Nature Notes: Learning from the Land – Summer Naturalist Highlights at The Ridges
By Anna Foster, Director of Programming
Each summer, The Ridges Sanctuary welcomes summer interns who bring fresh perspectives, curiosity, and dedication to our work. Through hands-on projects that connect education, storytelling, and stewardship, they help advance our vision to inspire the conservation of Nature. This year, summer interns Annika Buhr and Julia Maynard took on independent internship projects. These projects delved into what could be learned from the ecological and human stories woven into Ridges lands.
Annika Buhr was the 2025 Summer Naturalist at The Ridges. Her position included helping with Backpack Adventure Camp, leading Sanctuary Guided Hikes, helping visitors at the front desk, and working on an independent project on nurse logs of The Ridges Sanctuary.
From Denver, CO, Annika is a student at Colorado State University. She is majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Mathematics. She is excited to continue her studies in botany in Colorado and anticipates graduating in the spring of 2026.
Julia Maynard was a 2025 WisCorps Summer Naturalist Placement at The Ridges. Her position also included helping with Backpack Adventure Camp, leading Sanctuary Guided Hikes and helping visitors at the front desk. Her independent project was on unique stories and uses of plants found in The Ridges.
From Winona, MN, Julia graduated from The University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse in 2024 with a major in Theatre Performance and minors in Environmental Studies and Sustainability and Costume Design. She now lives in LaCrosse and continues to serve through WisCorps.
Project Highlights
Nurse Logs of The Ridges Sanctuary
Annika’s summer project explored the vital ecological role of nurse logs — fallen trees that foster new growth and sustain life in the forest. Her work resulted in two resources for visitors to enjoy: a beautifully designed brochure and map highlighting prominent nurse logs along Sanctuary trails, and an in-depth article on their importance within the ecosystem.
Unspoken Stories of The Ridges
Julia’s summer project, Field Guide of Unspoken Stories, highlights the unique stories and personal connections people have with the plants of The Ridges Sanctuary. Through interviews, reflection, and exploration, she created a beautifully illustrated guidebook featuring photos and narratives that share how volunteers, naturalists, and longtime members experience and value the Sanctuary’s flora. The Guide invites readers to see The Ridges through the lens of memory and meaning.
Reflection & Impact
These independent internship projects remind us that conservation is both a science and a story — rooted in data, but also in human experience. We’re grateful to Annika and Julia for their curiosity, creativity, and commitment to sharing what they learned from the lands at The Ridges with others.