Camp Cullum has hired its first naturalist intern in decades, bringing on a Purdue University student whose path from drought-stricken Southern California to the waterways of west-central Indiana shaped a career commitment to conservation and community education.
A New Voice for 90 Acres of Preserved Land
Sona Choudhary, junior at Purdue University studying natural resource management with a focus on watershed management, began her role at Camp Cullum through a connection with a friend from Rossville who had attended the camp. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Choudhary came to Purdue intending to study aviation and pursue a path in the Air Force — a plan she abandoned after attending an educational workshop that redirected her toward environmental science.
Sona was introduced to the community on WILO’s local, live talk show ‘Party Line’ Thursday with host Shan Sheridan.
Choudhary’s appointment by the Camp Cullom board fills a gap the organization has felt for some time, and camp leadership has made clear they see her arrival as a turning point.
“We’re just thrilled that you’re on board,” said Russ Kaspar, a Camp Cullum board member, who called in during the WILO Radio Party Line program to welcome Sona to the team.
Sona’s responsibilities span education, fundraising, outreach and camp development. She will host educational workshops one to two times per month on Saturdays, write grants aimed at transforming the facility into an interactive nature museum, upgrade existing educational programming, catalog and organize artifacts in the nature center, and build student volunteer engagement through organizations including Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and school clubs.
Camp Cullom Board President Jeff Swackhamer is pleased with the fast start Sona has demonstrated. “In her first two weeks on our staff it’s become obvious that Sona has a good head on her shoulders. She had only worked for a few days when a former board member told me Sona was a “go getter”! She’s already applied for a couple of grant opportunities and has presented some novel ideas for ways to involve local youth and engage with the community. She will be posting regular content on social media to expand Camp Cullom’s exposure to the public and keep people informed of upcoming events at Camp. We will soon be announcing a series of educational programs to be held on Saturday mornings this summer. Sona has brought a new perspective and presents a fresh approach for our team. I’m very excited to see the positive impact she will have for Camp Cullom and the community this summer!”
At the center of her work is the camp’s most distinctive resource: roughly 90 acres of land, much of which has remained untouched and preserved.
“I think it’s incredible to me that we have this ninety-acre land that has been completely untouched and preserved for so long, and we would like to keep it that way, but also let the community realize what a big asset that is for learning and to grow,” Sona said.
From California Drought to Indiana Watersheds
Sona’s commitment to water resource management is rooted in a childhood defined by scarcity. Growing up in Southern California during prolonged drought conditions, she experienced water restrictions firsthand — limits on purchasing water, bans on lawn irrigation, and a landscape where green yards had been replaced with painted turf or artificial grass.
“I’ve watched (the California landscape) decline and completely dry out in the twenty years I’ve lived life. Little things like we can’t water the plants in our yards — a lot of people’s lawns and backyards are actually turf or they are painted. They’re not actually green living plants,” she said.
Arriving in Indiana and crossing the Wabash River daily in West Lafayette offered a sharp contrast. The abundance of water and the visible respect Midwesterners show for their natural surroundings struck her immediately.
“I think here in daily life, the way people even take care of their yards has so much more respect for nature and the environment than out there,” she said.
That shift deepened her conviction about the value of getting people — especially young people — into outdoor spaces. “Being outside, breathing in fresher air, cleaner air, having that peaceful time outdoors — feeling the dew in the morning or just the sun on your face is a whole different feeling that not only benefits you health-wise, but also benefits you mentally,” she said.
Choudhary said she plans to remain in Indiana and, within her first two weeks at Camp Cullum, confirmed for herself that nonprofit management is her intended career path. “I just want to keep making change, helping people learn and being there for the community,” she said.
Lodge Upgrades, Observatory Open House, and Board Openings
Beyond the naturalist hire, Camp Cullum announced several developments. An anonymous donor has funded a new air conditioning unit for the lodge; the funds have been deposited and installation is underway. The addition will allow the facility — which also features a fireplace — to host climate-controlled events year-round, expanding its use as a community gathering and educational space.
Camp Cullum also houses the Prairie Grass Observatory, described as one of the largest observatories in the Midwest. The observatory is hosting its next public open house Saturday evening June 20th, weather permitting. This observatory openhouse is on the same day as the Ice Cream on the Prairie Ice Cream Social scheduled for 10:30 to 2 PM. Camp Cullom is also known for its popular 23 hole disc golf course complete with a wandering course through woodlands, by streams and across hills and bridges.
The organization is additionally seeking youth board members — applicants must be under 18 — to participate in monthly board meetings and help shape the camp’s direction.
Sona late this past week learned that Camp Cullom’s Nature Center is now recognized by Indiana as a “museum” and recently recognized by a survey of hundreds of Clinton County Daily News voters as Clinton County’s second most “treasured amenity”, following the TPA Park complex with its Sapphire Bay Swimming Pool, snack bar, shelters, log cabin, Christmas light display, picnic areas, golf course and more.
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