|
 Dr. Campbell holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees
from Texas Tech University and a doctorate in Zoology from the
University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. He was a
professor of biology and zoology at Lincoln College for over 20
years, retiring in 2013.
In 2012, Campbell led the design and development of Creekside
Environmental Education Center by Sugar Creek. This area was
intended for use by Lincoln College and community organizations.
As director of Creekside over the past several years, Campbell
facilitated bringing in groups for a variety of learning
experiences. These included youth learning archeological excavation
techniques, controlled environment insect studies in the Rotary
Insectarium and other environmental studies of drainage, erosion
control and land use.
Among features at the site are an outdoor pavilion classroom,
greenhouse, insectarium, social fire ring, ornamental fish and
aquatic plant filled ponds, ramps, boardwalks, swales, grass mown
paths and chipped trails to the creek. Acreage of native prairie
grass had been established before the center was developed and were
later expanded along with many other wildflower plantings and trees.
Because of all the work Campbell had put into Creekside, in 2017, it
was renamed the Dr. G. Dennis Campbell Creekside Outdoor Center for
Environmental Education at Lincoln College.
Though visitors have been welcome to come to Creekside anytime,
Campbell and others have hosted various special events for the
community. For instance, each October, Campbell helped host a fall
festival and each April an Earth Day Open House. Besides crafts and
games, Campbell offered guided tours of the center and trails.
In 2021, Creekside was named Partner of the Year by Illinois
RiverWatch. Campbell was a Citizen Scientist trainee in 1996 during
Illinois’ early RiverWatch program under the auspices of the
Illinois Department of Conservation.
In January as a Riverwatch Partner,. Dr. Campbell said, “Many of the
techniques used in the monitoring program have been used in a
two-decade long freshwater mussel (clam) study on Sugar Creek.”
Along with Campbell, Dr. Pam Moriearty, Logan County Master
Naturalists, 4-H students, local and Lincoln College volunteers have
helped monitor Sugar Creek. Campbell said, they “have been most
diligent in accomplishing the many tasks for the present
comprehensive RiverWatch monitoring program coordinated by the
NGRREC (National Great Rivers Research and Education Center.)”
Pam Moriearty, local amateur naturalist, said, “Over
the last ten years, Dr. Dennis Campbell has supported many nature
projects for young people that I have worked on.”
This work has inspired Moriearty, who said, “today,
when I get discouraged about the future of the planet, I recall the
names and faces of the kids we have worked with. When I remember
them sowing prairie grass, counting mayfly, larvae in the creek,
taking a close-up photo of a tiny moss forest, or trailing behind a
working bumblebee, I feel a little better. Then I remember that for
every youngster I know about, Dennis has touched the lives of ten,
twenty, maybe fifty others.”
[to top of second column] |
 Another person who has seen his influence on kids
is Leslie Starasta, who works with kids in 4-H. Starasta said,
“Dennis is so patient with the kids. He willingly stops whatever
he’s doing to answer a question, explain something, or share a new
discovery. He exudes enthusiasm for the environment and loves to
encourage others to be involved in taking care of the earth as
well.”
These past several years, Starasta said Creekside has been a
wonderful place to do volunteer work. One memory Starasta has is
from several years ago when Dr. Campbell spoke to the Cloverdale 4-H
Club.
After hearing Campbell speak, Starasta said, “Our club then
partnered with Creekside and received two Farm Credit Services
grants. We planted milkweed one year and native plants another year.
With Dr. Campbell, we have also tagged Monarch butterflies as part
of the Monarch Watch project for several years.”
Campbell’s influence has helped kids develop more of an interest in
science. As Starasta said, “Our son is interested in wildlife
biology in part due to Dr. Campbell's influence. Dr. Campbell has
had a huge impact our family.”
Aside from his work at Creekside, Campbell has also served as a past
Rotary Club President. Fellow Rotarian Kirby Rodgers said Campbell
has been very active with the high school Vocational Scholarships
given each year. One Scholarship is awarded to the ‘Vocational
Student of the year’ and another called ‘Ready for Work’ typically
goes to a non-college bound student. Besides LCHS we give a $1,000
scholarship to a LCU, Heartland, and Lincoln College student each
year.
In Addition, Rodgers said Campbell has been very active in assisting
with various club events including ‘Sweetest Day’ rose sales,
chicken dinners, orange and grapefruit sales, the Adopt a Highway
Roadside Cleanup, and the Rotary Grant Partnership with the Lincoln
Park District.
As Rodgers said, Campbell has been invaluable to the community
through his work at Creekside and the Rotary Club.
[Angela Reiners]
Guests enjoy a day with nature at
Creekside
Art
and nature come together - slideshow
Food, fun and games surround the pavilion
- slideshow
Head to the wood on the boardwalk -
slideshow
Nature
and history on the boardwalk - slideshow
To Sugar Creek and back on the boardwalk -
slideshow
 |
