Introductions
Interview
by
Tanner Kent | Photos
by John
Cross
Scott Kudelka accepted a newly created position with the DNR in 2012.
A natural fit
S
How Scott Kudelka found his niche as a DNR naturalist
cott Kudelka never really intended to be a naturalist for the Department of Natural Resources. In fact, his college ambition was to become an archival photographer. But, when his friend got the only such job on the state — and stated matter-of-factly that he would not be relinquishing the position any time soon — Kudelka was left looking for alternatives. Having spent his summers working as a seasonal park ranger, Kudelka decided to pursue a career in the outdoors. That decision would ultimately lead Kudelka to southcentral Minnesota where the affable and knowledgeable naturalist has become an educator, resource and advocate for the beauties of the Minnesota River Valley. Mankato Magazine: Where did you grow up, and what were your earliest experiences outdoors? Scott Kudelka: In the small town of Forman (population 500) in southeastern North Dakota on the edge of what had been Glacial Lake Agassiz, I had your typical childhood of the 1970s where you were allowed to explore to you heart’s content with little adult supervision and only bounded by your imagination. 10 • september 2013 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
Most of my time was spent with my brother Brian and my best friend Emerson trampling all over town and its outskirts building forts and camping among the many shelterbelts and small lakes surrounded by cropfields of wheat, oats and other small grains. Both of my grandfathers were farmers with one living along the Sheyenne River and the other on former rolling tall-grass prairie. We were outside all the time no matter the season or weather conditions doing our own thing. MM: Did you intend to become a park ranger and naturalist all along, or were the circumstances more coincidental? SK: Growing up, my family visited and camped at a lot of different state and national parks. But I don’t ever remember thinking that’s what I wanted to do for a career even after my sister Lisa married Jesse, a park ranger with the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. In 1982 I went off to college at North Dakota State University in Fargo and received a degree in Public History (the non-teaching aspects of history) to focus on working as an archival photographer (restoring old