2025-26 Student Naturalists
Dexter Cole Pakula ‘26 grew up in Brooklyn, New York, though spent his childhood summers hiking, biking, and swimming with his family in Acadia National Park, Maine. He always had a particular interest in the wildlife and rock formations, leading him to participate in Junior Park Ranger programs and seek out destinations which were once unknown to most tourists, like Sea Anemone Cave. More recently, Dexter studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, centrally studying ice core science. With his program he went on a trip to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, hiking on the ice sheet and seeing physical evidence of the effects of climate change, rooting his studies of geology in concrete experiences. At Carleton, he loves wandering and running in the Arb and has a goal to walk on every path before he graduates. As a student naturalist, he is excited to learn more about the geologic formations, birds, and plants of the Arb.
Klara Kjome Fischer ’26 knows she’s home when she smells the firs and rain of the Pacific Northwest. She grew up hiking and camping during the summers, and making mud potions on the far side of the playground field during the school year. Once a summer camper who would wade through fields of stinging nettle, Klara cautioned students against the same in high school and now volunteers as a trail steward and guide. She is always amazed by the change from wet to dry climate when crossing the Cascades, and wants to learn more about why plants grow where they grow, and how that relates to the underlying geology and weather patterns. As a student naturalist, she hopes to learn more about her place in the ecosystem, and help others do the same.
Nico Bolling ’27 feels most at home in his birthplace of Washington state, but he has lived from southern California to NYC. His fondest memories are of pacific coast hikes through feisty lodgepole pines, camping trips with his uncle in the rolling driftless area, and snorkels along pacific shores. More recently, he has focused on geology as a specialization, spending a summer in the Tobacco Root Mountains of Montana studying mapping techniques. He is captivated by changes within biogeochemical systems, and hopes to advance his understanding of cycles and sequences throughout natural history. As a Student Naturalist, he plans to use his time and resources to help spur positive change in community behaviors and values regarding to the land that we inhabit and depend on.
Cameron O’Connor ‘27 grew up knee deep in the tidepools, beneath the redwoods, and among the chaparral of the San Francisco Bay Area. From the kelp forests to the redwoods, he was always excited to learn about the various ecological relationships around him. Before he travelled to Minnesota for the first time in Middle School, he didn’t fully believe in grass that could grow past two or three feet tall. After a summer of Arb Crew working to restore the ecosystems and maintain the trails of the Arb, he not only believes in tall grass, but is enjoying all of the new organisms and relationships to enjoy in this new place. As a Student Naturalist, he is excited to connect with other students as they connect with the Arb and all of the wonderful species that inhabit it.
Max Posner ’27 is from Maryland and grew up running and hiking in Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park. Since coming to Carleton, he has fallen in love with Minnesota and the Cowling Arboretum, choosing to stay in Northfield for the last two summers. During the summer of 2024, he was employed full-time on Arb Crew, working on trail maintenance and ecosystem restoration projects. In his free time, Max enjoys walking, running, biking, cross country skiing, and hammocking in the Arb. He is a geology major and is studying environmental geography while on OCS this fall. As a Student Naturalist, he is excited to learn more about the geology and ecosystems of the Arb and share his love for the Arb with Carleton students and community.
Gabriel Fisher-Navarro ’28 grew up in Northfield, and has been exploring the Carleton Arb for as long as he can remember. He has always been drawn to the natural world; especially to the mysterious and magical creatures that exist just out of sight beneath Minnesota’s numerous lakes and rivers. A fishing and fly tying fanatic and avid observer of all organisms aquatic and not, Gabriel has made it his mission to learn as much as possible about the flora and fauna of the Midwest. In the Arb, you will often find Gabriel sneaking along the banks of the Cannon river in search of obscure native fishes, looking for snakes along sunlit gravel paths, and staring up into treetops in search of birds. As a student naturalist, he is excited to learn more about native flora and fauna present within the Arb, and what can be done to protect them.
Stephanie Holmes ’28 can often be found with her binoculars in hand, wandering outdoors in search of feathered friends. She grew up in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the forests of Vermont, enjoying weekend ski trips and summer hikes with her family, and developed a fascination with birds from an early age. She particularly loves observing and learning more about bird behavior, especially in corvids, and spent a summer working closely with loons in Maine. Her interest is not limited to birds, however — she loves animals, and hopes to one day work to better understand and protect wildlife. As a Student Naturalist, she hopes to gain a deeper understanding of how birds and wildlife interact, and the myriad ways in which everything is connected in an ecosystem.