Staff Spotlight, Heather Coleman
Park Ranger, Heather Coleman
Colt Creek State Park
Heather is a Central Florida native who has been with Colt Creek State Park since 2017. Heather graduated with a degree in environmental studies from Florida Southern University. While in college, she attended a class trip to Colt Creek State Park in search of a rare orchid, and after this introduction she returned to the park as a volunteer.
Heather's commendable work ethic and friendly personality led to an offer to join the park's team as an exotic species technician, who specializes in the eradication of invasive non-native plants that endanger natural Florida habitat.
In 2019, Heather was promoted to park ranger and assists with daily park operations and maintenance, conducts interpretive programming, and participates in controlled prescribed fires. Heather says, “I was always encouraged to follow my dreams and mine led me to becoming a park ranger.”
Heather's passion for our amazing natural communities was encouraged by her family during camping trips and exploration of national and local parks, a pastime she still enjoys with her husband and family. When asked about her work, Heather says, "Nothing gives me more joy than doing prescribed fire and seeing the ecosystem reset. I have a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that I am restoring and preserving such a beautiful place. I hope people can come out and enjoy the dark skies and wildflowers here at Colt Creek for many generations to come.”
Looking back, it all started with a field trip to find a rare flower and in the end she found so much more ...and so did we.
Thank you, Heather. You're an excellent park ranger and we're happy you're with us!