WAEE Events

Past Winter Workshops

2008

2007

2006

2005

Theme:
"Living With the Land"

Dates:
January 25-27, 2008

Location:
Treehaven - Tomahawk, WI

Summary:
If you didn’t get the chance to come up to Treehaven for the 2008 Winter Workshop you missed a very good time, and not just because of the perfect weather! The 2008 theme was “Living With the Land”, a take on sustainability, being “green,” and about our personal and collective relationship with the land. 62 people from all over Wisconsin, and even a few folks from Illinois made the trip up to Treehaven for a weekend of perfect winter weather for fun and learning. Five individuals joined WAEE for the first time, and a number of folks renewed their memberships, which of course is the ultimate strength of our organization.

On Friday evening, speaker Jesse Haney gave us a background of WAEE’s “family” ties to the Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation (WEEF), a landmark development in the state’s environmental legacy that will operate without troubling legislative constraints, and an early “dream “ of founding WAEE members. Afterwards, UWSP Environmental Education and Naturalists Association (EENA) students ran us all through some fun ice breakers, followed by festive social networking in the lounge and a night hike into the Treehaven wilds.

The Keynote this year was noted wild edibles expert Sam Thayer, author of “A Foragers Harvest.” Sam gave a very enlightening, insightful and entertaining look into the world of wild edibles. The 24 concurrent sessions offered throughout the weekend ranged from basketry and porcupine quilling to exciting new educational curriculum for the classroom, so there was literally something for everyone. And of course the Brutal Gourmet held court over the curling smoke of a winter campfire with Chukar
Partridge Stew, and the afternoon brought time for EENA led Winter Olympics and for some to hit the groomed ski trails. Saturday night was a fun mix of music and dancing, basket weaving, pool, libations, fireside chat, and our second annual “Nertz Tournament,” a fun and frolicking game of cards with the awarding of a traveling “trophy” (you’ll just have to see it) and with proceeds going to WAEE (the only “fundraising" part of the conference, as all auctions are at Fall Conference).

We are a member driven organization, so look for the ’09 call for presenters and think about running a session yourself, or even consider joining the ’09 Winter Workshop Committee.

~ John Heusinkveld, Workshop Chair

Photos:
View Winter Workshop Photos (courtesy of Dennis Yockers)