Spotlight: Ketura Leroy, Senior Counselor

By Lily Gordon, Program Coordinator

Ketura Leroy joined Nature Linc’s teen program five years ago, and has since grown into a confident Senior Counselor. At first, though, she was very nervous- the “snakes and the other animals” made her uncomfortable. The main experiences Ketura had with nature before this program were being outside during soccer practice, or once in a while having experiences like a picnic or a vacation. She didn’t really think of nature as a “school year” thing. Ketura went in for her first week “ready for an intimidating day,” worrying about things like bringing her ID and paperwork, but quickly realized that this was a more “relaxed environment” than she expected. The positive attitude of the staff put her at ease, and even the thought of seeing snakes felt a little less daunting. 

One thing that also made Ketura nervous was “being alone with nature-” for instance, if she had to set up the garden for a field trip rotation, she’d feel scared being alone, thinking that an animal could come out of the woods. She felt the silence was “creepy.” What helped, though, was the bonds she had with the other teens. They’d made sure to pair up with her to set up the garden so she didn’t have to be out there alone. She says that made it fun. Ketura noticed how the adult staff at Nature Linc would approach unknown things with curiosity rather than fear, and that really inspired her. And gradually, things changed, and her fear decreased. “Now,” she says, “I listen to nature- squirrels, birds- with more curiosity and peace.”

When Ketura started running field trip rotations, she was very shy and did not feel confident stepping up to address the group of younger kids. She told me that she’d lean heavily on the other counselor she was paired with, supporting quietly rather than stepping up. Ketura didn’t think of herself as “someone with leadership.” Over time, though, through practice and seeing the other counselors and staff model it, Ketura began to absorb these leadership skills herself. Now, she has no problem at all getting the attention of 25 kids and engaging them in an outdoor activity. 

Ketura feels that her experiences at Nature Linc have also inspired growth in many other areas of her life. She says she’s been able to “take a new approach to my personal life, my career, my school.” She said she went from being “avoidant, protective, fearful” of new and possibly uncomfortable things to being more open and having a mindset of “I can learn from this.” She’s also been able to find common ground with classmates and other new people she meets over outdoor adventures they’ve both experienced, like skiing and ice skating. Ketura feels empowered to join conversations about environmental justice, knowing that she has important things to add. 

This summer, I had the privilege of working closely with Ketura, who supported me in teaching the summer Middle School Environmental Leadership program. Observing her confidence and leadership, it’s hard for me to imagine her five years ago, too shy to speak to a group of kids. I also got to see her grow so much more as a leader, stepping up to lead many activities herself by the end of the summer. I noticed how hardworking she is- rarely ever complaining, and doing every task diligently and thoroughly. Finally, it’s impossible not to be won over by Ketura’s inherent earnestness and kindness. She is extremely curious and asks great questions, always looking to connect with others and to grow emotionally. We all love having Ketura as a part of our counselor team at Nature Linc, and deeply value her as a growing professional and as a person.