Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program

Lori Remeika – I live in Lac du Flambeau. I have a friend who was in the class several years ago and it sounded like something that I would love to do! I love being outdoors during all the seasons- I hike, snow shoe, cross country ski, bike, kayak and walk the dogs. My most recent passion is backpacking and I recently took up birdwatching as a new hobby. I value the beauty and lack of crowds in the North Woods. It is so rewarding to be able to drive 20 minutes from home and be in one of the most beautiful forests in the state, yet never even see another soul when hiking there! There is an abundance of lakes to explore too and I am so lucky to be able to live on one of them. There are so many issues that we are facing today as a society, as it pertains to the environment. It can be frustrating at times, as it seems that one person can’t do a lot to impact the most important issues. But I believe those of us who are able to, should do our part to conserve our natural resources. We should try to role model environmental respect and caring for forests, plants and animals and the world in which we live. I also think we should be more politically active in contacting our representatives to push for more environmentally friendly policies. I am eager to participate in more citizen science projects and become more involved in statewide learning and teaching opportunities.

Mike Theisen - My father and mother bought our property on Squirrel Lake in the 1970’s. My father made maple syrup as a kid in Marinette Wi and was eager to have a sugar bush of his own. Dad and mom are gone but we are continuing the tradition. I’ve been making syrup on this patch of paradise for so long I feel like I know each tree personally. We hope to eventually pass our property on to the next generation, leaving it more pristine than when we acquired it. Thanks to the Naturalist Course, this helps to achieve our goal. Thank you to all who ran the course! Your enthusiasm and generosity is truly appreciated.

Wendy Rebne - I live in Park Falls. I was attracted to the Master Naturalist Program because of my love of nature and all of outdoors. My hobbies are cross country skiing, biking, running hiking, working on my land in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and spending time with my grandchildren. The things that I value most about the Northwoods of Wisconsin are the natural beauty, undisturbed lands and the quiet. It is important to me to be a good steward to pass resources on to the next generation and to instill a love of our natural world. I am looking forward to using new knowledge regarding the workings and interrelations of man and nature to encourage others to value and recognize the beauty of our natural world especially via working with kids.

Betsy Wulff - I was born and raised in Minnesota but have spent all my adult life in Wisconsin. Two years ago, my husband and I moved to the Mercer area to enjoy our retirement. The Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program appealed to me because I have always had a great love for the outdoors. As a child, I was fortunate to have had a wonderful introduction to the lakes and woods of northern Minnesota from my family as well as through the fantastic science program at my public school. Now that I am retired, I want to be able to learn more about my local environment and “give back” to my community. It is important to me to be a good steward of our precious resources. I enjoy outdoor activities such as nature walks, kayaking, and snowshoeing. I love to read and cook and play with our three cats and three dogs.It is a privilege for me to be able to live in this beautiful place. I am grateful for the experience every day. The habitat of the Northwoods is a treasure. Much of this part of Wisconsin has returned to its natural state following the cutting of timber by the logging industry. About eighty percent of the land in Iron County is now forested. It is home to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage as well as over 200 inland lakes. The changing seasons provide renewed wonder throughout the year. It is our responsibility to preserve and protect our environment for future generations. This may include education programs in our schools and communities and participation in various conservation organizations and advocacy groups. Our responsibility also includes showing respect for the First Americans of the past and present and the close relationship they have always had with the environment. I would like to offer support for educational programming at the North Lakeland Discovery Center. In addition, I will be looking for opportunities to help manage the spread of invasive species in the Turtle Flambeau Flowage and other lakes and waterways.

Dawn Theisen - My husband Mike and I live in Madison and have a place on Squirrel Lake off Bodilac Rd. I like to cook and bake with foods I have foraged, such as black walnuts, mushrooms, and asparagus along with the maple syrup we make on our property at Squirrel Lake. The Naturalist Course was amazing! Thank you to everyone at the Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters!

Cheri Schultz - I'm originally from Muskego, WI, now live in Waterford, WI, my husband and I spend our summers in Minocqua on Great Bass Lake. I've always been fascinated by nature and taught science for 30 years. I wanted to keep learning and teaching after retiring. My environmental ethic is grounded in sustainability. I've always believed in leaving a place better than when I found it and to use resources like water, food and land wisely. I've strived to share my knowledge and experiences with my family and students and to encourage them to think about how they use resources also. We all need to be good stewards of the Earth. I look most forward to continuing to share my love of nature and sustainability practices with my community whether in southern or northern Wisconsin. I also look forward to continuing to network with a wonderful group of like-minded naturalists.

