Cate Nelson in front of the NLI office.
NLI’s New Natural Resources Technician
Please join us in welcoming Cate Nelson to Natural Land Institute. Cate started working with the stewardship team as the Natural Resources Technician on Feb. 23, 2026. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and Studio Art from St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI. Cate said, “I’m excited to assist with land management in the ecological landscapes that have been my home since childhood.”
Cate grew up in the Midwest, spending much of her time in Wisconsin and Illinois. In addition to being familiar with the flora and fauna of the region and her educational training, Cate served as a Land Stewardship Fellow at the Aldo Leopold Foundation for one year, which provided invaluable insights and experiences to her.
Her work experiences include working with project partners and volunteers, remote backcountry conservation trail work, surveying aquatic plant species and collecting water quality data, prescribed fire, native seed propagation and collection, timber stand improvement, mechanical and chemical invasive species management, operating equipment such as chainsaws, UTVs, tractors and compact track loaders. Her certifications include Wilderness First Responder and CPR, NWCG Wildland Firefighter Type 2, American Canoe Association Training, SAWW Chainsaw Safety Training Levels1 and 2, and National Association for Interpretation Interpretive Guide.
Cate is also an accomplished artist taking her inspiration from the natural world. She was accepted into the 2024 Wisconsin Artists Biennial at the Museum of Wisconsin Art and received the First Place Award in Press Forward 2023, a national juried exhibition at PrintHouston. See her artwork on her website: https://catherinenelsonart.com/
As the Natural Resources Technician Cate will be responsible for assisting with natural areas management, including invasive species control, prescribed burning, seed collecting, native plantings, plant propagation, wildlife monitoring, and planning of management on NLI preserves.
Cate sitting on a Leopold bench in front of the Aldo Leopold shack.
