by: Licia Johnson, Naturalist and WAEE Treasurer
As a member of the Wisconsin Association for Environmental
Education Board of Directors, I took on the task of chairing our annual Winter
Workshop. The theme this year was
“Sensing the Season” – ways to get out and explore the natural world using your
senses. We had over 90 people join in on
a weekend filled with great presentations, engaging workshops, a fabulous
featured speaker, laughter, music, and more!
The workshop was held at the beautiful Treehaven campus in
Tomahawk, WI and brought folks from all across the state, and even over state
lines. The trails were groomed to
perfection and participants were able to take advantage of them in between
programs.
Program topics ranged from discussion on how to get
educators to love the outdoors, to life beyond grants and even cross-country
ski lessons. Fun and engaging workshops
had folks creating nature journals and learning how to connect digital natives
to nature.
Our featured speaker, John Bates, naturalist and author gave
a very inspiring talk on teaching others to develop a sixth sense, creating
compassion and reference for the natural world.
Learn more about John and some of his work at www.Manitowish.com.
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| Featured speaker John Bates presents to workshop participants. Photo by Carly Swatek |
Once again the workshop was blessed with the presence of the
Brutal Gourmet, and the enticing aroma of raccoon could be smelled throughout
the campus during this fun lunch activity.
A big thanks needs to go out to the fun and entertaining band, 50% folk,
who joined in on the fun Saturday night and folks danced up a storm. Also sponsoring entertainment that night was
the Minocqua Brewing Company and Three Lakes Winery.
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| Participants enjoy cooking lunch with the Brutal Gourmet. Photo by Carly Swatek |
100% of the energy used for the program was purchased
through WPS's NatureWise Renewable Energy Program-energy purchased through this
program comes from clean, safe, locally sourced wind and biogas.
A big thanks goes out to all the folks who traveled out for
the weekend to participate in the workshop- presenters, educators, students, and
many other organizations. Without an
engaged audience, these workshops wouldn’t be as successful.
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| A silent auction helped raise money for future workshops and scholarships. Photo by Carly Swatek |
This was my first time at this workshop and I have to admit
it was really a lot of fun! Meeting up
with other naturalist friends from around the state, meeting new folks and
networking, and getting the Discovery Center on the map and in folk’s radar
were some of the highlights for me. I
look forward to planning the 2016 Winter Workshop!
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| Former Discovery Center intern, Angie Ziobro, presents the closing at the workshop. To the left is a wood cookie tree that was created throughout the weekend- each wood cookie has one way you can use your senses to explore the natural world. Photo by Carly Swatek |
