Robinson refinery employees host nature day for hundreds of elementary students

Community News

Robinson, Illinois, Foundation
A man holds a book and reads to children outside under a pavilion at a nature park.
Marathon employee Robbin List talks with students about animal tracks at one of the interactive learning stations during the 2025 Fall Nature Day at Neal Pit Wildlife Habitat.

Key Points

  • More than 100 second graders from Washington Elementary in Robinson, Illinois, spent a day learning outdoors at Marathon Petroleum’s Neal Pit Wildlife Habitat during Fall Nature Day.
  • Employee volunteers from multiple Robinson refinery departments led hands-on stations focused on bees, trees, animal tracks, energy and guided nature walks.
  • The day was designed to help students connect science lessons to real-life examples through active exploration and guided learning.

On a beautiful fall day, you can’t beat a trip to Marathon Petroleum’s Neal Pit Wildlife Habitat, just east of Robinson, Illinois. For years, it has been a gathering place for employees, families and local students.

When 2023 tornadoes threatened to end the site’s long and educational history, Neal Pit came back stronger. A renewed focus on hands-on learning in an open-air setting has made it an even more valuable resource.

A woman and a child talk at a table with artwork and paint supplies under a pavilion at a nature park.
Marathon employee Madison Montoya interacts with a student at one of the interactive learning stations, where students got to identify animal tracks.
Students gather around a table with plants on it to listen to someone talk about nature.
Marathon employee Louis Kavanaugh leads a session with students about different kinds of plants, including trees found in nature, and the role they play in the environment and everyday life.

Recently, more than a dozen employee volunteers from Marathon’s Robinson refinery hosted its Fall Nature Day event, welcoming more than 100 second graders from Washington Elementary School in Robinson along with about 50 teachers and parents. Students spent the full day exploring nature through a series of educational stations.

“This is such a special place for all of us,” said Emily Gullett, Advanced Administrative Assistant at the Robinson refinery, who helped coordinate the event. “Being back here reminds us to take a moment to appreciate what we have, and being able to share this space and our time with the next generation is such a thrill.”

Volunteers from multiple departments brought their expertise to life through hands-on demonstrations. Students rotated through stations focused on bees, trees, animal tracks, energy and guided nature walks.

“Being back here reminds us to take a moment to appreciate what we have, and being able to share this space and our time with the next generation is such a thrill.”

“Each station offered interactive activities designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding of the natural world,” Gullett said. “We wanted this to be something the kids, their teachers and their parents or guardians felt excited about, and we wanted them to leave feeling like they learned something new and meaningful.”

Other highlights included crafting solar bead bracelets, tree cookie necklaces and animal track viewers, which served as keepsakes that reinforced the day’s lessons in a fun and memorable way.

“Our second graders always enjoy our trip to Neal Pit,” said Beth Rynke, teacher at Washington Elementary. “It is one of our favorite field trips, and we appreciate the efforts of the employees who make it possible.”

One student summed it up enthusiastically, saying, “This is the best day of my life.”

As part of the guided nature walks, Phil Goodman with Marathon explains different types of bees and the important role they play in the environment.
A park shelter on a sunny day with people standing and sitting underneath it, and an American flag flying next to the shelter.
Marathon Petroleum’s Neal Pit Wildlife Habitat, just east of Robinson, Illinois, has been a gathering place for employees, families and local students for years.