This is the Tag to identify your two reflection posts that you want to be reviewed and graded.
I have started my fourth week with KCS and I am feeling more comfortable with the fast-paced environment at which they operate. The nonprofit is working on a couple of interesting projects that I have been tasked to assist with in their development and implementation.
Continue reading keeping up with the kalahariThe Ice Age National Scenic Trail winds over 12,000 miles through the landscapes of Wisconsin. Its route follows the edge of this region’s most recent glaciation. From the Ice Age Trail, hikers can see countless glacial features such as kettles and moraines, as well as the ecosystems and cultures which make up the State.
My summer placement with the Ice Age Trail Alliance focuses specifically on the work of their Saunters program. Based on a quote from John Muir; “it is a great art to saunter”, the program seeks to connect youth with the Ice Age Trail. Through this connection, the Saunters program ensures future interest in our public lands, educates today’s youth about biology and environmental conservation, and most importantly empowers the leaders of tomorrow. My two closest colleagues in this work will be Amy Lord, who heads the Saunters program, and Abbey Leary, and undergraduate summer intern with the program.
Continue reading The trail to empowermentThis summer I will be spending my time at SEA LIFE Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary on Heimaey Island within the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago in the south of Iceland. This sanctuary is the world’s first for currently captive cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) to retire and live the remainder of their days with dignity in a natural setting. Through a partnership with Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), Merlin Entertainment and SEA LIFE Trust are leading the way to create innovative sanctuaries such as this to end captivity and I am so excited to be a part of this journey and to take you along with me!
Continue reading Chasing the midnight sunHi everyone! I am excited to share my final project with you all as I stride through the last stretch of UW Madison’s Environmental Conservation Master’s Program. This summer, I will be working with Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf, one of Audubon International’s many environmental and sustainability programs designed for areas in which we live, work, and play. As I enjoy golf, myself, and will soon be working as a conservation professional, my intentions are to further my knowledge in strategies used to change the perception of the game of golf by giving a second meaning to the term “green” when referring to a golf course.
Continue reading A Greener greenHello fellow classmates!
As some of you know, I am currently in Madison doing my summer leadership placement in the Evaluation Unit of the Natural Resources Institute (NRI). The Natural Resources Institute is part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. Its mission is “to help individuals, communities, and the state coexist with Wisconsin’s rich water, mineral land, and forestry resources”. They conduct environmental research, education, stewardship and outreach through a series of programs (highlighted in the picture below) that embody the Wisconsin Idea: “harnessing the leading-edge thinking and research of the university and facilitating change through an extensive network of local, state and regional partnerships”.
Continue reading Among inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and impactsMy leadership placement is at Clean Lakes Alliance (CLA) in Madison, Wisconsin. When I first started the Environmental Conservation Program last June, I knew that I wanted to be able to stay around Madison for my project placement. Since I plan on staying around Madison for my career, I thought it was a smart choice to stick around and try to make local connections. During my 10-weeks at CLA, I am in charge of designing a prototype map with a basic design, features, and a list of expenses that will inform and educate visitors about Warner Beach. Specifically what urban pollution is and how we can work together to try to keep our lakes clean.
Continue reading Life at the lakeMy placement is with the Wisconsin DNR, specifically assisting them with the elk reintroduction project. The elk population was depleted due to over-hunting in the 1940s, so this is a chance to restore their population to its naturally occurring range. The DNR’s goal is to reintroduce 150 elk over a 5 year period. (https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/elk.html )
2019 marks the 5th and last year of elk translocation from Kentucky into two regions in northern Wisconsin; Clam Lake and Black River. But my placement will not be focusing on current efforts, rather I’ll be creating maps from the 2017 release of 31 elk in the Clam Lake region into Flambeau River State Forest.
Continue reading Elk back in wisconsin
This summer my research project will be focused on performing call surveys at night for several focal species King , Black, & Yellow Rails as well as Least Bitterns across the state of Wisconsin. I have 18 total field sites with varying numbers of waypoint locations, where I actually perform the surveys between 10 pm-3 am for Yellow Rails and 10pm- 7 am for King/Black Rails. A survey consists of five minutes of passive listening once I reach each waypoint to determine what birds are immediately calling. Then I play 30 seconds of each breeding call then listening 30 more seconds to see if the species responds. If a bird responds, it is considered an observation. Each survey site will be revisited at least after two weeks theoretically to determine if the species are staying in the area to do their breeding. So I will complete a total of 36 field survey visits over a course of seven weeks as my field season is May 21st to July 7th. So far, it has been an interesting ride…
Continue reading The Quest For Elusive Rails
The Nelson Institute: Environmental Conservation Leadership Projects 