Few people understand how much work goes into keeping the Cloisters campus looking beautiful year-round. From snowstorms to summer mowing marathons, our dedicated grounds crew manages it all. We sat down with our head groundskeeper – Heath Albright to learn what it really takes to care for a campus of this size and beauty.
Q: How long have you worked for The Cloisters on the Platte?
A: Really since before we were officially open for retreats, so for about 10 years. When I first saw the campus, it was just an open field covered with leaves.
Q: How did your previous experience prepare you for this role?
A: I worked as a groundskeeper for Boys Town for 20 years, so that work prepared me for this. That experience helped me know what it takes to manage a large campus.
Q: How big is your crew?
A: Including myself, there are four full-time team members. We all work hard and know how to get the job done.
Q: Nebraska weather brings extremes. Take us through what it takes to manage the grounds in the different seasons.
A: Winter – I live near the Cloisters property so once the snow starts I can get here quickly. I call the crew in, and we start clearing sidewalks, patios, and roads for retreatants and for employees. It is easy to look at snow removal as a one and done type of job, but it’s constant. A few years ago, we had a storm so bad that the whole crew stayed overnight for two straight days, sleeping in chairs between shifts. The wind kept blowing drifts across the road and we just kept at it until everything was clear.
Spring – Spring is all about preparation. We prepare the flower beds, and we order and plant flowers. We trim trees and add mulch, and we spend full days weed eating and limiting the growth of noxious weeds.
Summer – Summer means mowing – lots of mowing. We mow twice per week on Mondays and Thursdays. We have all four mowers running and it takes us a full day to finish.
Fall – Fall is cleanup season. Managing leaves, trimming, and prepping grounds before winter hits.
Q: What does a typical work week look like?
A: We do the majority of our work Monday through Thursday. Fridays are usually for the outer roads and cleanup. It is sort of like managing the upkeep of a small town – just one without people living in it full-time.
Q: How do you manage your work when Stations of the Cross visitors are on campus?
A: We try to mow before 9 a.m. and then stay out of the way so visitors can enjoy the peace and quiet. The grounds are part of what makes this place special, so we want guests to experience that without a lot of noise or interruption.
Q: Have you had any interesting encounters with wildlife?
A: I have seen just about everything – raccoons, rabbits, deer, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, moles, and plenty of geese. Some of them cause damage, which can be frustrating, but it is part of being close to nature. Keeping everything clean and in good shape is an ongoing challenge.
Q: What did you think of the recent volunteer grounds clean up?
A: It was great! I do not know if the volunteers realize just how many hours they saved us. The amount of work they did would have taken our crew weeks to complete. I’m incredibly grateful and appreciative of their help.
Q: What motivates you to keep doing this work?
A: I love the outdoors. I tried working inside once, and I just could not do it. Out here, there is peace and beauty every day. It reminds me of being back home in the country – I am originally from Shenandoah, Iowa – and that feeling never gets old.
Q: If you could sum your job up in one thought, what would it be?
A: It takes a lot of care – and a lot of love for the outdoors. Every season brings something new, but at the end of the day it is all worth it when you look around and see the beauty of this place.