A Reflection by Au Sable Staff, Natalie Schnackenberg
Natalie Schnackenberg is a 2023 graduate of North Greenville University and an alumna of Au Sable. Today, as Au Sable’s Education and Greenhouse Coordinator, she manages Mae’s Garden, the institute’s native plant greenhouse, and mentors education interns who, like her, are discovering their passions for environmental stewardship.
Like most eighteen-year-olds starting college, I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life—there were just too many interesting options. I initially enrolled at North Greenville University as an Art major, began attending in the fall of 2019 as a Math major, but soon realized I didn’t want to spend my days inside an office. So, I switched my major to Biology. And my plan worked! Since graduation, I’ve spent most of my time working outdoors with kids, plants, and mosquitoes—and I’ve had so much fun.
NGU has wonderful professors in the Biology and Environmental track, and one of the most impactful things they did for me was recommend summer classes at Au Sable Institute. In the summer of 2022, I took two classes at the Michigan campus: Field Techniques in Wetlands and Field Botany. One of the defining aspects of classes at Au Sable is that over 50% of class time is spent in the field. I spent hours in the woods identifying plants, walking on floating bog mats, and studying soil layers—all through the lens that this is God’s creation, which we have both the privilege and responsibility to care for.
It’s no exaggeration to say those experiences were life-changing. My professors not only shared practical knowledge from their fields but also offered thoughtful perspectives on how our faith and theology shape the decisions we make. I loved the community so much that I returned in the fall of 2023 to serve as an Education and Outreach Specialist. In that role, I taught students about the natural world and helped churches develop native plant gardens. The experience was transformational and helped me fine-tune my career goals. I discovered a deep passion for environmental education—something I had never seriously considered before.
After spending a couple of years teaching at a residential environmental education program in South Carolina, I’ve returned to Au Sable, where I now serve as the Education and Greenhouse Coordinator. I manage Mae’s Garden (Au Sable’s native plant greenhouse) and will supervise the education interns this fall helping to deliver the very programs that first sparked my own desire to lead environmental programming.
To me, Au Sable’s influence in my life is the embodiment of its mission: to inspire and educate people to serve, protect, and restore God’s earth. That’s exactly what I plan to keep doing.