Carrie Ryan - I live in Janesville Wisconsin. I also have a place on Rest Lake, which is part of Manitowish Chain. What attracted me to the naturalist program was learning about natural Wisconsin. My special interests are travel, hiking, cooking, photography, watercolor painting, and yoga. The peacefulness and natural beauty is what I value most about the Northwoods. My environmental ethic is protect, nurture and conserve. Striving to find a balance in our world and create a natural harmony. Becoming a Wisconsin naturalist will enable me to understand the state I live in much better. I hope to use this course to maintain and share the beauty of Wisconsin.

Deb Silvis - I live in Winchester, in Vilas County, on the Turtle Chain. I became interested in the Master Naturalist Program to increase my knowledge about Wisconsin’s Northwoods and to learn how to help others to appreciate this beautiful area and its natural resources. I enjoy hiking, biking, snow shoeing, skiing, paddling, fishing and foraging. I especially value the abundance of lakes, the clean water, the forest, and the many natural areas of this area. Through participating in the Master Naturalist Program my understanding of the natural resources in Wisconsin will be enhanced. The Northwoods is currently under tremendous pressure. Advocates, educators and naturalists will play an increasingly important role to assist others in appreciating and preserving Wisconsin’s natural resources. After becoming a Master Naturalist, I hope to become involved in citizen science efforts and to volunteer to connect others with the natural areas around us.

Jean Spella – I live with my husband Dave and our dog Sketch near the ballpark in Milwaukee. I wanted to spend time away from the big city and more time in the Northwoods. Thanks to this wonderful course and having a nice place to stay with my sister Dawn and her husband Mike, I found what I was looking for. Other than getting outside camping and hiking, I also enjoy working on craft projects along with participating in the Artist Trading Card swap in the Milwaukee area. I love everything about the Northwoods. “Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.” -Robin Wall Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass) Taking the Master Naturalist class has inspired me to spend more time outside and I’d like to inspire others to join me.

Michele Jasik - I grew up in Northwest Indiana on a small "farmette" where we grew our own everything - from vegetables to beef. We drank goat milk and if we were lucky, we had a Thanksgiving turkey (because we did not use antibiotics, etc. and many would die). In my 20's I worked as a paralegal in downtown Chicago. I met my now husband and moved to West Lafayette, Indiana. We lived in the West Lafayette area for 14 years then moved to Madison, Wisconsin. That is when I discovered the north woods. We lived in Madison for 20 years and have now moved to a beautiful lake in Presque Isle, Wisconsin. I have a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from Purdue University, I have always loved nature and learning about nature. While living in Madison, I always wanted to take the Master Naturalist Training, but had never had the time until now. Hobbies are kayaking, biking, hiking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and reading. Special interests are native plant species. Everything!! I was shocked to find out Wisconsin had SO many beautiful lakes and so much amazing wildlife (bears, wolves, porcupines, etc.) Don't get me wrong, I still love the wildlife and native plants that thrive south of the tension line, I just wanted to experience living north of the tension line at some point in my life. The peacefulness and beauty are beyond anything I have ever dreamed. I feel so very blessed to be living in such a magical place. I believe everything is here for a reason and everything has a "right" to be on this beautiful planet we call Earth.I look forward to becoming a Master Naturalist so that I can teach folks how important our natural resources are. With today's life struggles, I don't think many people think about the environment (or at least they seem to take it for granted that it will always be here) or realize that they may not even exist if we didn't have trees, plants and animals. Perhaps if we can teach folks how important our environment is, they will think twice before they throw their Culver's bag of garbage out the window of their car. I also look forward to becoming a Master Naturalist so I can learn more about this beautiful area in which we live.

Noelle Muceno - I grew up in Shelbyville, Indiana and moved to Wisconsin to complete my undergraduate and law school degrees at Marquette University in Milwaukee. I resided in Lake Country, Waukesha County, Wisconsin (Delafield and Nashotah) for over 30 years. Currently, I am a full-time resident of South Carolina and spend most of the summer months in the Northwoods on Island Lake in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. Vacationing in the Northwoods for the past 40 years, I have grown to love the lakes, woods, plants, trees, animals and supper clubs in Vilas County. There is nothing more transcendentally serene and calming as the pristine beauty of the Northwoods. Also, I love being able to stay physically fit hiking with my husband and dogs while surrounded by the verdant woods and kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming in beautiful and clear lakes that are home to incredible animals like loons, eagles, otters and fish. I was attracted to the Master Naturalist Program because of the curriculum, field trips and speakers. Being able to gain more in-depth knowledge about ecology, geology, trees, plants and animals and aquatics of Wisconsin’s Northwoods at the Manitowish Waters Discovery Center with 11 like-minded students also appealed to me. Having completed most of the Master Naturalist program has helped me understand how critical it is to be proactive in preserving and protecting our environment. We can “enjoy nature responsibly,” but that requires knowledge of what we need to do to preserve the environment and help maintain its balance. I hope to build upon what I have learned from the program by taking more advanced classes and learning more about laws and regulations that effect the environment.