Carolyn Roberts has a knack for nurturing. As lead volunteer in animal care and handling at Tamarack Nature Center since 2011, she has logged close to 700 hours caring for owls, turtles, snakes and salamanders, as well as trained and supervised 15 volunteers on her team. She was selected in February 2014 as one of four HandsOn Twin Cities “Be the Change” award recipients, which acknowledges top volunteers in the Twin Cities who have gone above and beyond for the community.
A retired pediatric nurse who worked at St. Paul Children’s Hospital for years, Roberts is an avid nature and animal lover. “I’ve always loved birds,” she says. “At one point, I had 19 birds. In the winter time, I would even provide bird baths for [them].” At Tamarack Nature Center, she trained their northern saw-whet and barn owls to become education birds.
“Animals in nature wake up and just experience the day,” Roberts muses. “They can make fun from anything.” She always makes a point to show the kids just how similar animals are to us, and she’s even busier now than when she was working as a pediatric nurse. “I absolutely loved my job. But this is pure joy.” At home, well, she’s never far away from her passion: She has a cockatoo named Regi and a cockatiel named Freeway Fred.
