Jan enjoyed her childhood on a small farm, as a middle child in a family that valued education. A wonderful array of skills were learned while helping with farm and garden activities, and in play with siblings. The stage was set for naturalist understanding & beliefs, and a strong science education launched Jan into her primary career, as a college science professor. Childhood leisure activity included bicycling, horse riding, and sports with family and friends, a wide array of crafts, and photography, with a dark room in the basement, and lots of reading. Some things don't really change, they just blossom more fully over time.