2023 Session Descriptions

Session 1  Breakouts (10:15 - 11:00

Carolyn Byers

Building a Bigger Nest:

Nature Education for Everyone

Madison Audubon* is continuously working towards providing inclusive nature education in Madison. The mainstream environmental movement has historically been led by and for white folks. Learn how our educators are beginning to shift that by centering diverse communities in the lessons we teach and in the community we build with the students. This session will also highlight lessons focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access that are available for free on our website like Bird Names for Birds, LGBTQIAP+ in Nature, and our Black Birder’s Week collection. (*new organizational name coming soon)

Presenter: Carolyn Byers, Madison Audubon

Carolyn Byers has been educating with Madison Audubon since 2014 and is currently the Education Director. She has a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and loves to get kids excited about nature. Any lessons that combine science, art, nature, and kids is extra wonderful! Her current favorite bird is the Black-billed Cuckoo, followed by any and all sparrows. 

Cheryl DeWelt

 Hands-On Nature Education

We will explore a variety of activities to do indoors or outdoors with children to augment their understanding of the natural world and create environmental stewardship and empathy for all living things. 

Presenter: Cheryl DeWelt, Environmental Education & Garden Manager, Madison Children's Museum

Cheryl DeWelt is the Environmental Education and Garden manager at Madison Children’s Museum. Cheryl works in both the education and exhibits departments at the museum.  She writes curriculum and develops educational programming that meets core standards in environmental education, gardening, climate education, animal science, STEM, sustainability, literacy, and art. She helps to design and fabricate museum exhibits, cares for the live animal collections, and oversees planting and maintenance of all of the museum's gardens and green spaces.  Cheryl has presented at local, state, and national conferences for the last 30 years about the importance of nature education and getting children outside. Cheryl is also an artist who works with metal, wood, fibers, and COB (straw, clay and sand). 

Meg Barrow, MS, OTR/Lshe/her

Nurtured by Nature: 

How Nature Connection Supports Healthy Child Development

Discover the integral role of nature connection in the development of a healthy child. Rooted in current scientific evidence and ancient wisdom, you'll come away with knowledge and practices that will infuse your classroom with supportive, nature-connected experiences for your learners.

Presenter: Meg Barrow, Occupational Therapist, Founder of Thriving Wild OT, NatureLed Apprentice

I'm an occupational therapist, NatureLed apprentice, and deep nature connection mentor who has worked with individuals and groups across the lifespan to share knowledge and practices that support healthy child development and human wellness. As a parent of two young children, I also bring compassion and knowledge from my own personal experiences. My practice is deeply influenced by the science and wisdom that we need a relationship with nature to be healthy, because we ARE nature! I am passionate about letting this truth guide the path to thriving individuals, families, and communities. You can find me at ThrivingWildOT.com.

Catherine Masters & Jen Klemm

Cooking in the Garden

Learn how to cook simple recipes in the garden with just-picked ingredients. The session will be provided as a demonstration on how to lead similar lessons in the garden with students. Growing, harvesting, preparing, and then eating your own food is a guaranteed way to engage people of all ages with healthy and fresh food!

Catherine Masters & Jen Klemm, AmeriCorps Farm to School Specialists

Catherine has been serving as an AmeriCorps Farm to School Specialist for Rooted for almost two years, and Jen has been serving for almost a year. They've been a part of a team serving eight MMSD schools, providing nutrition and gardening lessons, managing school garden care, and teaching youth cooking clubs. Both Jen and Catherine have degrees in science and have been working individually for years with youth, food, and gardens.

Dave Ropa

The Schoolyard is a Living Laboratory 

How can educators use the outdoors to teach students to be scientists? Learn how to use your outdoor spaces as a method for collecting and analyzing data, designing experiments and monitoring ecological change over time. Teachers of students at all age levels will benefit.

Presenter: Dave Ropa, 7th Grade Science Teacher/Garden & Greenhouse Coordinator, Spring Harbor Middle School
David Ropa is a 7th grade science teacher at Spring Harbor Middle School in Madison and the manager of the Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Greenhouse at Spring Harbor. He’s been a public school teacher for 23 years after a career in international market development. 

Mo Farrell

Forest Bathing: 

Stress Reduction & Sensory Exploration for Youth & Adults 

A worldwide practice that honors culture, land reciprocity, science, and deep nature connection. Experience a forest bath for yourself first hand and feel the stress of life roll off your entire being. Learn nature invitations to try with your students and receive a take home guide to benefit from a regular personal practice as well as games to play with kids. 

Presenter: Moira Farrell, PE Midvale Elementary, Owner/Facilitator - Hike and Heal Wellness

Hey ya’ll- I’m Mo. I graduated with a bachelors degree in kinesiology with an emphasis on physical education, health & adapted physical education. I teach K-2 Wellness at Midvale Elementary where I focus on educating kids on mental and emotional health as much as their physical health. I am a 200 hr RYT through Breathe for Change, Kayak Instructor with the ACA & Forest Bathing Guide. Outside of MMSD, I run a small business called Hike and Heal Wellness where my mission is to inspire personal growth across the lifespan through nature connection and mindful play. I believe we can all use some prompting to slow down, breathe in the fresh oxygen that wild spaces provide and connect deeply to the more than human world. This, in turn, allows us to deeply connect to our most authentic selves, opening doors of insight and potential. 

Session 2 Breakouts (11:15 - 12:00

Sonya Sankaran

Connecting to Nature and Community Through Art

Deep learning happens when we can turn off our thoughts and engage completely in observation. This kind of focus is hard to attain - this is why meditation can be so difficult. Art is a perfect tool to cultivate focus, allowing us to quiet racing thoughts and judgement, calm anxiety, and ultimately motivate us to get outside our comfort zone. Using art to connect learners to nature has resulted in deep connection with the subject matter and bonding within groups that I have not experienced with other teaching methods. Whether we are learning science through illustration with nature journaling, weaving with cattails or creating ephemeral nature mandalas, groups exhibit curiosity, engagement, retention of information and gratitude that always astounds me. During this session I'll share some of those methods and experiences as well as invite others to contribute ideas - by the end we will have a nature art toolkit that sparks creativity and inspiration in students and teachers alike.

Presenter: Sonya Sankaran, Ecologist, Educator, Artist

Sonya Sankaran is an artist, ecologist, and educator connecting people to their environment. She is focused on the strong relationship between nature and health, seeking inclusive strategies and designs that reflect the communities they serve.

Her teaching methods highlight the power of observation, based on a belief that engaging our sensory systems to integrate information underpins successful conventional school and wellness practices. She uses art as a vehicle to teach science and conservation and to connect with nature.

Jami Hoekstra Collins

Environmental Stewardship with PBS Resources

Learn about fabulous resources from PBS KIDS that inspire students to discover and care for their local environment.  Featuring various PBS multimedia collections including Elinor Wonders Why, Molly of Denali, Wisconsin Biographies and Climate Wisconsin, participants will explore interactive bilingual materials that feature environmental leaders and issues that engage students' learning and love of the world around them.

Presenter: Jami Hoekstra Collins, Education Engagement Specialist, PBS Wisconsin

Jami Hoekstra Collins is an Early Learning Engagement Specialist with PBS Wisconsin Education with a master's degree in Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point. Jami is committed to promoting developmentally appropriate play-based learning where every child and family experience wonder and joy while learning together. In her role, Jami facilitates professional learning opportunities for educators around the state of Wisconsin that are integrated with PBS learning media and resources. Prior to her work with PBS Wisconsin Education, Jami taught an outdoor adventure program for elementary and middle school students in the summers and four year old Kindergarten during the school year in Peterborough, England as well as Marshall and Madison, Wisconsin Head Start programs and public schools.

Carolyn Byers

Talking About Big Topics with Kids:

Diversity in Nature Lessons Created by Madison Audubon for Your Classroom

Madison Audubon* is continuously working towards providing inclusive nature education in Madison. The mainstream environmental movement has historically been led by and for white folks. Learn how our educators are beginning to shift that by centering diverse communities in the lessons we teach and in the community we build with the students. This session will also highlight lessons focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access that are available for free on our website like Bird Names for Birds, LGBTQIAP+ in Nature, and our Black Birder’s Week collection. (*new organizational name coming soon)

Presenter: Carolyn Byers, Madison Audubon

Carolyn Byers has been educating with Madison Audubon since 2014 and is currently the Education Director. She has a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and loves to get kids excited about nature. Any lessons that combine science, art, nature, and kids is extra wonderful! Her current favorite bird is the Black-billed Cuckoo, followed by any and all sparrows. 

Dawn Liska-Tollefson

Nature Education and Middle School

Is it Friday? Nope- it's Fresh Air and Phenology Friday! In this session, you'll take away a variety of activities from biking to journaling to engage middle schoolers outside in learning about nature and phenology regardless of what subject you teach or the weather! 

Presenter: Dawn Liska-Tollefson, MMSD Middle School Educator

Dawn Liska-Tollefson loves being curious and exploring outdoors with her children and students.  She finds their sense of wonder and awe rewarding to witness. She has been a middle school educator for 20+ years in MMSD and Wingra School. Currently a cross categorical teacher at Badger Rock Charter Middle School and Spring Harbor Middle School, she has also worked with middle school youth through MSCR and Goodman Community Center, led Family Science Night activities at Wingra Boats, and coordinated school based Family Science Nights.  She knows that despite some groans and complaints, adolescents value the time they have for outdoor learning.  

Dave Ropa

The Schoolyard is a Living Laboratory 

How can educators use the outdoors to teach students to be scientists? Learn how to use your outdoor spaces as a method for collecting and analyzing data, designing experiments and monitoring ecological change over time. Teachers of students at all age levels will benefit.

Presenter: Dave Ropa, 7th Grade Science Teacher/Garden & Greenhouse Coordinator, Spring Harbor Middle School
David Ropa is a 7th grade science teacher at Spring Harbor Middle School in Madison and the manager of the Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Greenhouse at Spring Harbor. He’s been a public school teacher for 23 years after a career in international market development. 

Andy Gricevich

Wild Food Wander

Presenter: Andy Gricevich, What Got Gathered

What Got Gathered’s most involved human is Andy Gricevich, local forager, nature connection mentor, musician and poet (among other things). WGG would be impossible without the ongoing collaboration between Andy and his partner Nora, and without the involvement of many family members, friends and countless fellow travelers on the paths of wild, local, and regenerative food, food systems and the cultivation of a world oriented toward real human desires and needs.

Teacher Panel (1:15 - 2:00)

Join a panel of Madison area teachers who will discuss how they take learners outside, including logistics, lesson ideas, resources, and more!

Shannon Richards

Wingra School, Grades 4-5

Susie Jodie

MMSD, Speech and Language Therapist

Angie Mortensen

Midvale, Grade K, Bilingual 

James Kersten

Lake View, PE

Brian Counselman

Shabazz, Science

Afternoon Workshops (2:15 - 3:30)

Dexter Patterson

Birding is for Everyone! 

Join us for this educational and engaging session on how you can help make your local birding community more welcoming for all birders. Dexter Patterson will share tips and tricks that will allow you to start having more success and fun when you go birding and offer advice on making your birding events more inclusive and welcoming. Dexter firmly believes we need more equity and inclusion in the birding community across the board. That was their inspiration and spark to start the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin. Their birding club is a community of People of Color and Allies working to combat access and inequality in the birding community in the State of Wisconsin. They hope to collaborate and encourage other birding organizations across the country to do the same. Birding is for everyone, even you!

Presenter: Dexter Patterson, Faculty Associate University of Wisconsin, Co-founder BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin

Dexter teaches Documentary Photography for the Sciences, Intro to Digital Video Production, and Information Radio. When he’s not working his day job, Dexter wanders the woods trying to spread some Bird Joy with the world in a slightly scientific way.

Brian Counselman

Building Community to Get Outside!

Taking students outside in a less restrained and structured space can sometimes feel like a big and risky jump for some teachers. A strong classroom community can be your best tool to get outside and make the most of your time while you're out there. In this workshop, learn some basic introduction community building activities, hands on science activity examples for all ages, and ways to reflect afterwards to enjoy your time outdoors and learn a bunch too!

Presenter: Brian Counselman, Science Teacher & Project Based Learning Coordinator, Malcolm Shabazz City High School

My name is Brian Counselman and I have been teaching in various different alternative high school settings since 2007. I currently work at Shabazz High School in Madison, WI as a science teacher and project based learning coordinator. I have always loved getting outside and am a firm believer that spending time outside is not just something nice, but something we truly need as humans to be happy and healthy. As a result I have spent my personal and professional life exploring different ways to engage students outdoors including hiking, gardening, reading, camping, cooking, snowshoeing, community building, paddling, observing, building, climbing, drawing, fishing, writing, and simply just being. I've found that getting outside of the four walls of the classroom in any capacity brings a different level of authenticity and engagement that you simply can't get sitting in a desk. One of my favorite quotes is by John Dewey stating, ""Education is the process of living, not preparation for future living."" I'm always in search of that next opportunity to allow students to 'do the doing' instead of simply saying you may use this some day if...

Trust the process and get outside.

Jim Lorman

Wheels of Time and Place

"The Wheels of Time and Place" provides a simple but powerful approach for connecting students of all ages with nature and its cycles. In this session, we will introduce this tool and explore a variety of ways to use it, especially for phenology (the study of periodic events in nature and how these are influenced by seasonal changes and habitat). You can expect to come away with concrete ideas of your own on how students can refine their sense of place, at different scales of space and time, and in ways that creatively combine science, art, and imagination.

Presenter: Jim Lorman, Professor Emeritus, Edgewood College

Jim Lorman, PhD, taught ecology and integrative studies for over 30 years at Edgewood College, where he also led several K-16 science education initiatives. He has broad expertise in regenerative ecological and social systems, especially related to watersheds, community resilience, and participatory process. He is a co-founder of Friends of Lake Wingra and has served on many community groups and government-sponsored committees. Jim led the development of Edgewood's Sustainability Leadership Graduate Program and served as Program Director for five years prior to his retirement. Jim contributed in a minor way to the development of the "Wheels of Time and Place," along with the main author - his wife, Anne Forbes.

Jonathan Ismail

Developing Outdoor Spaces for Learning

Learning outdoors is a phenomenal way to connect children with nature, with proven benefits to academic achievement, student health, and social-emotional learning. Yet using and developing spaces for outdoor learning at schools can often be a perceived barrier to access. Learn about both small and large-scale strategies for transforming your schoolyard into a successful space for teaching outdoors. We will explore needs assessment, site inventory, and curricular connections to help you plan, implement, and rally the support of others to make outdoor learning at your school campus a reality. 

Presenter: Jonathan Ismail, Outreach Specialist, LEAF K-12 Forestry Education (UW - Stevens Point)

Jonathan joined LEAF – Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program in May of 2022. He works with Wisconsin schools seeking ways to use their school grounds and urban forests as outdoor teaching sites. Prior to LEAF, he worked in a variety of environmental education, K-12 schools, and horticulture positions providing him with diverse perspectives to support teachers with outdoor learning and forestry education. He has a B.A. in biology and history from Grinnell College (Iowa) and a Master’s degree in Science Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A Michigan native, he loves being surrounded by the water and woods of central Wisconsin.

Laura McNeill
Justin Novotny

Singing and Games!

Geared toward instruction for kid ages 7-16, we'll lead and discuss songs for singing and games for playing. We'll discuss modifications for younger ages as well. 

Be ready to sing, be ready to play, and be ready to leave with songs and games you can facilitate immediately!

If possible, install a voice recorder app on your phone, like 'Easy Voice Recorder'.

Presenters: Laura McNeill & Justin Novotny, Wild Harvest Nature Connection

Laura McNeill (she/her/hers) grew up in Virginia Beach, VA next to a patch of woods and a creek that barely froze in the winter, where praying mantises navigated leafy bushes and blue herons made their nests in tall pine trees. Running through the woods, her feet knew the story of the earth. It was a knowing that came from having the space to explore and the time to play. Through her racial justice work, she has gained experience in supporting youth leadership development and cultural repair which she loves weaving into the fabric of Wild Harvest. For the past 5 years, she has worked with a variety of family groups, ancestral skills, Wild Explorers and Wild Tenders classes. She loves being the teacher as well the learner. Listening, with her heart and ears wide open, is where you’ll find her.

Justin Novotney (he/him) is a dad to 3 boys, spouse, and caretaker of chickens. He grew up in Illinois working summer jobs mowing lawns, hauling dirt, pulling tassels in corn fields, and working on survey crews. These experiences outside, in all kinds of weather, in the smells of morning dew, and stumbling upon wildlife are memories that are reawakened around Wisconsin's lakes, fields, forests, and the Ice Age Trail. Justin is committed to nonviolence as a way of life (albeit a work in progress), as well as a method for social change.

Keynote: Chris Kilgour, Color in the Outdoors (3:30 – 4:30)

Founder of Color in the Outdoors (CITO), Christopher has spent his entire life exploring and enjoying the outdoors in one capacity or another. His main motivation for starting CITO was to be able to connect people with the outside world and with other like-minded individuals and organizations. The guiding principles behind CITO hold a strong space in advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion and it is with these concepts in mind that all of the activities, partnerships, links, and resources are developed and presented.

Stewardship, sustainability, education, and mentorship are core components of the CITO ideology and, with the help of partners and collaborations, Christopher hopes to widen the support, advocacy, and engagement in diversifying  perspective of and participants in the outdoor world and our relationship to it.

Photo Credit: James Edward Mills of The Joy Trip Project