I met with Education Specialist Cheryl Kimber online recently to talk about her role on the education team at Idaho Public Television. “I’m over in Regions 5 and 6, which is eastern Idaho,” she says. “I do outreach to libraries and schools, help with family literacy nights, we’re doing math workshops, we deliver kindergarten readiness kits…” If you’re over in the eastern part of the state, you might run into her at a local library!
Cheryl is a longtime Idahoan, but she was born in Wyoming and grew up in Pennsylvania. “We moved for my dad’s work.” She came back to Idaho to attend college at BYU-Idaho and fell in love with the Gem State. “I immediately fell in love with the mountains and all there is to do in Idaho, so I stuck around. I’ve been here for 22 years now.” In fact, one of her favorite memories is coming back to the West to visit grandparents and go to ‘The Land of the Geysers.’ “My mom loves Yellowstone. So now I live an hour and 15 minutes from Yellowstone, and I think that’s partly why I ended up settling here: I love Yellowstone just as much as my mom and it’s just right up the road.”
When it comes to Cheryl’s hobbies, she’s a fan heading out her front door. “I love hiking and camping, fishing and kayaking. If it’s outdoors, I probably like it,” she laughs. “I enjoy gardening as well. My kids have a giant pumpkin patch, and they sell them in the fall. So, I always help them in the fall. I love fresh tomatoes, so I always go overboard and plant way too many... I’ve got a little greenhouse, so I’ve started everything in the greenhouse.” And speaking of her fondness for Yellowstone, Cheryl says that’s her favorite place to hike. “…or, up in Island Park. Or, around the Palisades Reservoir, which is on the Idaho-Wyoming border. Those are probably my favorite places to go hiking.” If she’s not outside, Cheryl says she’s probably reading a book, currently rereading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. “I really like historical books. I majored in history in college, because I love history.”
Cheryl’s favorite parts of Idaho are the eastern and northern areas. “We went up to North Idaho two years ago and fell in love with the Coeur d’Alene area. We biked the Hiawatha and that was just beautiful… When we got to the top of the mountain to start, it was snowing,” laughs Cheryl. “But, when we got to the trailhead, it stopped snowing, and it was just a light drizzle. But it was breathtaking.”
Her favorite PBS Kids characters are the Wild Kratts. “I watched it with my kids when they were younger, and it just brings back such good memories.” And when it comes to her favorite snacks, she prefers salty to sweet. “I love chips and salsa,” she says.