterways in search of interesting wildlife: from birds and mammals to insects and orchids. Aside from landing a great internship opportunity learning from the great community, environmental leaders here at the Museum, a major reason I journeyed to the Northwoods this summer is to explore and learn about the different wildlife that calls this (usually) chilly latitude home. I'm also learning this is a great area to connect with the rest of nature through wildlife photography, bushcraft, and kayaking. 

What's one thing you wish everyone knew about the Museum or our collection?

The level of intricacy and detail that goes into each of the Museum's specimens and displays is incredible. From preserving the delicate, paper-like pelts of thirteen-line ground squirrels and the wispy wings of damselflies, to revising and designing educational interpretation, there are always many more details than meet the eye. When visiting the Museum, I encourage you to take a few minutes to really examine and appreciate a specimen; there are many hidden lessons I learn around the collection almost every day!

Thanks, Cade!