Trees like hickories, walnuts, and oaks produce various kinds of nuts, which are the trees' mast. “Mast” is the botanical term for the food that trees and shrubs produce, which is stored and eaten by wildlife. While trees produce mast annually, certain years, known as "mast years," see an exceptional abundance of nuts. These mast years occur irregularly, around every 2–5 years, and the forest floor becomes carpeted with nuts. This overproduction plays a vital role in forest regeneration. By overwhelming the animals that feed on these nuts, trees ensure that some nuts escape consumption, allowing them to germinate into new saplings. If trees produced only a small number of nuts each year, most would be consumed, leaving no seeds to develop into the next generation of trees. However, this event does not come without cost. Producing nuts in such large quantities requires significant energy, so trees have to conserve their resources, saving up for these occasional mast years.

Hello! My name is Shannon (she/her/hers) and this is my first year serving as an AmeriCorps Environmental Educator here at Severson Dells! I am from Poplar Grove, IL and have spent most of my childhood exploring familiar Stateline attractions. In Summer 2023, I graduated from Iowa State University with my bachelors degree in Geology and a minor in Environmental Studies. I’ve spent the past year exploring the United States and trying to see as much as I can (37/50 states, and counting). I’m looking forward to applying my education and travel experiences towards teaching the community. Since a young age, I have always had a great passion for nature and the great outdoors. Some of my earliest memories as a child are being at Rock Cut State Park, either fishing or floating on a kayak in the middle of the lake. I love going on road trips and I am always down for an adventure! In my free time you can find me watching movies, hiking with my dog, at concerts, or nerding out on rocks. I’m grateful to be a new AmeriCorps member at Severson Dells and I can’t wait to see what I accomplish in my time here!