Although the conference is over, our archives are still open. Please refer to our program guide and take a look at our video archive to access videos of speakers and sessions you might have missed. Please also refer to the notes from our workshops and facilitated discussions for further information.

Note: All times are Central Standard Time!



PRECONFERENCE SCHEDULE

12:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Registration: Monona Terrace Entrance
All attendees must pick up their conference credentials at Registration.

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Welcome Reception: Roof Top Garden (rain option – Madison Ballroom and Grand Terrace)
featuring a performance by Call for Peace Drum & Dance Company

SIDE EVENTS for attendees to the conference in Madison

Starting at 9:00 am – FIELD TRIPS

All field trip shuttles will leave from the Monona Terrace 4th Floor Bus Drop-off entrance. Participation requires registering on-line prior to arriving in Madison. Check with Registration for additional spots that may have opened up.

9:00 am – 4:30 pm – Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

10:00 am – 4:30 pm – Horicon National Wildlife Refuge

10:00 am – 3:30 pm – Leopold Shack and Center

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Community Service Event: Olin Park
1156 Olin Turville Drive (take Capital City Trail south 1.3 miles). Partner: Operation Fresh Start. Volunteers can meet the bus at the Monona Terrace Entrance at 12:45 pm or walk over.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Geocaching Treasure Hunt: Start at Monona Terrace Entrance

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Welcome Reception: “A Welcome to Wisconsin”
Roof Top Garden (rain option – Madison Ballroom and Grand Terrace)
Featuring – Call for Peace Drum & Dance Company

TUESDAY SCHEDULE

7:00 am – 7:00 pm – Registration: Monona Terrace Entrance

8:00 am – 10:00 am – GENERAL SESSION: Exhibit Hall A

  • Opening Ceremony - Presentation of the Colors, Service Honor Guard, Cathy Stepp, Mayor Paul Soglin
  • Vision from the Chief – Gregory Siekaniec
  • Leopold and the Land Ethic - Aldo Leopold Foundation: Buddy Huffaker
  • Beyond Land: Oceans & Global Conservation – Dr. Sylvia Earle

10:00 am – 10:30 am – Break: Grand Terrace & Capitol Promenade

10:30 am – 12:00 pm – GENERAL SESSION: Exhibit Hall A

  • Conserving the Future – Protecting Wildlife and Habitat: Jeff Rupert, Dr. Deb Rocque, Scott Kahan, Mark Chase, Dr. Rick Coleman, Jim Stone, Charlie Pelizza, and Dr. Gabriela Chavarria
  • Celebrating the Legacy of the National Wildlife Refuge System: Dr. Douglas Brinkley

12:00 pm-1:00 pm – Lunch: Exhibit Hall B

1:00 pm-5:00 pm – BREAKOUT SESSIONS: LECTURE SERIES, WORKSHOPS, and FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS: Monona Terrace Lecture Hall, Madison Ballrooms, Meeting Rooms, Hall of Ideas

SIDE EVENTS for attendees to the conference in Madison

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Meet and Greet: Capitol Promenade. Book signing with Dr. Douglas Brinkley – CANCELED

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Friends and Partners Reception – “With a little help from our Friends”: Exhibit Hall B – Entertainment: Cajun Strangers

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Speed Mentoring – for Youth attendees (invitation only): Orpheum Theatre, 216 State Street in Madison, WI

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Documentary Screening, “America’s Wildest Refuge”: Orpheum Theatre, 216 State Street in Madison, WI. Doors open at 7:00 pm.

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Wild Legacy (a play about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge): Union Theatre in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union building. Doors open at 7:30 pm.

TUESDAY BREAKOUT SESSIONS SCHEDULE

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – LECTURE SERIES: Lecture Hall

  • Dr. Douglas Brinkley, Theodore Roosevelt Biographer

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS – Part 1: The vision document and recommendations

The topics, instructions, and rooms for FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS will be posted after the revised version of the draft vision is made readily available.

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – WORKSHOPS

  • National Wildlife Refuges in the Ocean: Madison Ballroom A – Bret Wolfe, Lauren Wenzel, Susan White, Anne Morkill, Steve Delehanty
  • Challenges of Fire in the Urban Interface: Madison Ballroom B - Chris Wilcox, Kipp Morrill, Glen Stratton, Lee Nelson
  • Citizen Science: Madison Ballroom C - Barbara Volkle, Sandra Henderson
  • Refuges Geospatial-Supporting the Mission: Madison Ballroom D – Ron Salz, Todd Sutherland, David Drescher

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – LECTURE SERIES: Lecture Hall

  • Dr. Curt Meine, Aldo Leopold Biographer

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS

The topics, instructions, and rooms for FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS will be posted after the revised version of the draft vision is made readily available.

