Isabel Basset Wasson

When my wife talks about her youth, sometimes she mentions a really cool neighbor of hers, Isabel Basset Wasson, a person I usually remember as the "bird lady." She would take Beth on natural walks in her neighborhood in suburban Chicago and teach her the name of birds. She would do lectures and teach classes at local libraries sharing her experience as a naturalist. I would have loved having a neighbor like this.

We have been watching Ken Burn's The National Parks lately. On disc four, forest rangers are discussed. Isabel Basset Wasson's name came up as the first female ranger in Yellowstone National Park. Beth was floored by this and quite excited. She hasn't stopped talking about it. She sounds like an amazing person. It is no wonder Beth wanted to moved from burbs of Chicago to the woods of Vermont.