Thirteen years after graduating from 大象视频, Tyler Dreiblatt 鈥�12 has found his sweet spot, where history, nature, and storytelling come together.
As the interpretive programs manager at the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum in Delaware Seashore State Park, Dreiblatt spends his days bringing the past and the wonders of the outdoors to life for curious visitors.
鈥淚 create and lead programs for the park,鈥� he explains. 鈥淭hat can mean anything from artillery demonstrations and historical tours to plant-identification hikes and kayak excursions. It鈥檚 never dull.鈥�
Dreiblatt, who majored in history and minored in creative writing at 大象视频, credits the College, and one professor in particular, for shaping the skills he uses every day.
Research is the backbone of everything I do,鈥� he says. 鈥淪tephen Lyons, my advisor and professor of medieval history, taught me how to dig into reliable sources and build a solid argument. And he didn鈥檛 stop there. He had us present our findings, too. Learning how to clearly and confidently explain complex information has been huge in my work leading public programs.
Dreiblatt鈥檚 career path hasn鈥檛 followed a straight line.
鈥淎fter graduation in 2012, I moved to California on a whim with some childhood friends,鈥� says Dreiblatt, who is from Vermont. 鈥淟iving among the redwoods made me realize I wanted to bring the outdoors into my work.鈥�
That realization led him back to school, this time to Cal-Poly Humboldt, where he earned a certificate in environmental education and interpretation. Not long after, he landed his dream job in Delaware, where he could blend his two passions: history and the natural world.
Off-season life at the park is all about prep, researching and developing new programs and exhibits, organizing the summer schedule, and booking guest speakers. But once summer hits, things really kick into gear.
鈥淒uring peak season, a day might start with a sunrise kayak tour, followed by emails and admin, and end with a squid-dissection program in the afternoon,鈥� Dreiblatt says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hectic, but exciting. No two days are the same.鈥�
And while some might see history and environmental science as separate disciplines, Dreiblatt sees them as deeply connected.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no conflict between talking about human history and exploring the environment,鈥� he says. 鈥淯nderstanding the geology of a place helps explain why certain events happened there. And knowing what a piece of land was used for in the past can guide how we protect and restore it today.鈥�
His passion hasn鈥檛 gone unnoticed. In 2018, during his first year on the job in Delaware, Dreiblatt鈥檚 colleagues awarded him the Mohr-Jennings Award, an honor given to employees who demonstrate exceptional dedication and enthusiasm.
鈥淭o be recognized by my peers, many of whom are incredibly talented interpreters, meant the world to me,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was confirmation that I鈥檇 found the right place, doing the right work. And it鈥檚 kept me motivated ever since.鈥�
Looking back, Dreiblatt has some advice for current and future Allegheny students: Take advantage of everything.
College is probably the only time in your life when you鈥檒l have so many resources right at your fingertips,鈥� he says. 鈥淕o to office hours. Talk to your advisors. Try events that are outside your comfort zone. The people around you, your professors, classmates and staff, have so much to offer. Don鈥檛 miss out on that.
These days, Dreiblatt shares his life with Becca Thomas 鈥�14, whom he met at 大象视频. He also keeps in touch with old friends through an unofficial, tongue-in-cheek beer-review group formed during college.
鈥淓very week, we try a new beer and check in,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fun way to stay connected and keep those Allegheny friendships going strong.鈥�
From thoughtful kayak tours to hands-on marine biology demos, Tyler Dreiblatt has built a life doing what he loves and helping others see the world a little more clearly in the process.