“Conservation is important to me because the Earth is my home! And the home of my children and now my grandson, and of all of us. At an immediate level, playing in nature and eating good food also just make me happy.” -Diane Mayerfeld, Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator, UW-Madison, Extension Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS)
Diane’s quote so vividly exemplifies the shared passion for conservation amongst the over 50 educators working with women landowners in Wisconsin who attended the Spring Meet-Up in March for the budding WiWiC Conservation Educator Network.
This session was a burst of inspiring spring energy bringing together the shared commitment of conservation educators across the state. With a goal of connecting and amplifying connection opportunities amongst our amazing community of conservation educators in the state, we look forward to collaboratively growing this network to serve as an ongoing resource.
Here are some resources and next steps coming out of that gathering:
Recorded session here, including resources from Diane Mayerfeld on innovative new landowner research being pioneered in Wisconsin along with grant opportunities via North Central SARE, such as professional development funding for travel and other Wisconsin-specific SARE resources. Thanks to Julie Peterson of Pheasants Forever for hosting our Educator Career Share, providing insight and ideas on navigating a conservation career.
Our next WiWiC Conservation Educator Virtual Meet-Up will be Wed. Oct. 19 from 10-11:30 am.. Get it on your calendar and register here. And please invite your educator colleagues who also work with women landowners in Wisconsin.
Save the date for our second annual series of Conservation Educator Happy Hours, held in conjunction with Wisconsin Women in Conservation Week the week of July 18:
Tues. 7/19: Stevens Point/Central Waters Brewing
Wed. 7/20: Mt. Horeb/Brix Cider
Thurs. 7/21: Eau Claire/Together Farm
Milwaukee area: Date TBD
If you’re an Educator hosting an event for women landowners, please let us know at info@wiwic.org. We would love to share! We at WiWiC look forward to keeping connected.
