Kel Kaczmarek
Naturalist
Team Member Since 2025
Kel (they/them) has always loved being outdoors, whether that be swimming in the lake and playing in the woods behind their house as a kid, running cross country in high school, and now visiting the local creeks and hiking trails here in Chattanooga.
Kel attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where they earned their B.S. in Environmental Science with a focus on conservation. While at UTC, Kel served as President of the University’s environmental club, during which they organized and led multiple litter cleanups and clothing swaps. They also worked together with other student organizations to create a SGA-backed Sustainability Committee to advocate for sustainable policies/practices, such as the creation of student gardens on campus!
Kel also works at the Tennessee Aquarium as a Guest Engagement Educator. They help to connect people with nature by presenting biofacts of animals they might not have seen before, hosting animal encounters, and having meaningful conversations with guests about the importance of protecting our native biodiversity.
In their free time you can catch them biking, grabbing a book or movie from the library, or hanging out with their cat. They also love attending local litter cleanups and tree plantings!