PFOHC Board Member Spotlight: Karisa Schwanekamp
“You should sit in nature for twenty minutes a day… unless you’re busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” - Zen Saying
Karisa Schwanekamp, one of our incredible board members, loves this quote. And it’s no surprise – she finds solace in the great outdoors and enjoys every minute she gets to spend taking in all that the parks have to offer.
“Some of my favorite park memories involve experiencing the sheer joy and wonder you feel in these outdoor spaces. There is something about being outdoors that just makes you feel more alive,” Karisa said.
Karisa was just five years old when she began calling Hendricks County home, moving to the area in 1987. She has always had a fondness for parks and trails and has especially enjoyed watching them grow over the years.
Karisa has been an educator in Plainfield for twenty years and now serves as Plainfield Community School Corporation’s Instructional Technology Integration Specialist, K-12. She has a passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education, and she finds purpose in connecting students and teachers with real-world learning opportunities – especially ones that involve the outdoors.
Karisa believes in the power of the parks and the positive impact these outdoor spaces have on Hendricks County. Given that she is an educator, she cares deeply about the future of our community and the families that call Hendricks County home.
“When you invest in parks, you are investing in your community and the future of the spaces that make it so beautiful,” she shared. “PFOHC works to not only invest in these parks but also to help keep them beautiful and accessible to all.”
When she isn’t in the classroom or designing an epic STEM lesson, you might find Karisa training for a marathon – she rekindled her love for running at age 40 and ran her first marathon last September! Part of the marathon route included a number of the beautiful parks in Plainfield. She hopes to run another marathon in a National Park next year.
You also might find her spending time with her husband and four children. They enjoy exploring local, State, and National Parks together. They are planning a big family trip out West, and we’re sure a National Park is on their itinerary!
We are thrilled to welcome Karisa to the PFOHC board and are excited to watch how her passion and joy contribute to the livelihood and longevity of all of our parks.
