CHAPTER MEETINGS

West Metro Chapter's monthly meetings are start at 7 pm on the second Tuesday of the month (except July & August). Please sign in early for some social time with the other members. Meetings feature a presentation on a nature-related topic and last about 90 minutes. We usually meet in person at Minnetonka Community Center, though sometimes (especially during the winter months) meet via Zoom only. We aim to make all of our in-person meetings available to a Zoom audience (i.e., hybrid).

Upcoming Meetings:

Tuesday, April 14, 7 pm: HerpMapper!
with Chris Smith, HerpMapper's Director of Public Affairs 

HerpMapper is a nonprofit organization designed to gather and share information about reptile and amphibian observations across the planet. Using HerpMapper, you can create records of your herp observations and keep them all in one place. In turn, your data is made available to HerpMapper Partners – groups who use your recorded observations for research, conservation, and preservation purposes. Your observations can make valuable contributions on behalf of amphibians and reptiles. 

This meeting will be Hybrid (Online and In Person): Link will be provided shortly before the meeting

Chris Smith is a professional wildlife biologist, with a bachelor's degree in wildlife management and a master's degree in conservation biology, both from the University of Minnesota. His work generally focuses on amphibian, reptile, and terrestrial invertebrate conservation and research at a variety of spatial scales. In addition to his professional work, Chris is an avid "field herper" as well as a citizen-science advocate.  

Tuesday, May 12, 7 pm: Native Cultures in Our Parks —10,000 Years and Counting 

with WMC member Kirby Hoberg

Learn about the historic and contemporary Native people who have left their mark on our west metro parks! We will dive into NAGPRA  (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act), learn about its Midwest roots, and why it's important legislation to understand as people who frequent outdoor spaces.

This meeting will be Hybrid (Online and In Person): Link will be provided shortly before the meeting

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