Sunday May 17

Presenters:  John Logering

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Presenter Biography:

• John is a Certified Wildlife Biologist, Professor of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Minnesota Crookston, and an Extension Wildlife Specialist.  He has worked with the University of Minnesota Extension on wildlife-related issues with the Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, and Woodland Adviser programs since 2001.  He regularly speaks to groups on human-wildlife interactions, wildlife damage management, and enhancing landscapes for wildlife.  John holds a BS in Biology and Zoology from North Dakota State University, a MS and PhD in Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech and Oregon State University, respectively. 

Presenters:  

Description:  

Level of activity:  

Audience Experience Level: 

Presenter biographies:

Presenters:  Dana Boyle

Description:  Learn to collect and press plants to save.  Participants will learn about using dried specimens for plant identification and for art.  Each person will make a plant press to take home with them.

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner

Presenter biographies:

•  Dana Boyle is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and co-leads the local Great River Chapter. She took up botanical watercolor painting after retirement and has since had her work in various exhibitions, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Florilegium. She maintains a Perpetual Journal – a practice innovated by Lara Call Gastinger – and will be sharing this in the session. Dana’s love for native plants, in particular, informs her art which can be seen at www.danaboyleart.com. 

Presenters:  Roger Sorensen

Description:  The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls (FSLF) have a long history of land stewardship, both at their main campus in Little Falls, MN, and at the Umbria Retreat near Rice MN. Last summer, the Sisters began surveying the pollinator populations at both locations in partnership with Great River Greening and a group of volunteers. 

You will learn about FSLF lands and restorations, pollinator diversity, play “a bee or not a bee?”, and Great River Greening / Xerces survey methodology. Also, learn the results from August and September 2025 surveys and plans (a recruiting nudge?) for 2026.

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Experienced

Presenter biographies:

• Roger Sorensen has been mucking about outdoors since age four in Michigan. Eventually, he grew up (sort of) and took a BA in Biology and MS in Ecology from Case Western Reserve Univ., then taught Biology, Naturalist Studies, and Environmental Studies until 1994 at Jordan College. Following a slow slide into Information Technology, he was seduced by the dark side (administration) and moved to Minnesota as an Academic Technologist for CSB / SJU. Upon retiring, he returned to his roots and joined MN Master Naturalists. He’s currently VP of Central Chapter and a Director for St. Cloud Wild Ones.

Presenters:  Phyleasha Grauman

Description:  Each spring, Minnesota’s forests offer a brief, but rewarding, harvest. Fiddlehead ferns! This presentation introduces participants to the art of safely foraging edible spring greens while learning to confidently distinguish true fiddleheads from look-alikes that could introduce toxicity. We’ll explore ethical harvesting, preparation methods like blanching and freezing, and the nutritional benefits of this asparagus-like delicacy. While foraging alone can be peaceful, sharing the adventure with families and children can bring a special kind of joy, curiosity, and connection to nature. Join us to learn, explore, and savor the sumptuous but brief offering of a MN spring!

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner

Presenter biographies:

• I am a mother of eleven beautiful children and have spent over twenty years homeschooling while weaving nature-based learning into daily life. Much of my time is spent outdoors foraging, exploring, gardening, and preserving food through canning, freezing, processing, and other traditional methods. For the past six years, I have operated an in-home forest school childcare program serving my community. I am a Certified Lactation Consultant, Community Health Worker, Notary Public, and Qualified Trainer in multiple fields and capacities.  Nature is more than a hobby for me—it is how I breathe, learn, teach, and connect families to resilience, health, and the living landscape around them.

Presenters:  Benjamin Gieseke

Description:  Are you interested in birding, but not sure where to start? Do you have an old pair of binoculars lying around that you aren't sure how to use? Come learn from DNR Wildlife Education Coordinator Benjamin Gieseke how to to get started birding, select your optics, and start ID'ing your neighborhood birds with confidence! Participants will learn how to select the right pair of binoculars for them, set up and use them properly, and introductory strategies and tools for identifying birds. This presentation will include some time outside putting our skills to work.

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Presenter biographies:

• Naturalist, youth worker, and Minnesota Master Naturalist instructor, Benjamin Gieseke is an experienced environmental educator who believes that building understanding of the natural world is the key to cultivating an ethic of stewardship and care for it. Benjamin currently works for the Minnesota DNR Nongame Wildlife Program, where he runs Bird by Bird, a birdwatching program serving St. Paul and Minneapolis area schools, as well as a teen-focused career pathways program (EPIC). Benjamin previously worked as a naturalist at Camp Fire MN, holds a BS in Environmental Science, and is in the MA program for Environmental Education at Hamline University.

Presenters:  Dana Boyle

Description:  Learn the art of block printing. Instructor and botanical artist, Dana Boyle, will share different techniques for making block prints of the wonderful natural world that is all around us.  No experience necessary, supplies will be provided.

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner

Presenter biographies:

•  Dana Boyle is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and co-leads the local Great River Chapter. She took up botanical watercolor painting after retirement and has since had her work in various exhibitions, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Florilegium. She maintains a Perpetual Journal – a practice innovated by Lara Call Gastinger – and will be sharing this in the session. Dana’s love for native plants, in particular, informs her art which can be seen at www.danaboyleart.com. 

Presenters:  Kassandra Ford

Description:  Are you interested in learning more about how to identify fishes in the field? We'll begin with a quick intro on how to tell different groups of fishes apart, get some practice on Bell Museum specimens, and then move on to an exciting activity where you work as a group to identify live fishes. ** This session will be perfect for folks of all experience levels - whether you have only seen a bluegill online or go fishing regularly, we'll have something new for you to add to your "toolkit" by the end of this session!

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Presenter biographies:

•  Kassandra Ford is the Bell Museum’s Curator of Fishes and Mollusks. In addition to her scientific research on fish evolution, she also manages contracts with Minnesota state agencies to identify and monitor fish species across the state. Her work involves managing a team of undergraduates, educating the public and scientists on fish identification methods, and working with agencies to measure biodiversity changes over time. Dr. Ford has also assisted with outreach events at the Bell Museum, including Expeditions, Collector’s Day, and other Master Naturalist events.

Presenters:  Jonny Tostenson

Description:  Often overlooked and under-appreciated, lichens are organisms that are all over the natural world, growing almost anywhere imaginable. They not only perform important ecological roles, but also contribute greatly to the aesthetics of many of our favorite areas. In this seminar we will dive into this hidden world of lichens: covering basic information on what they are, their diverse ecological roles, tools and techniques needed to identify them, and practices to help find interesting species. We will share some stories concerning rare and newly discovered species in the state of Minnesota.

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Experienced

Presenter biographies:

•  Jonny is a life long resident of MN who has always been fascinated with nature. He has a B.A.SC. in teaching life science from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Master’s certificate in environmental education from Antioch University. He has spent much of his career teaching outdoors along the North Shore. He has a particular interest in helping document the rare species of plants and lichens in Minnesota.

Presenters:  Janet Nelson

Description:  Ever wish you could go back and get a couple more photos of a subject? Sometimes one photo just doesn't capture the detail and field marks necessary for an expert ID. MNat instructor Janet Nelson is a certified Forensic Photographer, having spent her career capturing the minutiae at crime scenes that brought criminals to justice. Learn how you can employ these same techniques to record the incredible details that help us to distinguish one species from another. Although help with photography and camera skills will be offered, this class will concentrate more on developing an eye and a mindset for details and how to record them.

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Experienced

Presenter biographies:

•  Janet Nelson is an IAI certified Forensic Photographer who has been teaching the practical use of photography to law enforcement and nurses for the past 45 years. After serving for 35 years as a police officer and crime scene investigator, she became a Mn Master Naturalist volunteer in 2010 and later an Instructor. She retired in 2014 and now teaches nature photography to children and adults, and contributes technical photos of plants and insects to iNaturalist. 

Presenters:  Wabishkii Noozhek - Erin Delaney

Description: Interested in incorporating Indigenous Knowledge in your volunteer hours or organization but not sure where to start? Join us to learn skills around supporting Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in various volunteer opportunities and work. Through a mix of presentation and discussion, learn about best practices, creating community connections, and finding resources.

Level of activity:  A little bit active

Audience Experience Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Presenter biographies:

•  Wabishkii Noozhek - Erin Delaney and other Bell Museum On Native Land Staff