By LAURA MCDANIEL
NAS Patuxent River Environmental Public Affairs

PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD—Bill Cheeseman takes great pleasure in nature.

From the collection of animal skulls and fossils in his office at Propulsion Support Equipment, Verification and Validation Group, to his screen saver of the Worlds End State Park in Sullivan County, Pa., it is easy to see that Cheeseman loves the natural sciences.

An engineer by profession and here since 1987, Cheeseman spends many of his off-work hours volunteering around the county at local schools and with the Conservation Division of the NAS Environmental Department. Many afternoons and evenings Cheeseman takes his traveling road show, commonly known as “Critter Talk,” to the kids. He often may be found in the Natural Resources Building, helping the Conservation Division with educational outreach and hunter safety classes.

“I started out in life sciences and originally wanted to be a park ranger,” Cheeseman says.
Though he realized that wasn’t to be his path, his love of nature and animals developed growing up near the Pine Barrens of central New Jersey.

“I’ve never been afraid of the outdoors,” says Cheeseman. “The Pine Barrens were my playground.”

As a kid, he would take a fishing pole with him to trick his mom into thinking he was going fishing, then just go off and explore the woods.

Cheeseman knows how to handle a snake. Also a turtle. Also a curious or a fearful youngster. His desire to share his passion with kids comes readily.

Watching Cheeseman teach kids about snakes, it is evident that he is a natural-born teacher.

“I really like the little kids. They’re full of energy and enthusiasm and there is so much potential there,” Cheeseman says.

He works to get people to think about snakes as friendly creatures.

“Some [of the students] are really afraid, but by the end of a gathering almost all will touch the snake,” he says. “There is a lasting effect there. They won’t think it’s a terrible creature anymore. I’ve learned that a lot of kids don’t have firsthand knowledge of nature or have ever been walking through the woods. I want kids to focus on their own backyard, really want them to appreciate the animals in their own area.”

-USN-

Photo by Laura McDaniel
Bill Cheeseman, an engineer with Propulsion Equipment Support, shows off one of his livelier work props, the Corn Snake, to a class of kindergartners from Piney Point Elementary School at the Natural Resources building. Bill has been bringing his “Critter Talk” program to kids and adults for more than 18 years.