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<\/a><\/p>\nBackground in education<\/strong><\/p>\n Embrick went to Lock Haven University planning to be a teacher while studying English.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I enjoyed that, I was getting away from the passion I always had for the outdoors. At the time, I didn\u2019t know environmental education was an option,\u201d she said. \u201cI spoke with someone at the school and they put me in touch with the recreation department and I switched majors to focus on the outdoors. I was hooked from that moment on.\u201d<\/p>\n Embrick also served as an intern at a nature center in North Carolina for two years.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really unique. There were a lot of rescue animals there, so I got to work really closely with animal care along with helping out with the summer camps and interacting with the general public,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Drawn back to Pennsylvania and to jobs within the commonwealth\u2019s state park system, Embrick was hired as an environmental education specialist for the Sizerville State Park in Emporium. She served there for a season and a half before applying for the R.B. Winter position.<\/p>\n Programs to continue<\/strong><\/p>\n Embrick plans to continue to serve a strong base of local school programs, similar to Bierly, and has already received calls from numerous districts.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m nearly completely booked for May already, with schools ranging from the Little Learners Preschool to the Shikellamy School District along with students from Centre Hall, State College and a variety of schools in the Valley region,\u201d she said. \u201cI haven\u2019t heard much yet from the homeschool community, but I know Maryann was really close with this group and I\u2019d like to continue that, too. They can feel free to contact me and we\u2019ll see what we can arrange.\u201d<\/p>\n With programs that have a longstanding tradition at the park, Embrick plans to add her own twists and has ideas for new initiatives.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought about doing some evening programs during the summer similar to ones I started in Sizerville that went well. These would cover different animal topics, such as birds, bird calls and songs, rattlesnakes, bald eagles, elk and other natural history subjects. I would present for about 30 to 40 minutes and then show an educational film afterward,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019d also like to possibly do a yoga series on the beach here. I think that could be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Embrick said her love of the outdoors started at an early age.<\/p>\n \u201cI come from a pretty big family, and my dad is an avid outdoorsman. He\u2019d be outdoors all the time, fishing and hunting, and that is where a lot of my passion for the outdoors stemmed from,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I was a kid, playing for me involved the outdoors.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n