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Natural Areas Training Academy Graduate Profiles
Charlene R. Johnson
Charlene R. Johnson is the Park Services Specialist at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon. Before coming to Rainbow in March of 2003, she was a park ranger for a little over a year at Silver River State Park and also worked there as an Americorps volunteer the preceding six months.
As Park Services Specialist, Charlene wears two main hats: she is in charge of all the educational/interpretive programs in the park and she is the volunteer coordinator. She is also the p.r. person for the park and writes a bimonthly column for the local paper.Charlene grew up in the Northwest and has always been a writer, with two published books under her belt, a third recently contracted. She started her writing career in the thoroughbred industry, an industry in which she also worked hands on for over 20 years, from a stable hand to trainer, owner and buyer/seller, and as a data base operator for breeders' organizations. It was her promotion to Editor of The Florida Horse magazine which first brought her to Florida 26 years ago. She has also been a traveling exhibit museum Director and Conference Center manager, a librarian and a scuba diver instructor. She has her 100-ton captain's license and when she has spare time, loves to sail, kayak, hike, birdwatch, participate in anything to do with nature, including ride her motorcycle all over the country.
