Amy M Stich
Huntingtown,MD
Summary
Hardworking Environmentalist passionate about conservation, education, and promoting the local area and animals. Well-versed in planning and executing events, knowledgeable about animal husbandry and skilled in leading hikes and other outdoor activities. Strong animal husbandry skills and handling experience with animal ambassadors including but not limited to raptors, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Park Naturalist
MNCPPC
05.2024 - 02.2025
- Provide animal husbandry to a large collection of animal ambassadors including but not limited to invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians.
- Perform trail maintenance and invasive species management.
- Assist with lesson plan development based on Next Generation Standards.
- Attend various training (Project Learning Tree, Project Wet, and Project Wild).
- Develop programs.
- Present public, library, school, family, and camp programs.
- Work with a team of other Park Naturalists and Rangers.
- Utilize animal care software for task management, animal records, and daily reports.
- Led Scouts programs, guided walks, day camps and curriculum-based education activities for pre-K and school-aged children enrolled in programs.
- Maintained trails by removing debris, trimming vegetation and making repairs to structures or signs.
- Delivered scripted, educational tours and talks providing visitors with information and facts of geology, biology and conservation interspersed with anecdotes about site.
- Identified plants, animals, birds and other wildlife in the area.
- Prepared programs and presentations for fields trips and visitors encompassing audiovisual presentations, collateral materials, static exhibits and in-person demonstrations.
- Planned and presented interpretive programs on natural history and cultural anthropology.
- Educated visitors on natural history topics such as geology, ecology, local flora and fauna.
Media Specialist
Norfolk Public Schools
08.2023 - 05.2024
- Provided technical support to faculty and students regarding multimedia equipment usage.
- Developed strategies for integrating technology into classroom instruction.
- Organized library equipment and collections.
- Directed catalog, media and instructional services in library.
Birthday Party Host
Virginia Zoological Park
01.2023 - 02.2024
- Provide excellent customer service.
- Set up and break down of party room.
- Facilitate activities.
- Demonstrate excellent time management skill.
- Assist with animal ambassador presentation.
- Addressed and resolved guest concerns promptly to ensure satisfaction.
- Maintained a friendly and professional attitude throughout the duration of the event.
- Created a fun atmosphere by playing age-appropriate music in the background.
- Engaged with children to maintain safety and interest in activities during parties.
- Facilitated engaging activities and games to entertain guests of all ages.
- Facilitated and supervised birthday party games, prizes, gifts, and cake.
- Provided food, beverages, and cake for all attendees.
- Organized activities such as music, games, and crafts.
Kindergarten Teacher
Norfolk Public Schools
09.2022 - 06.2023
- Work with other school team members to produce and prepare daily lessons following the Virginia Standards of Learning.
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills with parents, specialists, staff, and students.
- Collect data and make reports.
- Manage a classroom of 18, five-year old's.
- Administer tests.
- Ensure the safety and supervision of students.
- Improved student engagement by implementing student-centered classroom management techniques to foster academic curiosity.
- Adapted teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Fostered language development, comprehension and vocabulary using traditional poetry, nursery rhymes and riddles.
- Monitored, documented and reported students' progress and performance.
- Led students through safety procedures for active shooter and fire drills.
- Integrated music, art, drama, literature, science, math into lesson plans for hands-on learning experiences.
- Established clear expectations for classroom behavior and routines.
- Oversaw class field trips to keep students safe and educate about related topics.
- Read stories to children and taught painting, drawing, and crafts.
- Supported at-risk students by providing additional assistance in order to help them reach grade level standards.
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in early childhood education.
- Assessed each child's developmental needs on continuous basis.
- Communicated with parents regularly to maintain student progress, schedule meetings, and increase overall student happiness.
School and Youth Programs Educator
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
03.2022 - 03.2023
- Conduct a variety of programs using a collection of bio facts and animal ambassadors.
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills.
- Develop positive relationships with the public and co-workers.
- Lead 'Behind the Scenes' programs.
- Facilitate birthday parties.
- Teach summer camp.
- Utilize ZIMS species management for record keeping of animal ambassadors.
Education Specialist
Denison Peqoutsepos Nature Center
02.2013 - 03.2020
- Coordinate a large community event 'Spooky Nature Trail'.
- Supervise volunteers, secure vendors, and obtain donations.
- Curator Native Butterfly and Moth house.
- Assist the animal curator in the care, training, and rehabilitation of resident animals and animal ambassadors.
- Lead teacher for an extended learning time program for a local magnet school.
- Developed public, family, and library programs.
- Trail maintenance and invasive species removal.
- Demonstrate excellent customer service skills.
- Assist with the maintenance of animal exhibits in a small natural history museum.
- Lead public hikes, overnights, girl and boy scout programs, and school field trips.
- Senior educator for summer camp.
- Use a variety of native animal ambassadors for programs and outreaches.
Youth Programs Educator
Norfolk Botanical Gardens
03.2010 - 06.2011
- Orient visitors in a large children’s garden.
- Demonstrate excellent customer service.
- Lead girl and boy scout badge programs.
- Educate visitors about exhibits and programs.
- Taught summer camp.
- Maintain a public news board.
- Lead night hikes, songs, and games for evening programs.
- Encourage families to have positive interactions with native plants, materials, and water exploration areas.
- Perform cleaning duties to ensure a safe and sanitary work environment.
- Assist with marketing campaigns.
- Utilize interpretation skills to enhance guest experiences.
Education
Wildlife conservation/ Forestry career certificate -
Penn Foster
02.2013
Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Development
Tidewater Community College
12.2011
Skills
- Interpretation
- Curriculum development
- Event planning
- Animal Husbandry
- Public Speaking
- Fresh and salt water tank management
- Lesson planning
- Team Collaboration
- Animal rehabilitation
- Invasive species management
- Trail maintenance
- ZIMS management
- Bird watching
- Habitat restoration
- Water quality testing
- Botany basics
- Entomology expertise
Certification
CPR and First Aid
Project Learning Tree
Project Wild
Project Wet
Currently training with American Chestnut Land Trust to be a Maryland Master Naturalist
Volunteer Experience
- Mystic Aquarium- Assist with African penguins (food preparation, cleaning, record keeping at feeding)
- Animal Love Inc.-Animal presentations using native Florida animal ambassador
- Calvert Stewards-Provide animal husbandry for animal ambassadors (snakes, reptiles, and amphibians), Raptor Survey recorder (drive specific routes and identify and record raptor populations), milkweed density surveying, Monarch butterfly tagging, ChesaPax terrapin education program educator
Timeline
Park Naturalist
MNCPPC
05.2024 - 02.2025
Media Specialist
Norfolk Public Schools
08.2023 - 05.2024
Birthday Party Host
Virginia Zoological Park
01.2023 - 02.2024
Kindergarten Teacher
Norfolk Public Schools
09.2022 - 06.2023
School and Youth Programs Educator
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
03.2022 - 03.2023
Education Specialist
Denison Peqoutsepos Nature Center
02.2013 - 03.2020
Youth Programs Educator
Norfolk Botanical Gardens
03.2010 - 06.2011
Wildlife conservation/ Forestry career certificate -
Penn Foster
Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Development
Tidewater Community College