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – WORKSHOPS

  • Friends-Advancing the Vision: Madison Ballroom A - Greg Siekaniec, Evan Hirsche, Joanna Webb, Joan Patterson
  • Land Protection in the 21st Century: Madison Ballroom B - Grant Harris, Heather Abbey
  • Hiring the Next Generation: Madison Ballroom C - Jay Slack, Jessie Cheek, Flip Hagood, Lamar Gore
  • Green Tools for Refuges: Madison Ballroom D - Coby Bartram, Greg Owens

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – LECTURE SERIES: Lecture Hall

  • Ian Shive, Conservation Photographer

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS – Part 1: The vision document and recommendations

The topics, instructions, and rooms for FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS will be posted after the revised version of the draft vision is made readily available.

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

8:00 am – 10:00 am – GENERAL SESSION: Exhibit Hall A

  • Conserving the Future: A Connected Conservation Constituency - John Kennedy, Evan Hirsche, students of the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, Wendi Weber, and Cynthia Martinez
  • A Changing America – Juan Martinez
  • Conserving the Future: Leading Conservation into the Future – Will Meeks, Shannon Smith, Rebekah Martin, and Jim Kurth

10:00 am – 10:30 am – Break: Grand Terrace & Capitol Promenade

10:30 am – 12:00 pm – BREAKOUT SESSIONS: LECTURE SERIES, WORKSHOPS, and FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS: Monona Terrace Lecture Hall, Madison Ballrooms, Meeting Rooms, Hall of Ideas

11:30 am – 1:00 pm – Lunch: Exhibit Hall B

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm – BREAKOUT SESSIONS: LECTURE SERIES, WORKSHOPS, and FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS: Monona Terrace Lecture Hall, Madison Ballrooms, Meeting Rooms, Hall of Ideas

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Youth Challenge Project – summit for Youth attendees: Hall of Ideas E

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm – GENERAL SESSION

  • Connecting with “Generation Next” - Michael Gale, Majora Carter

SIDE EVENTS for attendees to the conference in Madison

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Meet and Greet: Capitol Promenade. Gathering for America’s Wild Read.

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Science in the National Wildlife Refuge System Poster Session: Exhibit Hall B

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Youth Social (all youth and young professionals welcome!): Olin Park, 1156 Olin Turville Drive (take Capital City Trail south 1.3 miles). Attendees can meet the bus at the Monona Terrace Entrance at 6:30 P.M.

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Speed Networking: Orpheum Theatre, 216 State Street in Madison, Wisconsin. Sign up at Registration.

8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Documentary Screening, “Greenfire”: Orpheum Theatre, 216 State Street in Madison, Wisconsin. Doors open at 7:00 pm.

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Wild Legacy (a play about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge): Union Theatre in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union building. Doors open at 7:30 pm.

WEDNESDAY BREAKOUT SESSIONS SCHEDULE

10:30 am – 11:30 am – LECTURE SERIES: Lecture Hall

  • Emilyn Sheffield, Professor of Recreation, Management

10:30 am – 11:30 am – FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS – Part 2: Implementation strategies

The topics, instructions, and rooms for FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS will be posted after the revised version of the draft vision is made readily available.

10:30 am-12:00 pm – WORKSHOPS

  • Role of Interpretation Programs: Madison Ballroom A – Jim Covel, Tim Merriman, Angelina Yost
  • Beyond Greening for the Refuge System – A Carbon Negative Approach to a Sustainable Future: Madison Ballroom B – Paul Charland, Kelly Cain, Tim Bodeen, Marylin Brower
  • Aiming High – The Elements of Exemplary Volunteer Engagement: Madison Ballroom C – Betty Stallings
  • From Valdez to Deepwater Horizon-The Role of Natural Resource Damage Assessment: Madison Ballroom D – Deb Rocque, Mark Houston, Kim Trust, Cynthia Dohner

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS

The topics, instructions, and rooms for FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS will be posted after the revised version of the draft vision is made readily available.

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Youth Challenge Project – summit for Youth attendees: Hall of Ideas

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – WORKSHOPS

  • Building Successful Partnerships: Madison Ballroom A – Gary Sullivan, Joe McCauley, David Houghton
  • The Benefits of Applying Models in Environmental Education: Madison Ballroom B – Michael Noonan, Molly Stoddard
  • The Refuge System and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives: Madison Ballroom C – Doug Austen, Bridgette Flanders-Wanner
  • Law Enforcement: The Front Line in Protecting Wildlife: Madison Ballroom D – Mitch Ellis, Jim Hall, Rebecca Merritt

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm – LECTURE SERIES: Lecture Hall

  • Juan Martinez

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm – FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS – Part 2: Implementation strategies

The topics, instructions, and rooms for FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS will be posted after the revised version of the draft vision is made readily available.

