2026 Presentations

Presentation from Tuesday, March 10, 2026: A National Legacy--Fifty Years of Nongame Wildlife Conservation in MN with Carrol Henderson, founder of Minnesota's Nongame Wildlife Program 

In 1977, Carrol Henderson was hired as Minnesota's first Nongame Wildlife Program Supervisor and was granted an annual budget of $25,000, which included his salary. Since then, thanks to the voluntary tax checkoff and lottery proceeds, the program's budget has increased dramatically. Over his decades-long career with the MN DNR, Carrol reintroduced trumpeter swans and peregrine falcons to our state; brought river otters back to the Minnesota River; and worked to protect lynx, wood turtles, timber rattlesnakes, and more. Fifteen other states have modeled their nongame wildlife programs after ours, which was the first of its kind in the country.

A National Legacy--Fifty Years of Nongame Wildlife Conservation in MN Presentation Link

Presentation from Tuesday, February 10, 2026: When Native Prairie Plants Are Patient — and You Aren’t, 

​with Brent J. Anderson

Prairie restorations often test our patience. We plant carefully, manage diligently and still wait years for the diversity we hoped to see. In this talk, we’ll explore what native prairie plants are responding to belowground — and why timing matters more than effort alone. Through real-world stories, approachable science, and a bit of humor, we’ll look at how soil biology and chemistry shape germination, resilience, and long-term success, and how thoughtful soil care can help prairies establish diversity sooner — without rushing nature.

When Native Prairie Plants Are Patient — and You Aren’t Presentation Link 

Presentation from Tuesday, January 13, 2026: Exploring the World of Insects (and more!) Through Photography with Ray Colby

Ray Colby sees himself not as an expert, but as a photographer of nature and a lifelong learner and lover of paleontology. He has spent his life exploring the wonders of the world and capturing them through his camera. Ray’s work brings nature into fine and revealing focus. He is excited to share a small portion of his work with us at our January meeting, focusing on Minnesota insect life (and perhaps a glimpse of T-Rex!), bringing us licks of wonder and awe and perhaps a deeper understanding of our natural world. 

Exploring the World of Insects (and more!) Through Photography Presentation Link