A Recipe for Successful Stewards

Begin with a group of enthusiastic adults from all over Door County. Place in an outdoor setting and add some field guides, hand lenses and notebooks. Blend in several presentations on local geology, plant communities, wildlife and watersheds. Mix together well, and allow to interact for ten weeks. Yield:  a group of dedicated volunteers who are engaged in conservation and preservation efforts throughout the county.

This odd recipe describes a new program in Door County called the Wisconsin Naturalist Program. Wisconsin Naturalists are individuals who have a love for the outdoors, are interested in learning more about our natural resources, and are willing to serve as volunteer land stewards. These students attend 25 hours of classroom and outdoor learning focused on our local ecosystems. During the program, students “adopt” a natural area in which to study and apply what they have learned in the classroom. After completing their training, Wisconsin Naturalists are required to attend 8 hours of additional training and volunteer 25 hours to a local conservation organization or program.

One of the most exciting aspects of this program is seeing how volunteers become environmental stewards, demonstrating ways that we can all help protect and preserve Door County’s natural legacy and encouraging others to get involved. Some of the projects completed by Wisconsin Naturalists in the past year:

• Several Wisconsin Naturalists participated in a Hines Emerald Dragonfly survey last summer. Members assisted researchers from the University of South Dakota, checking for road-killed dragonflies along a section of County Highway Q in Baileys Harbor. The road goes through critical habitat for the federally-endangered dragonfly, and this research is helpful in determining population trends from year to year.
• Led by two Wisconsin Naturalists, third grade students at Gibraltar School explored and learned more about the outdoor classroom adjacent to their school. The students then took a field trip to compare that environment with the diverse habitats of The Ridges Sanctuary.
• Woodside Park in Sturgeon Bay is closer to being weed-free, thanks to the efforts of a Wisconsin Naturalist and the second grade classes at Sawyer School. The students learned about Garlic Mustard and how it was crowding out the wildflowers in the park which lies behind their school. Students then assisted with removing the Garlic Mustard.
• Another Wisconsin Naturalist volunteer monitors bluebird houses in Newport State Park, and leads walks to teach people about bluebirds and the conservation efforts on their behalf.

The 2010 session of Wisconsin Naturalists will begin Thursday, September 9 and run through November 11. Classroom sessions will be held from 6:00 – 8:30 PM each Thursday at Crossroads at Big Creek, Sturgeon Bay. Field trip dates are September 25 and October 23 (field trip dates are tentative). Please call or email for more information.