2:45 pm – 4:15 pm – WORKSHOPS

  • Refuges, Neighbors and Sea-level Rise: Madison Ballroom A – Mike Bryant, Lou Hinds, Noah Matson
  • Strategic Planning Between Refuges and State Fish and Wildlife Agencies: Madison Ballroom B – Greg Siekaniec, John Kennedy, Steve Weber, Robin West
  • Increasing Refuge Support via Friends Groups: Madison Ballroom C – Ann Smith, Joe Saenz
  • Birding Initiative: Madison Ballroom D – Mike Carlo, Bill Thompson III, Roy Lowe, Flisa Stevenson

3:30 pm – 4:15 pm – LECTURE SERIES: Lecture Hall

  • J. Michael Scott

3:30 pm – 4:15 pm – FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS – Part 2: Implementation strategies

The topics, instructions, and rooms for FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS will be posted after the revised version of the draft vision is made readily available.

THURSDAY SCHEDULE

7:00 am – 5:00 pm – Registration: Monona Terrace, 4th Floor

8:00 am – 10:00 am – GENERAL SESSION: Exhibit Hall A

  • Inspiring Our Spirit and Vision: Curtis Taylor, Dewitt Jones, Secretary Ken Salazar, and Thad Allen

10:00 am – 10:30 am – Break: Grand Terrace & Capitol Promenade

11:00 am – 12:00 pm – BREAKOUT SESSIONS: LECTURE SERIES, WORKSHOPS, and FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS: Monona Terrace Lecture Hall, Madison Ballrooms, Meeting Rooms, Hall of Ideas
Note: Thursday morning BREAKOUT SESSIONS will now start at 11:00 am CDT

11:30 am – 1:00 pm – Lunch: Exhibit Hall B

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – BREAKOUT SESSIONS: LECTURE SERIES, WORKSHOPS, and FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS: Monona Terrace Lecture Hall, Madison Ballrooms, Meeting Rooms, Hall of Ideas

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Break: Grand Terrace & Capitol Promenade

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm – GENERAL SESSION: Exhibit Hall A

  • Passing the Torch to the Next Generation – Greg Siekaniec, Lynn Greenwalt, Jamie Rappaport Clark, and Steve Williams
  • Call to Action – Dan Ashe

SIDE EVENTS for attendees to the conference in Madison

6:00 pm-7:00 pm – Reception: Madison Ballroom

7:00 pm-10:00 pm – Wisconsin Sendoff Banquet – “Get out and get dirty!”: Exhibit Hall A & B – Entertainment: Fish and Wildlife Band

THURSDAY BREAKOUT SESSIONS SCHEDULE

11:00 am-11:30 am – LECTURE SERIES: Lecture Hall

  • Majora Carter, Eco-entrepreneur

11:00 am-11:30 am – FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS – Part 2: Implementation strategies

The topics, instructions, and rooms for FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS will be posted after the revised version of the draft vision is made readily available.

11:00 am-12:00 pm – WORKSHOPS

  • Refuge Manager of the Future: Madison Ballroom A – Larry Williams, Don Hultman, Keenan Adams, Vicki Muller, Shaun Sanchez
  • Friends Groundswell-Reaching Capacity: Madison Ballroom B – Mark Musaus, Birgie Vertesch
  • Marketing Your Refuge in the Digital Age: Madison Ballroom C – Cortney White, Jennifer Strickland
  • Secretary Roundtable: Madison Ballroom D – Invitation Only

1:00 pm-2:00 pm – LECTURE SERIES: Lecture Hall

  • Jeff Salz, Adventurer/Mountaineer/Anthropologist

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS – Part 2: Implementation strategies

The topics, instructions, and rooms for FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS will be posted after the revised version of the draft vision is made readily available.

1:00 pm-2:30 pm – WORKSHOPS

  • Refuge Water Resources-Management for People and Wildlife: Madison Ballroom A – Tim Mayer, Josh Eash
  • Why You Should Be a Friend of the Refuge System Transportation Program: Madison Ballroom B – Nathan Caldwell, Steve Suder
  • Hunting, Fishing and the Next Generation: Madison Ballroom C – Steve Williams, Keith Weaver, Bill Poole, Curtis Taylor
  • Using Free Technology to go Outdoors!: Madison Ballroom D – Cindy Samples, Toni Westland

SIDE EVENTS for attendees to the conference in Madison

Starting at 8:00 A.M            FIELD TRIPS

All field trip shuttles will leave from the Monona Terrace 4th Floor Bus Drop-off Entrance. Participation requires registering online prior to arriving in Madison. Check with Registration for additional spots that may have opened up.

8:00 am-1:30 pm – Leopold Shack and Center

8:30 am-3:00 pm – Southwest Wisconsin Grassland Field Trip