Our 2024 Wisconsin Master Naturalist course was inspiring!

By Colleen Robinson, Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program Coordinator

The instructors and participants were honored this year by a whole host of program wins.

First, we executed a highly successful course with fewer co-leads. Though we still miss Janet on the team after she stepped down from years of dedicated service in this role, we thank Tim Hansel for as-needed support!

Next, our participants were highly motivated and grateful to be part of the class. Every day, each of them was a joy to be around and learn with.

Finally, as we do each year, we made some adjustments based on prior feedback and logistics and the shifts were a huge success in helping us better round out some of the complex topics we covered through this experience. We included fish sampling and habitat in streams rather than the lake and added a visit to the manure digester, which had been a goal for years. We offered more direct and comprehensive comparisons between seepage lakes and systems like that of the Yahara River and Madison area chain of lakes in terms of their history, how that affects lake health today, and what we are doing and still need to work on to keep lakes healthy and resilient amid modern challenges.

Many guest speakers grace our class with their expertise every year. Some new or long-since returning guest speakers joined this year also. All were the highlight of our learning experience. We are so tremendously grateful for their part in this program.

Here are a few comments, taken from pre and post surveys of this year’s cohort. Thank you to all who support this effort both for the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy’s class, and for the statewide Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program in general. We celebrate volunteers empowered and united for healthy people and ecosystems! We look forward to seeing more volunteers in the Conservancy and on other area lands and waters!

• “Well planned, great learning experiences outdoors. The instructors made it happen.”
• “The guest speakers shared their lives/experiences/knowledge very well. With each topic I felt like I was getting the BEST information.”
• “My family was very proud of me for completing the training. So, I look forward to contributing back to my community and my family. “
• “I learned a lot about natural communities on a wide scale, and it sparked my curiosity to learn more in depth on many topics.”