The Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio Awards

Dan Best
The Gentian Award for 2023

Dan’s blossoming interest in nature was encouraged and supported by his parents, family elders, teachers and scout leaders while growing up amid swamp forest and abandoned vineyards in Avon Lake, Ohio. As budding naturalists, Dan and his best friend Rich Repasky spent two summers in the late 1960’s as Cleveland Metroparks Trailside Explorers. These were pivotal experiences for these two young nature bugs. Here, Dan found his career compass bearing as he was introduced to professional naturalists, including long-time Native Plant Society member and 2017 Gentian Award recipient, the late Kent Scott.

Dan graduated from The Ohio State University’s School of Natural Resources in 1979 with a degree in Environmental Interpretation. Summers during his college years were spent with nature education stints with the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, Shaker Lakes Regional Center and ODNR’s Youth Conservation Corp with ages ranging from preschoolers to high school students.

After graduation, Dan returned to Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center serving as staff naturalist from 1979 to 1987. After these formative years as Staff Naturalist Dan moved on to Geauga Park District. Here, his evolution as a naturalist progressed in the ecologically rich wilds of Geauga County that inspired his creativity in program and exhibit development. From 1998 to 2003, Dan teamed with WKSU-FM’s folk music host Jim Blum in presenting the award-winning Beyond the Backyard, a weekly radio spot highlighting seasonal natural phenomenon. Dan also trained park volunteers and mentored many future naturalists with his broad natural history knowledge and his light-hearted interpretive style.

Ever seeking to further his natural history knowledge, Dan joined the Native Plant Society in the early 1980’s and has maintained membership since. His strongest connection to the Native Plant Society has been his association with the organization’s longtime leader Judy Bradt-Barnhart. As co-workers for almost 20 years, Dan and Judy (I) shared a productive working relationship promoting knowledge and appreciation for Geauga’s natural heritage. However, there were efforts in vain: Dan trying to teach Judy (me) bird identification while Judy’s (my) attempts to school Dan in fern identification were largely for naught.

In retirement Dan continues his naturalist role as a current board member for the Foundation for Geauga Parks. Dan leads occasional local outings for The Nature Conservancy, Cleveland Museum of Natural History and, of course, the Native Plant Society. He leads monthly explorations of Stebbins Gulch and Little Mountain for Holden Arboretum. Dan is also working with the Thompson Township Park Board in the development of a nature center at Thompson Ledges. Dan’s nature educating continues daily as an administrator and contributor to the Geauga County Wildlife Facebook Page.

Dan’s passion for nature is endured by his wife Nancy and their two daughters Emma and Kate. As a grandpa, Dan enjoys nurturing his granddaughter’s sense of wonder for nature in her formative years.

We thank Dan for a career of inspiration and education with some laughs along the way. We are proud to offer him this year’s Gentian Award.

The plaque has a picture of a fringed gentian and says:

Gentian Award
For Dedication to the Native Plants of Ohio
Dan Best
2023

This tribute was given by Judy Barnhart, president, of the Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio.