2011-2012 Annual Report - UWSP...Total Gifts (7/1/2011 – 6/30/2012) - The college received 619...

College of Natural Resources Annual Report

College of Natural Resources Imagine your future

2011-2012Annual Report

Cover: Student using a dip net for aquatic insect identificationPhoto courtesy of Doug Moore


Mission and Philosophy ................................................................................. 1

Academic Initiatives and Noteworthy Accomplishments .......................... 2-3

Grant Partnerships ........................................................................................ 4

Development Success ................................................................................ 5-6

International Programs and Initiatives ...................................................... 7-8

Selected Notable Activities and Accomplishments .................................9-10

New Faculty and Staff ................................................................................. 11

Facility Updates and Renovations ............................................................... 12

Discipline, Unit, and Program Accomplishments ....................................... 13

College-wide Initiatives ................................................................................ 14

Activities and Accomplishments in Student-Centered Excellence ........15-16

Field Station Updates .............................................................................17-19

Outreach and Extension Highlights ........................................................20-24

Table of Contents

1


The mission of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources (CNR) is to provide education, research, and outreach in integrated natural resources management and environmental education, and paper science and engineering.

The CNR: 1. Provides undergraduate and graduate instruction that combines theoretical concepts with practical experience, such as laboratory and field-oriented courses, summer field experiences, internships, and special projects.

2. Promotes scholarly activities that enhance the creation or application of knowledge or contributes to the resolution of environmental and natural resource management issues, especially through student research.

3. Shares faculty and student expertise with citizens, communities, agencies and industries through outreach, scholarship, and consulting.

The CNR embraces the philosophy of integrated natural resource management. All students, regardless of major, need to understand and appreciate relations between natural resources and human needs. They need to understand the scientific method and its application to environmental problem solving. Critical thinking and problem solving strategies based on integrated resource management and education will be promoted through the college’s teaching, scholarship, and outreach activities.

The CNR is composed of faculty, staff, and students, each with their own expertise, strengths, attitudes, and values. This diversity contributes to the education offered by the college because of our integrated philosophy. Responsibilities and appointments vary among college faculty and staff members. Most have teaching appointments, some have extension appointments, while others serve mainly in research or administrative capacities. Faculty and administrators will capitalize on the strengths and diversity of college personnel to promote integrated resource management through teaching, scholarship, and outreach.

Philosophy

Mission

Wildlife faculty member, Shelli Dubay, working with students

2


Graduation

299 undergraduates received bachelor degrees in FY12 (August and December 2011, May 2012) including numbers in the following majors:

◊ Forestry ...................................................................... 79◊ Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Mgt. ........ 85 ◊ Soil & Waste Resources ............................................ 27◊ Fisheries and Water Resources ................................ 43◊ Wildlife Ecology .......................................................... 74◊ Paper Science and Engineering ................................ 9

29 Graduate students received master’s degrees in FY12.

Job Placement

75 percent (169/225) of graduates, who responded to our survey, found employment in their field of study or elected to pursue further schooling; 9 percent found employment outside of their field of study.

100 percent placement for 2012 Paper Science and Engineering (PS&E) graduates, continuing a record since 1973. PS&E starting annual salaries averaged $62,000 to $68,000, matching the national average of $65,000 for chemical engineers.

Student Internships

The CNR placed 229 students in paid intern positions with 93 state, federal, municipal, and private agencies with an annual payroll of $728,640.

Academic Initiatives and Noteworthy Accomplishments

Paper Science and Engineering graduates continue to have 100% placement

3


Summer Field Experience215 natural resource majors were enrolled in the 2012 summer field experience program at the Treehaven field station.

60 students attended a third session of the summer field experience program held on campus and at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station.

41 natural resource majors completed the 2011 European Environmental Studies Seminar Program.

15 students majoring in waste management completed the NRES 385 in summer 2011. This course is required for all waste management majors in lieu of a six-week summer field experience.

New MinorsThe College is now offering a Biofuels Engineering minor, a Sustainable Energy minor and aa Sustainable Energy certificate.

Society of American Foresters AccreditationThe Society of American Foresters Committee on Accreditation granted a Professional Forestry Accreditation, through 2021, to the forestry discipline. The accreditation was finalized January 2012 and signifies that an urban forestry student receives training and graduates with competencies that are suitable to managing forests in both urban and rural settings. All five options within the forestry discipline received the 10-year professional forestry accreditation.

Wildland Fire Science Faculty PositionThe college received a new faculty position tasked with developing a cross-disciplinary B.S. program in Fire Science as an option in the Resource Management major.

Students surveying at the Treehaven field station

Academic Initiatives and Noteworthy Accomplishments

A student participating in a prescribed burn

4


Faculty, Staff, and students earned 22 intramural grants in FY12, totaling $37,300.

Faculty and staff members earned 79 extramural grants totaling $3,867,136 (includes $12,500 in WIST awarded grants shared with the College of Letters and Science) in FY12 (these totals exclude FY12 pending grants).

Partners include 36 different agencies:

Grant Partnerships

◊ City of Marshfield

◊ City of Wausau-Wausau Water Works

◊ City of Wausau-Wausau Water Works

◊ Clintonville Wastewater Treatment Facility

◊ Conserve School

◊ Cool Choices

◊ County of Dane

◊ Fond du Lac County

◊ Great Lakes Fishery Commission

◊ Lake Wausau Association, Inc.

◊ Lumberjack Resource Conservation and

Development Council

◊ Marathon County

◊ Marathon County Land Conservation

◊ Marathon County Solid Waste Department

◊ Marquette University

◊ McIntire Stennis

◊ Minnesota Department of Agriculture

◊ National Council for Air and Stream Improvement

◊ Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc.

◊ State of South Dakota

◊ U.S. Dept. of Education - FIPSE

◊ USDA Forest Service

◊ USDA NRCS-NSSC

◊ UW-Sea Grant Institute

◊ Waupaca County Solid Waste and Recycling

◊ Waushara County

◊ We Energies

◊ Whiting Utilities

◊ Wis. Association for Environ Education

◊ Wis. Department of Transportation

◊ Wis. Dept. of Natural Resources

◊ Wis. Environmental Education Board

◊ Wis. Environmental Education Foundation

◊ Wisconsin Arborist Association

◊ Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation

◊ Wisconsin SFI Implementation Committee

5


Total Gifts

(7/1/2011 – 6/30/2012) - The college received 619 gifts from 531 donors for a total of $563,575.14 in Cash or Stock. This was the largest annual total since 2002, excluding a $1.2 million bequest in 2009.

Increased CNR endowment principle by $374,516.10 in FY12. (May 2011 = $4,562,479.00 vs. May 2012 {latest available report} = $4,936,995.10; does not include market adjustment)

New Scholarships

◊ BOW Inc. Outdoor Skills Scholarship◊ Christine and Stanton Thomas Natural Resources Leader Award◊ Daniel O. Trainer Memorial International Scholarship◊ Donald Ansay Memorial Forestry Scholarship◊ Herb and Lenore Behnke Scholarship◊ Michael Dew Scholarship◊ Pauline Chandler and Greg Chanis Environmental Education Scholarship◊ Roger Hansen Conservation Scholarship ◊ Wisconsin Conservation Warden Association - Tyler Kreinz Memorial

Highlights of New Support

◊ Veolia Environmental Services (Wisconsin Rapids/Chicago) – $10,000 ($5,000 to provide Veolia Environmental Services scholarships for five CNR students in spring 2012; and $5,000 to support the CNR Special Projects Fund).

◊ James & Joann Bernd (Waupaca, Wis.) $5,000 to support five spring 2012 awards for the James

and Joann Bernd Family Scholarships.

◊ Pauline Chandler (Keene, N.H.) $2,500 to establish the Pauline Chandler & Greg Chanis Environmental Education Endowment (first scholarship award in 2012).

◊ Dorothy Kopmeier Vallier Foundation (Milwaukee, Wis.) $75,000

to provide support for the Vallier Treehaven Resident Ecologist position at Treehaven, currently held by Kevin Burns.

◊ Helen R. Godfrey Estate - $94,294.65 to support Treehaven,

Joanis Lake/Schmeeckle Reserve, and a new freshman scholarship endowment in Helen Godfrey’s name.

Development Success

Helen GodfreyLongtime UWSP and CNR benefactor

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Highlights of New Support (continued)

◊ Gerald & Helen Stephens (Savannah, Ga.) two gifts totaling $137,449.75 to create the Doug Stephens Wildlife Research Fellowship endowment in

support of the Boone & Crockett Chair of Wildlife Project.

◊ Herb & Lenore Behnke Scholarship raised $19,355 through 40 gifts from 37 donors for this new scholarship

endowment. The inaugural scholarship was awarded on Nov. 3, 2011.

◊ Kopmeier Family Fund/Greater Milwaukee Foundation (Milwaukee, Wis.) $20,000 to support the Treehaven Inner City Environmental Program which provides outdoor experiences at the Treehaven field station for Milwaukee’s inner city youth. Fund representative William Kummer is a longtime benefactor of UWSP and the CNR.

◊ Gutgsell Family Foundation (River Forest, Ill.) $8,000 to initiate the Gutgsell Environmental Research Fund to support student research under the direction of Kyle Herrman (water resources).

◊ Bill Sylvester memorials (Bill was an emeritus forestry faculty member who died August 2011). - $10,645 in memorial gifts for the William & Ruth Sylvester Endowment for Treehaven from

37 donors.

◊ Established Christine and Stanton Thomas Natural Resources Leader Endowment (scholarship) - $9,550 in gifts to initiate the endowment, including a $5,000 gift from a close friend of the Thomas family.

◊ Established the Daniel O. Trainer International Studies Scholarship Endowment - $10,000 in gifts in 2011. The inaugural scholarship was awarded spring 2012.

◊ Completed TNR West Lobby Mural project – $11,000 in gifts from Bob Spoerl (B.S.-Urban Forestry, ’82) and Kim Spoerl to commission the new mural, which was designed and constructed by UWSP art student, Jennifer Lila.

◊ Established the Ray & Almut White Endowment - $55,023.58 in new support, including a $20,000 initial gift from the Whites, plus a $35,023.58 transfer of assets from an existing fund at UW Foundation in Madison.

◊ Jim and Jean Miazga (Rhinelander, Wis.) - $10,000 to support Treehaven Assistant Director John Heusinkveld’s work in planning natural resource education programs at the Treehaven field station.

Development Success

Doug Stephens Wildlife Research Fellowship inaugural recipients from left: Tessa Hasbrouck (sophomore; Petersburg, Alaska; bobcat research) and Danielle Berger (senior; Marshfield, Wis.; bobwhite research)

7


Study Abroad Programs

73 students participated in study abroad programs during the 2011 fiscal year.

Kevin Russell and Jess Sherman led the 2011 European Environmental Studies Seminar program with 42 students.

Holly Petrillo and John Sheffy led the second summer 2011 trip to Kenya, titled “Sustainable Natural Resources and Community Development: Nyumbani Village, Kenya”, with 14 UWSP students and several Kenyan students also in attendance. Students who completed the entire course received a permaculture certificate.

Mike Demchik and Tim Ginnett led the Costa Rica: Tropical Ecology Winterim trip with 17 students.

Trans-Atlantic Paper Science and Engineering Dual Degree

The Trans-Atlantic Paper Science Undergraduate Dual Degree Program completed its fourth year of student exchanges. Two paper science and engineering students, Melissa Wanasek and Jamie Tauscher,

departed this past year to study one semester in Germany and one semester in Finland. Rachel Strelow spent one semester abroad in Germany only. All three students participated in a four-week intensive German language training course prior to their spring semester in Germany.

Paper Science and Engineering Associate Professor Don Guay taught a Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering course while in Munich, Germany, in June 2012.

International students

There were 13 international students with CNR majors including nine students from China and one student from each of the following countries: South Korea, India, Ukraine, and Thailand, who enrolled during the 2011-12 academic year.

International Programs and Initiatives

Don Guay

8


Peace Corps Masters International Program (MIP)

Current MIP student, Scott Benton, (Adviser: Ron Crunkilton), is assigned to Cape Verde, Africa, and is working on a biodiversity assessment in native versus planted forest areas. Scott maintains a blog chronicling his experience at www.onabluerocean.blogspot.com.

Returning Peace Corps Volunteer and current MIP student, Heidi Hull (Adviser: Aga Razvi), was stationed in Uganda as a Sanitation and Water Extension volunteer. Heidi returned the spring of 2012 to finish the completion of her Master’s thesis titled Waste Management Methods: Two Unique Case Studies of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Dreyfus University Center and Mukono District, Uganda, East Africa. Heidi’s anticipated date of graduation is August 2012. She maintained a blog chronicling her experience at travelinheidi-yugandanexperience.blogspot.com.

Returning Peace Corps volunteer and former MIP student, Daphne Mayes (Adviser: Holly Petrillo) graduated December 2011. Daphne was stationed in Zambia as a volunteer with Linking Income, Food, and the Environment through forestry and agriculture. Her thesis is titled Insect Pollinators within Cotton Fields of Small-scale Farms in Mwachisompola, Zambia, and Development of an Educational Manual. Mayes maintained a blog chronicling her experience at www.uwsp.edu/cnr/international/students.aspx.

International Programs and Initiatives

9


Gerry Ring received the 2011 Best Research Paper Award from the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry

Faculty and Staff Achievements

Karyn Biasca, professor of paper science and engineering, presented assessment of PS&E co-op internship project at ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education) Annual Meeting in Vancouver, BC in June 2011 and ABET Assessment Symposium in St. Louis in April 2012.

Christine Thomas, dean, was honored by the National Society for the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) with the 2011 Conservation Medal and Award. The award is given annually to a man or woman with a distinguished conservation record. Thomas was presented with the award at the 120th Continental Congress Gala Awards Ceremony on July 2, 2011, in Washington, D.C. at Constitution Hall.

Robert Miller, emeritus professor, received an Honorary Life Membership from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). The Honorary Lifetime Membership is awarded to ISA members who have contributed substantially to the progress of arboriculture. Miller was honored by ISA president, Tim Gamma, on Sunday, July 24, 2011, in Sydney, Australia, as part of the ISA Annual Conference and Trade Show.

Anna Haines, professor and director of the Center for Land Use Education, wrote a fact sheet about Planning and Zoning for Frac Sand Mining available at www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/clue.

Amit Arora, assistant professor of paper science and engineering, coauthored a chapter in the book Nanotechnology Research Methods for Foods and Bioproducts 2012.

The Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) Journal editorial board honored Gerry Ring, professor and chair of the Paper Science and Engineering Department, with the 2011 Best Research Paper Award. The paper, The hyperbolic theory of light scattering, tensile strength, and density in paper, appeared in the November 2011 issue and was one of six nominated for the award. Ring was honored at the Awards Gala Dinner on April 25, 2012, during PaperCon 2012 in New Orleans, La.

Selected Notable Activities and Accomplishments

10


Faculty and Staff Achievements

Earl Spangenberg, emeritus professor of forestry and water science, received the Icko Iben Award from the American Water Resources Association (AWRA). Spangenberg was presented with the award at the AWRA annual awards luncheon on Nov. 9, 2011.

Seven faculty, staff and alumni contributed to the Biology, Management and Culture of Walleye and Sauger reference book, published June 2011 through the American Fisheries Society. It will serve as the single source of information for fishery scientists, biologists, managers, culturists, students and the interested public on the biology, ecology, management and culture of walleye and sauger in North America. Michael Hansen (BS‘79), Dan Isermann, Brian Sloss, Nancy Nate (BS‘93, MS’99), and three alumni, Bradford Parson (BS‘84), Joshua Raabe (MS‘06), and Patrick Schmalz (BS‘97, MS‘99) also contributed.

Anna Haines and Dan McFarlane published an article in the Journal of Planning, Education and Research called Factors Influencing Parcelization in Amenity-Rich Rural Areas, March 2012; vol. 32, 1: pp. 81-90.

Staff of the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education were instrumental in the hosting of the Solar Olympics competition on the campus of UW-Stevens Point in May 2012. Solar Olympics is an annual, one-day renewable energy event for participating SolarWise schools within the Wisconsin Public Service service area. More than 300 high school students participated.

Jodi Hermsen, university services associate, coordinated the Paper Science and Engineering Career Fair and Interview Day in October 2011 with 29 companies from the Paper and Allied Industries participating.

Selected Notable Activities and Accomplishments

Paper Science and Engineering Career Fair and Interview Day

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◊ Rebecca Franzen, Instructor, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Management

◊ Kendra Liddicoat, Instructor, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Management

◊ Joseph Riske, Facilities Maintenance Specialist, Central Wisconsin Environmental Station

◊ Jake Smith, Budget and Finance Specialist, Administration

◊ Ron Masters, Professor, Wildland Fire Science

◊ Joseph Conrad, Assistant Professor, Forestry Discipline

◊ Shonna Duncan, Research Associate, Wisconsin Institute of Sustainable Technology

◊ Eric Frank, Environmental Analytical Chemist, Water and Environmental Analysis Lab

◊ Justin Hall, Instrumentation Specialist, Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology

◊ Christine Kuntz, Outreach Specialist, Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education Program (LEAF)

◊ Jacob Prater, Assistant Professor, Soil and Waste Management Discipline

◊ Keith Turnquist, Research Specialist, Wisconsin Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit

◊ Justin VanDeHey, Propagation Science Tech. Specialist, Wisconsin Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit

New Faculty and Staff

Keith TurnquistShona Duncan

Joseph Conrad Justin Hall Justin VanDeHey

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◊ Completed installation and dedication of the 20’ x 5’ West Lobby Mural in the Trainer Natural Resources Building, designed by student contest winner, Jennifer Lila

◊ Finished modernization of Aquatic Toxicology teaching and wet laboratories

◊ Renovated former Waste Education laboratory spaces in the Science Building and dedicated those lab areas for utilization by the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology

◊ Completed total renovation of the Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit office suite

◊ Updated furniture in two faculty offices

◊ Updated the conference room furniture in the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education recycling the old furniture for use at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station

◊ Completed remodel of the second side of the Sunrise Classroom a the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, which includes new

video projectors and speakers in each room ◊ Completed construction on an educational dock on Dragonfly Pond at the Treehaven Field Station

◊ Schmeeckle Reserve staff constructed a wildlife viewing deck in the Moses Creek wetland in memory of Susan Lineberger. The deck features a viewing scope and a

carved swinging bench with a green roof.

Facility Updates and Renovations

West Lobby Mural

Educational Dock on Dragonfly Pond at the Treehaven Field Station

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Seven tied to college on Governor’s CouncilRandy Champeau, associate dean for academic affairs, was reappointed by Governor Scott Walker to the Wisconsin Council on Forestry. Champeau is serving as the Conservation Education Representative. In addition to Champeau, the Governor’s Council includes five UW-Stevens Point CNR alumni: Paul DeLong’85; James Hoppe’86; James Kerkman’82; Jane Severt’99; and Kimberly Quast’01.

Wisconsin River Water QualityImprovement SymposiumThe Center for Watershed Science and Education (CWSE) hosted its second Wisconsin River Water Quality Improvement Symposium on March 29, 2012. The focus of this year’s symposium was the role that the Wisconsin River plays in communities along its course. The symposium is part of the Wisconsin River Water Quality Improvement Project, a collaborative effort between CWSE and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to address blue-green algae that commonly occur in many of its flowages including Lake Wausau, the Petenwell and Castle Rock flowages, and Lake Wisconsin.

New Courses offered from WIST The Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST) issued its first prospectus of educational offerings, providing a schedule of nine short courses ranging from half-day to three-day sessions. The courses

focus on papermaking, sustainable energy, bioplastics, life cycle assessment, green chemistry, and business modeling.

Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education Celebrates 20 YearsThe Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education celebrated 20 years of partnerships in 2011 that have led to Wisconsin being at the forefront of environmental education in the nation.

Renewed PartnershipThe CNR, Treehaven Field Station, and the Conserve School renewed their partnership for another two-year cohort for the Graduate Fellowship in Residential Environmental Education. More then 50 students applied for admission in Summer 2011. The 16 students who were awarded the fellowship began the program in July 2011 and completed their first year of courses and experiences in June 2012.

Discipline, Unit, and Program Accomplishments

Participants of the second annual Wisconsin River Water Quality Improvement Symposium

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Retirement and Awards Recognition Dinner

The seventh annual retirement and awards dinner was held May 2, 2011, at Sentry World High Court. One hundred and fourteen people attended including faculty, staff, retirees, and friends. The college presented 16 (seven retirees and nine award recipients) service and achievement awards. Three University Award recipients were also recognized.

Student Recruitment, Diversity Initiatives, and Related Achievements

◊ Fall 2011 recruitment success: 300 new freshmen; 202 new transfer students ◊ Student recruitment for Paper Science and Engineering includes 26 new freshmen for fall 2011 (up from 14 in 2010). ◊ Treehaven hosted the Treehaven Inner City Environmental Program for a Milwaukee inner city middle school and high school Feb. 27- March 2, 2012. Forty-eight School children and their classroom teachers participated programs that gave the students an opportunity to learn about the environment and receive first- hand experience in outdoor skills and activities. The program, in its 16th year, was made possible by a grant from the Kopmeier Family Fund of Milwaukee and longtime Treehaven benefactor, Dorothy K. Vallier and her son, William Kummer.

College-wide Initiatives

Golden Sands RC&D Representative Amy Thorstenson (MS Aug’11) with the agency’s Outstanding Contributor Award

Participants in the Treehaven Inner City Environmental Program inspect a winter survival shelter at the Treehaven Field Station.

15


Student Research Symposium

This year’s symposium featured 67 student presenters participating in 18 oral presentations and 34 poster presentations. The 2012 event was made possible through support from the John and Anne Meyer Fund.

Rendezvous Awards Program

This annual spring event was held on March 30, 2012, at Sentry Theater in Stevens Point, attended by more than 300 people. Distributed at the event were 210 student scholarships totaling $180,200 contributed by about 104 sponsors (these numbers exclude paper science donors). Scholarship sponsors included individual donors, conservation clubs, businesses, and conservation organizations. Twelve outstanding student awards were presented and Les Werner was selected by students for the CNR Outstanding Teaching Award.

◊ CNR scholarships - 210 totaling $180,200 ◊ Paper Science and Engineering scholarships - 85 totaling

$66,590 ◊ Trans-Atlantic Paper Science Undergraduate Dual Degree

Scholarship(s), $12,000

Annual Career Fair

The 15th Annual Career Fair held in February 2012 attracted more than 300 students and 43 employers with booths that provided information on summer jobs, internships, and permanent positions.

Activities/Accomplishments in Student-Centered Excellence

Dr. Kyle Herrman and Dr. Stanley Szczytko reviewing posters at the an-nual research symposium

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Student-Based Honors and Activities

Helen Leavenworth, a soil science major with a minor in international resources management, was named the inaugural recipient of the 2011 Soil and Water Conservation Scholarship sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America, Division S-06 and the Agronomy Science Foundation. She was presented with the award at the Soil Science Society of America Plenary, Awards and Reception event held Oct. 18, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas, as part of the Agronomy, Crop and Soil Science Societies of America International Annual Meetings.

Keith Bollinger, a wildlife ecology major, was named the 2011 American Star in Agriscience at the national Future Farmers of America Convention in Indianapolis. Bollinger was the only Wisconsin Star to advance to the National competition,

receiving $2,000 for his state finalist nomination and an additional $2,000 and an opportunity to participate in an international trip to Costa Rica for winning the National Star award.

Aaron Marti, a senior with a double major in German and water resources, attended the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACCOM) third Transatlantic Program- Young Technology Leaders (TAP-YTL) held in Germany from October 30 – November 7. The focus of the 2011 program was water management. Marti’s twelve-person delegation represented eleven different U.S. states and various levels of professionals and areas of study within the water management field.

The UW-Stevens Point Timbersports Team took the championship for the second year in a row at the Midwestern Foresters’ Conclave held at the Treehaven Field Station April 13-14, 2012. The team of 27 students scored first place with 101.5 points. Second place was earned by Southern Illinois

University Carbondale with 61.5 points and the University of Missouri won third place with 24.5. The conclave included students from nine universities in the Midwest. Footage from select timbersports events aired on the Outdoor Channel and ESPNU.

Helen Leavenworth

Keith Bollinger

Aaron Marti

Activities/Accomplishments in Student-Centered Excellence

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Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES)Director: Scott Johnson

To accommodate enrollment increases a third session of the CNR’s summer field experience was held at CWES. Sixty students spent four weeks at the facility and two weeks on campus. The summer field experience slated for 2012 will be a full six weeks at CWES.

The second side of the Sunrise Classroom was remolded including new video projectors and speakers in each room.

The Student Government Association funded $4,360 for a new chicken house allowing for on-site egg production. The chickens, arriving in early June, included the following varieties: Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australops, and Araucana.

A pilot minisustainability session was held at the 2012 kids summer camp sessions. Each camper went through a rotation of 25 minutes in the organic garden, 25 minutes working with composting, and 25 minutes working with the chickens.

Field Station Updates

A student working with the new chickens at CWES

Summer camp students working in the organic gardens at CWES

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Schmeeckle ReserveDirector: Ron ZimmermanAssistant Director: Jim Buchholz

On May 11, 2011, the Moses Creek Wetland Restoration Area was officially opened at a dedication ceremony.

A trail easement was signed with an adjacent land owner permitting a boardwalk to be built connecting the popular Lake Joanis trail with the new Moses Creek wetland boardwalk. Students and staff completed the boardwalk in spring 2011.

Schmeeckle Reserve’s Candlelight Hike Festivals continue to attract growing numbers of community members and students. More than 850 people joined the fall celebration on Oct. 28, 2011, which featured “Storms.” About 500 people attended the spring celebration on April 27, 2011, that featured the “Sounds of Spring.” The festivals include trails lit by torches, discovery stations, crafts, and a character interpretation program presented by students in the Environmental Education/Interpretation Practicum.

The Victor and Lorraine Hytry family donated an important parcel of land to Schmeeckle along North Point Drive in spring 2011. Located near the Green Circle Trail and Moses Creek wetland, it serves as a prominent corridor for visitors and wildlife.

The Victor and Lorraine Hytry family at the land dedication ceremony

Moses Creek Wetland Restoration dedication ceremony


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Treehaven Director: Corky McReynoldsAssistant Director: John Heusinkveld

The first-ever sponsored and sanctioned Snowshoe Race, the Treehaven Tromp, was held on Feb.11, 2012. The 5 and 10k race was United States Snowshoe Association sanctioned, and winners qualified for the national championships in Colorado. Crescent Moon and Northern Lights snowshoes also sponsored the event and provided equipment and donations. Almost 60 racers entered this first year, and a great time was had by all. We expect to see continued growth and support in the future for this annual event.

A prescribed burn was conducted on Oct. 8, 2011. The primary purpose of the burn was to create the soil conditions required to promote natural regeneration of white birch and red pine. The secondary purpose was to provide training and experience for members of the UW-Stevens Point Fire Crew. The Fire Crew initiated, monitored, and extinguished a burn on two forest regeneration sites. WDNR Fire Warden Andy Shaney was on site throughout the operation, along with backup from a WDNR fire dozer and experienced operator.

Treehaven Tromp Participants


A prescribed burn was conducted on Oct. 8, 2011

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Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW)Director: Peggy Farrell

Peggy Farrell coordinated and planned three International BOW-sponsored trips: June 2011 Montana Horsepacking, (11 participants); January 2012 Belize (18 participants); March 2012 Baja Mexico (5 participants).

The annual Buena Vista Prairie Chicken Viewing Project was held in April 2012. Peggy Farrell oversaw the reservation and guiding process for viewing prairie chickens on their booming grounds. Three hundred and thirty viewers reserved blind space for the 2012 viewing season.

Ten outdoor skills workshops for more than 200 participants were conducted with activities ranging from dog sledding to sea kayaking and pheasant hunting to fly fishing.

Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE)Interim Director: Jeremy Solin

The WCEE celebrated 20 years of partnerships that have led to Wisconsin being at the forefront of environmental education in the nation. A celebration banquet was held in November.

Courses through the Wisconsin K-12 Forestry education program (LEAF) and through the K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) benefited 924 educators.

In partnership with the Department of Public Instruction and with local, statewide, regional, and national organizations, the WCEE involved more than 500 community members, educators, and students in regional input sessions regarding Education for Sustainability (EfS) in Wisconsin. The information will be utilized to develop support materials and services, build capacity, and launch a statewide initiative to implement EfS in Wisconsin schools.

The WCEE partnered with the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Public Instruction to administer the Green and Healthy Schools Program.

Outreach and Extension Highlights

The WCEE staff at their 20 years of partnership celebration banquet

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Center for Land Use Education (CLUE)Director: Anna Haines

Aaron Thompson wrote a fact sheet about farmland loss in Wisconsin. He details the use of spatial analysis to reveal patterns of farmland loss to urban development in Wisconsin from 1992 to 2010. It is available on the website www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/clue.

Becky Roberts completed a new Plan Commission Handbook which is available on the CLUE website (www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/clue/Pages/publications-resources/PlanCommissions.aspx).

Aaron Thompson worked with students and the Town of Greenville on a service-learning project focused on sustainable subdivision planning.

Anna Haines was one of the primary authors of the 2011-2016 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Eric Olson also contributed. (http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/planning/scorp/)

Center for Watershed Science and Education (CWSE)Director: George Kraft

The center worked with the city of Superior and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to better understand how urban wetlands might mitigate flooding.

Groundwater sustainability studies and education continue as high capacity well pumping lowers water levels in lakes and streams, to the point of drying in some places.

School and nature center educators were trained to incorporate groundwater educationinto their curriculums.

New county wide lake study programs have been initiated in Marathon and Waushara counties.

The Water and Environmental Analysis Lab continued the safe drinking water testing and education serving thousands of Wisconsin residents.


Aaron Thompson and students worked on this sustainable subdivision plan for the town of Greenville

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UW-Extension Lakes Director: Eric Olson

UW-Extension Lakes and the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership held an Advanced Lake Leaders education seminar in September 2011. Sixteen graduates from the Lake Leaders Institute gathered at the Kemp Station outside Minocqua to learn about lake assessment and planning.

Eric Olson, UW-Extension Lakes director, travelled to Austin, Tex. in November 2011 to present a summary of the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership at the 14th World Lake Conference.

The 34th annual Lakes Partnership Convention took place at the KI Center in Green Bay in April 2012. More than 450 citizens, scientists and educators gathered to share the latest in lake management techniques. During the Lake Stewardship Awards Ceremony, the Rusk County Wildlife Restoration Association was recognized for their work on fish habitat and recreation accessibility in Rusk County.

UW-Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center (SHWEC)Waste Management Specialist: Jonathan Rivin

A consortium consisting of SHWEC, UW-Extension, UW-Madison, and Michigan State University was awarded a grant from the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development to develop educational materials on small scale anaerobic digesters and conduct outreach programs in Wisconsin and Michigan in 2012-13.

The 2011 small scale digester conference on anaerobic digestion was co-hosted by SHWEC, UW-Extension, UW-Madison, and Michigan State and held on the UW-Stevens Point campus. More than 40 educators, farmers, and businesses attended.


The 34th annual Lakes Partnership Convention

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Wisconsin Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit (WICFRU) Unit Leader: Brian Sloss

Brian Sloss was promoted from the Assistant Unit Leader to Unit Leader.

Two new academic staff and three graduate research assistants were hired.

Undergraduate student, Lucas Nathan (advised by Brian Sloss), won best paper at the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Meeting.

Staff and students gave thirteen presentations at various scientific meetings and conferences (National American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, and Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Des Moines, Iowa, among others) and published four peer-reviewed journal articles and submitted one final report to the WDNR.

Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology (WIST)Director: Paul Fowler

Labs were certified by the Fibre Box Association to perform the recyclability/repulpability protocol for corrugated fibre board, in concert with Integrated Paper Services. They are only the fourth lab nationally to be certified to perform this protocol, which is used to certify the repulpability and recyclability of wax alternatives for corrugated products that have been treated to improve performance in the presence of water and water vapor.

WIST and UW-Stevens Point hosted a one-day conference Oct. 4, 2011, highlighting successful collaborations in sustainability research.

In the 2011–2012 academic year, 14 students were employed on research projects or by laboratory services, gaining valuable experience that will aid them in securing graduate school admission or employment when they graduate.


This sturgeon was caught below the White Rapids dam on the Menominee RIver

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Forestry Outreach Forestry Outreach Specialist - John DuPlissis

Assisted the Council on Forestry to host a Legislative Tour on Monday, November 7th, 2011. Twenty-four Representatives and Senators expressed interest in participating. The Tour consisted of brief presentations by representatives of the forest products industry with a short discussion and a tour of the Kretz Lumber facility to discuss jobs and impacts on the local economy. Following a working lunch the group traveled to an active logging site on the Langlade County Forest where Steve Jackson, Langlade County Forest Administrator, discussed sustainable forest management and how harvests help landowners meet their goals and Tim Jacobs, Owner / operator Jacobs Logging, discussed the role of the Timber Professional in sustainable forest management.

Driftless Forestry Network is a partnership of public and non-profit organizations working together to help woodland owners in southwest Wisconsin and includes heavy involvement of Woodland Leadership Institute and Master Woodland Steward graduates. One of the key components of the partnership is called My Wisconsin Woods. The goal of this project is to help woodland owners in southwest Wisconsin connect to education, services, and resources that can help them to manage their woodland property. An important part of the My Wisconsin Woods project is the Woodland Advocate Program. The Woodland Advocate Program is designed to connect woodland owners to the financial and technical resources they need. As part of tis project the unit trained eight Woodland Advocates.

Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) Program Specialist: Ginny Carlton

WEEB awarded a total of 50 grant proposals totaling approximately $400,000 for projectsrelated to forestry, school forests and general environmental education.

In cooperation with the Department of Public Instruction and the No Child Left Inside Coalition, the board released Wisconsin’s Plan to Advance Education for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability in PK-12 Schools.


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2011-2012 Annual Report - UWSP...Total Gifts (7/1/2011 – 6/30/2012) - The college received 619...

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Transcript of 2011-2012 Annual Report - UWSP...Total Gifts (7/1/2011 – 6/30/2012) - The college received 619...