We've had some incredible experts and citizen scientists on the Summer Camper webinar zooms this year - and every year we've done these, really. Wisconsin has many incredible women conservationists and it's our great pleasure to connect with them on our topical webinars. Even if you were on the zoom, it's worthwhile to re-watch these since they are so jam-packed with information. Scroll back through the blog to watch all three years of Summer Camps! Below in this blog we've got 2023 Summer Camp #1 and #2 recorded for you. In the busy-ness of all the Summer Field Days, we forgot to post these earlier!
You can still catch Summer Camp #3 LIVE this Thursday at noon! The topic is "Bugs and Beetles" and we'll hear from Thelma Heidel-Baker of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and owner of Bossie Cow Farm, as well as Citizen Scientist Cherrie Nolden of 1dr Acres Farm - our favorite DUNG BEETLE ambassador! Read about her work on these tiny helpers in this AgriView article. RSVP here for the webinar link and bring your buggy questions.
Thelma Heidel-Baker is an entomologist, conservation specialist, and organic grazing farmer. She has extensive science & research experience in sustainable agriculture and conservation practices. Thelma holds graduate degrees (M.S., PhD) in entomology and has on-the-ground experience supporting beneficial insects and establishing wildlife habitat. She currently works as a farm conservation planner for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and brings grazing and wildlife conservation together on Bossie Cow Farm, her family’s grass-based dairy farm near Random Lake, WI.
"Insects are fascinating - and vital - and being so small, they need us to speak up on their behalf! Knowing which ones are the beneficial ones is also so important on your farms and gardens, and is important in doing good conservation on your land," says Heidel-Baker.
Cherrie Nolden owns and operates a 130-acre forage-based farm in the Driftless Area, where she has managed organically and benefited greatly from the diverse and abundant dung beetle species that have colonized the land. Cherrie has has formal education in wildlife ecology, veterinary science, agroecology, and animal and dairy science. She integrates this with experimentation and experience for a profitable and regenerative farm.
"Dung beetles are both a keystone species and an indicator species for a resilient systems-level approach to land and animal management; a cascade of benefits derives from their presence and activities, but those benefits are sensitive to management that is conserving of ecosystem functionality," says Nolden.
A plethora of resources were shared in the chat during the Turtle and Snake webinar, and here are some of them:
-Save this link on your phone or facebook page and when you spot a turtle report them so that they can be tracked:
-Dr. Rebecca Christoffel mentioned this academic book: https://www.amazon.com/Amphibians-Reptiles-Wisconsin-Joshua-Kapfer/dp/0299335208/
-Bethany Storm mentioned this children's book: https://www.amazon.com/Salamander-Room-Dragonfly-Books/dp/0679861874
-Other resources our team put in to the live chat can be found here: