The WI Naturalists Program is dedicated to the conservation, preservation, and restoration of our natural resources, by promoting ecological education for all.

Time to turn in your Volunteer hours.

If you are planning on continuing with the WI Naturalist program please take some time to fill in your time. It might seem like just another thing to do, but it actually becomes very important when we are applying for grants to improve our program.

Volunteer Log (pdf)

Invasives Advanced Class: Mar 27, Apr 10, May 8, Jun 7

You asked and here it is! Our first class on Invasive Plant Species and how to control them.  We are extremely lucky to have Gary Fewless to teach the lecture part of the course. There will be 3 evening lectures covering the botany and control of invasive plants from 6-8:30 on March 27th, April 10th, and May 8th. The course will end with a Saturday morning field trip on methodology on June 7th led by botanist Kathryn Corio.

This course is free to WI Naturalists that have taken the introductory class.  However, you will be expected to complete 10 hours of volunteer time controlling invasive species on the Cofrin Arboretum during the next 6 months.  There will be a choice of projects to choose from including patrolling for Garlic mustard, and controlling Phragmites, Buckthorn, teasel, and other invasive plants impacting this natural area.
The class will be limited to 12 people.  To reserve your spot in the class please call Kim McKeefry at 920-465-5032 or email mckeefrk@uwgb.edu.

We have a new chapter forming!

Last fall I was invited by Bob Bultman of the Door County Invasives Species Team to give a talk about the WI Naturalist program.  Afterward I was delighted to find that several people were interested in forming a Door County chapter of WI Naturalists. A committee was formed and we hope to offer the first introductory class next fall at The Crossroads in Sturgeon Bay, with possibly a few classes at UW Green Bay to make use of laboratory and museum facilities.

So far our program has been limited to only one chapter in northeastern Wisconsin.  Our chapter is based out of UW Green Bay and includes members from as far away as Marinette and Door County.  We are working to expand our reach to other areas within the state.  We have partnered with the state parks and UW extension to encourage the development of local chapters and to apply for grants to develop a statewide program. I will be giving talks in other areas of the state this spring and will be attending a conference in Minnesota being held by the Minnesota Master Naturalists program to better design and develop our program. 

Do you want to start a local chapter?  I will be happy to talk to you about developing a local chapter and help you to get started. I am working on our website and hope to get a list of volunteer projects and information about what our members are doing.  Please send photos and descriptions of your projects!

Download the latest copy of our Newsletter.

New Volunteer Opportunities

Karner Blue Butterflies Project

This spring the DNR is embarking on an ambitious effort to census all of the significant Karner populations located on state properties designated as recovery sites in the federal Recovery Plan for the species. We will be surveying dozens of sites on many hundreds of acres on nine properties spread from East Central to Northwest Wisconsin. They will be using a method known as Distance sampling that records butterfly observations in intervals parallel to the center line of transects laid out in a systematic design across the target sites. The Karner butterfly has two flights each year, the first from late May to mid June, and the second from mid July to mid August. They will be conducting surveys during both flights, concentrated about a week on either side of the peak of each flight. To accomplish this sampling we will need up to 16 crews consisting of an observer and a recorder to conduct surveys along the transects. If possible they would like to have one student volunteer on each of the sampling crews working as an assistant to a DNR employee leading each crew. DNR will be able to provide reimbursement for mileage and travel expenses (meals) for volunteers.

The total commitment would be about 15 days of field time, plus a one-day training session to be provided by DNR. Field time will include about a week of time setting up and flagging transects in late May, plus about five days of time surveying transects during each flight. Survey days will depend on suitable weather conditions (warm, dry, low winds). Volunteers wishing to expand their experience will be able to work on non-survey days helping with other related surveys and possibly on barrens habitat restoration projects. The closest recovery sites to UWGB are Hartman Creek State Park (Waupaca Co.), Emmons Creek Fisheries Area (Portage Co.), Greenwood Wildlife Area (Waushara Co.), and White River Marsh Wildlife Area (Green Lake Co.) Contact Bob Hess, Coordinator Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Program 9748 Hoffman Road Pittsville, WI 54466 Phone: 715-884-2726

Volunteer Marsh Monitoring Program Regional Coordinators Wanted

Are you interested to help enhance and support wetland monitoring efforts in your area? Bird Studies Canada’s Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP) is currently seeking dedicated individuals to become volunteer regional coordinators to help oversee volunteer-led marsh bird and amphibian monitoring activities in local wetlands. The MMP is a long-term, bi-national program that relies on the skills and dedication of hundreds of volunteer Citizen Scientists across the Great Lakes basin to annually monitor marsh bird and amphibian populations in local wetlands.
For over a decade, the MMP has worked with local stakeholders within Great Lakes environmental “hot spots”, called Areas of Concern (AOCs) to provide monitoring data in support of efforts to track wildlife and habitat recovery. To improve its capacity to inform local committees tracking wildlife and habitat recovery, the MMP is seeking to engage enthusiastic and motivated individuals to become volunteer regional coordinators in Green Bay and surrounding Brown County and southeast Oconto County. 
MMP regional coordinators will help to recruit new volunteer participants by promoting the program locally, and help new and existing volunteers by providing training and survey support prior to and during the MMP monitoring season.
For more information about this rewarding opportunity, please view the online brochure with application form at http://www.bsc-eoc.org/download/MMPvolcoordbrochure.pdf and a position description at http://www.bsc-eoc.org/download/MMPvolcoordescription2007.pdf. We ask that those interested please submit their application form ASAP, either by fax to Ryan Archer at 519-586-3532 or by email to rarcher@bsc-eoc.org. Also note that coordinator tasks are flexible to accommodate individuals’ strengths and time commitments, and that bursaries will be available to help reimburse coordinator-related costs. Training is provided. For more information about the Marsh Monitoring Program or to become a volunteer, please visit www.birdscanada.org/mmpmain.html. For any questions, please contact Ryan Archer at rarcher@bsc-eoc.org, or toll-free at 1-888-448-2473 ext. 235.

Print Marsh Monitoring Flyer

Current Volunteer Opportunities

• Baird Creek Parkway
• Brown County UW Extension
• Cofrin Center for Biodiversity
• DNR
• Friends of Toft Point (contact CCB for more info)
• Green Bay Botanical Gardens
• Northeast Wisconsin Nature Centers
• Ridges Sanctuary Door County
• Wild Ones

How can I become a Wisconsin Naturalist?

Any adult (18 or older) can participate and no previous experience or training is necessary. The courses are taught by university professors and customized to focus on the native ecosystems in our area. After recieving training Wisconsin Naturalists help to preserve our natural resources by participating in a variety of projects from working as educators at natural areas to helping scientists conduct research projects at natural areas.

Download the WI Naturalist Brochure

To become a Wisconsin Naturalist you must complete the following:

• take the general course consisting of a minimum of 25 hours of training covering all aspects of our local natural resources including climate, soils, flora, fauna, restoration, and management. Usually offered in the fall.
• Complete 25 hours of volunteer work
• complete 1 unit specialized coursework. Each year courses will focus on a different topic. Subjects can include spring wildflowers, nature photography, WI plant communities, WI geology, mammology, entomology, etc.

Biodiversity Topics: Introduction . Plants . Animals . Mammals . Birds . Reptiles & Amphibians . Arthropods . Spiders . Insects

© 2001-2004 The Cofrin Center for Biodiversity and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, All Rights Reserved
Last updated on March 1, 2008