Bringing Nature to You: OutsideIN MS
M
eet Robin Pearson, a gifted and knowledgeable teacher, who has spent over thirty-two years in the museum field and has created OutsideIN MS to share her love and knowledge of nature through tours and educational classes. In addition, she is an extraordinary artist with a gift for creating historical, whimsical tins available in local art shops and by customized orders. Educator, artist, outdoors adventurer, Pearson has channeled these skills into new adventures
to share with everyone. Pearson acquired her undergraduate degree in biology from Albion College in Albion, Michigan, followed by her master’s degree in History and Museum Studies from Western Michigan University. She has served as director of small museums leading her to Natchez, Mississippi, where she served as Director of Historic Jefferson College located in Washington, Mississippi, a property owned by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. When the department closed the museum doors, Pearson was free to dive into her creative mode combining her educational background with her knowledge of nature and her love for the outdoors to establish OutsideIN MS. One of Pearson’s services as part of OutsideIN MS is guided individual and guided kayak tours on Old River in nearby Louisiana. Her group tours are limited to six people. No matter the number in the group, the two-hour experience of propelling kayaks through the smooth waters provides close observation of multiple species of birds, fish, turtles, and maybe an alligator or two. An additional option she
offers is Guided Nature Tours, hikes for a maximum of six people with children no younger than five years old. Trails are chosen among the many in the Natchez area relative to hikers’ fitness, ages, and interests; and each hiker is provided a trail bag for water, bug spray, a pair of binoculars, and a nature ID guide. Pearson’s knowledge of all aspects of nature is the perfect fit for hikers’ adventures with OutsideIN MS. If you are not a hiker or kayaker, Pearson’s OutsideIN MS has developed a fun downtown Architectural Scavenger Hunt. The scavenger hunt booklets are available at gift shops in Magnolia Hall, The House on Ellicott’s Hill, Stanton Hall, and Longwood as well as The Kitchen, Silver Street Gallery and Gifts, Rolling ‘N’ The Dough, and Pearson’s shop at 112 North Commerce Street. There are two hunts, one on Main and Commerce Streets and the other on Franklin and Pearl Streets. Also exclusive are Pearson’s Nature Boxes, beautifully crafted for the curious nature lover to explore the worlds of birds, snakes, insects, rocks, butterflies, and more. The boxes are creatively packaged and can
Bluffs & Bayous { May / June 2021 { Page 17
