Introducing the 2025 Naturalist: Andrea Debbink
Andrea Debbink is a writer and nature lover who has called Madison home for more than two decades. After getting her start in publishing as a magazine editor, she now writes books for children and adults—seventeen and counting—including If the Rivers Run Free, Thrive Where You’re Planted, and the Wild World Handbook series. Her newest book is a Madison-area hiking guide called Urban Trails: Madison. Although Andrea writes in different genres and formats—from picture books to middle-grade to adult nonfiction—her books nearly always include her favorite themes: nature exploration and environmental stewardship.
As a suburban naturalist, Andrea sees flowers where others see weeds and wildlife neighbors where others may see pests. Her upbringing in the Minneapolis suburbs taught her to seek out nature in unexpected places and appreciate the ordinary wonders that thrive among our streets and shopping centers. Her more recent training as a Wisconsin Master Naturalist and her years spent hiking and paddling throughout the Madison area have fueled Andrea’s enthusiasm for connecting people to nature in our community, especially the parts of it that are underappreciated or overlooked.
Read below for upcoming programs and to learn more about Andrea's theme for the residency, "At Home in Nature".
Special Activity: Storywalk
Stroll through a story at Olbrich Gardens! This self-led story walk features the picture book If the Rivers Run Free, written by Naturalist-in-Residence Andrea Debbink and illustrated by Nicole Wong.
Beautiful watercolor illustrations and rhyming verse tell the story of “daylighting,” a fascinating way to restore buried urban rivers that’s being used all over the world.
This story walk is located on a path next to Starkweather Creek. Olbrich's outdoor garden is free and open 10am – 6pm daily.
Residency Theme: At Home in Nature
Nature can seem far away—especially in a city. Yet its wonders are nearer than most of us realize. A vacant lot can have as much biodiversity as a small forest. A street tree can support whole networks of life. Some animal species—such as coyotes and gray squirrels and songbirds—have learned to thrive in urban and suburban environments. Every tree, retention pond, public park, and wildflower-sprouting median counts as nature, and each is one more way we can experience and protect the natural world right where we are.
To that end, the theme of Andrea’s residency, “At Home in Nature,” will focus on ways we can connect with nature in our own neighborhoods and weave outdoor experiences into our everyday lives. Andrea’s hope is that no matter where people live in the Madison area, they can feel “at home” in nature by connecting with the plants, animals, people, and ecosystems that share our habitat.
Book Lists
Upcoming Events
Sequoya Library
- Jul21-Meeting Rooms A and B Combined
Central Library
- Jul01-*Offsite
- Jul07-*Offsite
- Jul20-*Offsite
- Jul23-Meeting Room 301
About the Naturalist-in-Residence Program
Started in 2022, the Naturalist-in-Residence program is a way for Madison Public Library to connect residents with the beautiful natural landscapes that surround them.
Each year, a Naturalist is selected to lead 10+ programs over the course of a six-week residency in the summer or fall. Programs have included nature walks, eco art, environmental justice initiatives, birding outings, foraging, herbal tea blending, nature infusions, and many more.
The Naturalist-in-Residence program is hosted in partnership with Madison Parks and is made possible thanks to the support of Nancy Leff and Kenneth Lerner.
Media/Collaboration Inquiries
Are you interested in working with or interviewing the Naturalist-in-Residence? Please fill out our inquiry form, the library will pass on the request, and the Naturalist will reach out to you when they have capacity.
Other Questions?
Sponsors and Partners
