Meet the Friends of Marott Woods Intern!
Hi everyone! My name is Maddie Gullion, and I’m interning with the Friends of Marott Woods Board. I’ve been writing blog posts and updating the website, and I thought I should introduce myself.
in the Uinta Mountains of Utah leading a backpacking trip
I graduated from Earlham College in 2021 with a degree in Environmental Sustainability. I’m a proud Hoosier, having lived my entire life in different cities all over Indiana.
I care deeply about environmental justice, particularly about issues of access and representation in outdoor recreation and education. I’ve spent my summers working as a camp counselor, an outdoor trip leader, and a garden manager. I also interned on an organic farm that had chickens and alpacas and conducted sustainability research to help develop a zero-waste plan for my college. In my spare time, I combine my love of fiber art with my interest in sustainability and make colorful, zero-waste things like coasters and hats out of what most people would see as trash.
This is all to say that I am passionate about all things environmental, and I’m excited to help promote the Friends of the Marott Woods Nature Preserve’s mission!
I actually visited the Preserve for the first time at the beginning of May. I’d been living in Indy for over six months at that point, and I was shocked to find that there were nearly 100 acres of protected land right in the middle of the city. I spent a couple of hours exploring (and making a TikTok) and came back the very next day with my whole family in tow—I had to share this awesome place with everyone!
My parents walked around the Preserve together while my brothers and I headed straight for Williams Creek. They averaged something like six or seven skips…I learned that I can’t skip a rock to save my life. I’m sure they could have occupied themselves for hours, so I know we’ll be back soon. In an era where so much of our lives are spent online, and so much of my relationship with my brothers is through our phones, I cherish any time we spend together in person. Even better is spending that time outdoors!
