By Olivia Bautch
Jessica joined Amos Butler in 2015 as the Education Chair and a Board member, leading outreach at local parks and events, presenting Birding ID workshops, and giving programs for Girl Scout and school groups. For ten years, she visited sites across the region such as Conner Prairie, Zionsville Parks, Fort Harrison SP, Holliday Park, Eagle Creek Park, Cool Creek Park, and even locations farther afield.
She says one of her favorite projects took place at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in the southern part of the state, where she led workshops on wetland birding—a topic she has a special love for after growing up raising waterfowl. Another of her favorite projects was the Christmas Bird Count for Kids that she led three winters at Zion Nature Center (soon to be onsite at Carpenter Nature Preserve).
In 2025, Jessica transitioned from her Chair position to lead ABAS as President, taking over after longtime President Chuck Anderson and Val Chambon who finished his last term. About what leading the organization means to her, she shares: “These often-small animals that we live side by side with everyday, and many of us may not even notice, are telling us a lot about the state of our environment and our own health. Protecting birds in Central Indiana and abroad is imperative! In my 10+ years on the Board I have been honored to see how much work we’ve accomplished towards this end. Especially with Bird Safe Indy and Birdathon grant projects!”
Jessica continues to work as the Assistant Park Manager for Garfield Park Conservatory in Indianapolis, and continues in her recent appointment as an At-Large member of the Board for the Environmental Education Association of Indiana (EEAI). As many may know, Jessica is an only child to her father, who recently passed away. Luckily for Jessica, she loves renovation, and she is now “spring cleaning,” overseeing her father’s estate and moving to his home which she inherited.
She also continues to care for her fur babies: four cats, two dogs, and five degus (Chilean montane rodents), including three orphaned cats and one orphaned dog, who she lovingly took in from Indy Parks. You can find Jessica at the Conservatory most days, so stop in to say hi and thank Jessica for all her work with Amos Butler and in the city. Jessica, we wish you well in your future!