Cathy Blewett: Devoting Her Time to All Things Nature

To say Cathy Blewett loves being around nature is definitely an understatement.

During the past five years, the Naperville resident has put in a total 444 hours of volunteer service at the Morton Arboretum - enjoying every minute of it.

As a member of the aboretum’s Macgyver program, Cathy has spent the equivalent of 18 separate 24-hour days helping out at the Children’s Garden. And because of her devotion to all things nature, on behalf of Morton Arboretum, Children’s Garden Program Coordinator Krista Phelps nominated Cathy for a Naperville Youth Service Award.

Every year, KidsMatter together with Mayor Pradel and the Naperville City Council, give out the  Youth Service Awards to deserving teen volunteers during a special ceremony.

Cathy has put her heart into her work helping Children’s Garden guests experience and learn about nature through play. She feels the most at ease in nature and especially in and around the Morton Arboretum. In her free time, she likes to hike around other parts of the arboretum and brings her experiences back to share with guests in the garden.

Her spirit has thrived in the arbortem’s natural setting and her enthusiastic spirit is contagious in the work she does in the Children’s Garden. She has not only helped the Macgyver program grow, but has grown with the program as well.