PARK RAPIDS ENTERPRISE — Sometime during her 25-year career as an interpretive naturalist at Itasca State Park, Connie Cox asked a visitor from Slovenia why he traveled across the world to see the Mississippi headwaters.
His interpreter told her, “He wants to see in his life the most beautiful places in the world.”
“And he had a list of about 10,” Cox said, momentarily becoming choked up at the memory. “To think that Itasca was one of the 10 most beautiful places in the world he chose to see! To me, our park is way more special than just our own backyard playground. To share that with others is very meaningful.”
… Cox earned a Bachelor of Arts with a wildlife management emphasis at St. Cloud State University, minoring in American studies. Before coming to Itasca, she worked eight years as a naturalist for private resorts along the Gunflint Trail in northeast Minnesota. Read more: A day in the life of a park naturalist
