The Forestry Sports team from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point returned to competition for the first time since the pandemic at the 69th Midwestern Foresters Conclave on April 11, hosted by Southern Illinois University at the Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center.

UW-Stevens Point placed second overall. Teams from Iowa State, Michigan State, Missouri State, Purdue, the University of Missouri, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale also competed. Southern Illinois won the event, followed by UW-Stevens Point, Missouri, Missouri State, Iowa State, Michigan State, and Purdue.

This year’s return marks a major milestone for the program, which had paused competition during the pandemic. Since then, the team has been revitalized through the support of new forestry professor Artur Stefanski and the dedicated efforts of motivated students who helped rebuild the program and guide their peers back into the regional forestry sports circuit.

The conclave featured more than a dozen forestry and timber sports events testing both physical skill and technical expertise. Events included tree identification, axe throwing, log rolling, underhand chopping, pulp tossing, bolt throwing, knife throwing, DBH estimation, wildlife identification, and sawing contests such as single-buck and double-buck.

UW-Stevens Point athletes earned numerous podium finishes.

In sawing events, Nick Williams placed third in both men’s single buck and men’s knife throw. Jesse Huckstep and Jason Bartlet finished third in men’s double buck, while Katie Vogt and Hunter Bahl took third in Jack and Jill double buck.

Vogt led the women’s division, winning women’s single buck and placing second in women’s double buck.

In team events, Bahl and Michael Steinhoff won men’s log roll. Luke Endris, Gunnar Westenmeyer, Jason Bartlett and Cullen White placed second in men’s pulp toss. White also finished third in men’s bolt throw, and Steinhoff took second in match split.

In technical forestry events, Bartlet placed third in DBH estimation, and Merrek Kowalski won wildlife identification.

Beyond competition results, the conclave offered students valuable academic and professional benefits. Many events mirror real-world forestry skills—such as tree identification, DBH estimation, and wildlife knowledge—allowing students to apply classroom learning in a hands-on, high-pressure environment. The experience also strengthens teamwork, problem‑solving, field readiness, and professional networking, while fostering new friendships, all essential skills for careers in natural resources.

With strong results across disciplines, UW-Stevens Point secured second place overall, an impressive achievement marking the program’s successful return to competition.

The team’s performance highlights the program’s renewed momentum and UW-Stevens Point’s commitment to preparing students academically and professionally. By excelling in both technical forestry knowledge and traditional timber sports, students are building the skills, confidence, and experience that will carry them into future leadership roles in the field.

A group of students from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources, majoring in Conservation and Community Planning, spent their final semester preparing for their careers and playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of a real Wisconsin city.

As part of their senior capstone course, taught by faculty member Austin Holland, these Conservation and Community Planning majors teamed up with the City of Stevens Point to assess and propose innovative improvements in areas such as recreation, housing, and public space development. This hands-on course was designed to replicate the dynamics of a professional planning firm, allowing students to collaborate on meaningful, real-world projects that would have a lasting impact on the community. Each year, students work with a different municipality; past partnerships have included Plover, Pittsville, and Amherst.

Conservation and Community Planning is a multidisciplinary field combining environmental stewardship with urban and rural development strategies. Students in this major are trained to address complex challenges at the intersection of natural resources, community needs, and sustainable growth. By working on projects like this, they gain practical experience in creating solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

The semester-long initiative revolved around four key questions from city leaders: How do college-aged students view housing and recreational spaces? What can diversify recreation in Stevens Point? How can the city offer more diverse housing options? And how might a new community space complement nearby development?

“We were essentially treated like professional consultants,” said senior Riley Hubanks. “The city gave us a starting point, but from there, it was up to us to conduct research, analyze data, and meet with community members. That freedom made the work feel meaningful.”

The course featured three significant projects: an initial impressions study of the city, followed by the development of three separate plans—an open space concept, a niche housing proposal, and a flexible third project addressing broader community integration. Students were divided into teams responsible for planning, analysis, stakeholder input, and final presentations.

Ella Stadel, a member of the outdoor recreation team, helped design a plan around 20 acres of wetlands intended to complement a proposed assisted living community. “My favorite part has been how well our group worked together,” she said. “We came to class each day with professionalism, a positive attitude, and a strong work ethic. These efforts came through in our public presentation when stakeholders told us they were impressed with our ideas.”

Audrey Webster, who focused on public engagement, said the project taught her how to communicate complex ideas across a broad audience. “Explaining concepts in ways the general public could understand was incredibly valuable,” she said. “It’s something I’ll take into my professional life.”

Holland said that the course’s hands-on approach was intentional. He treated the students like junior professionals rather than relying on traditional coursework deadlines. “I act as the ‘manager’, so I identify the client about a year in advance and work with them to create the loose structure of the project, but the students were responsible for managing the entire project cycle, from site visits to the final community presentation,” he said. “This also means that students have the final say in planning decisions, because they are the ones who have to justify their work to the public.”

Student Anna Menominee reflected on how much the course integrated everything she had learned over the past four years. “We created a master plan based on real input, not just what we thought would work,” she said. “And if I could go back, I’d just remind myself to enjoy the process, it all comes together in the end.”

Students presented their findings directly to community members, culminating in a final input session on April 24.

City officials praised the students’ professionalism and the quality of their work. “Working with Professor Holland and the planning capstone students was truly invaluable – we presented the students with a few elements and an open canvas with complex environmental considerations, both natural and social,” Chris Klesmith, the neighborhood planner and economic development specialist for the City of Stevens Point, said. “The students were very professional, which is a testament to both their individual character and the strength of the University. We intend to discuss this plan set with the community partners that the students and our department have identified to implement collaborative projects the students researched. Additionally, the students’ research and recommendations for residential development will be referenced before releasing the land for development.”

The experience proved more than academic—it gave students the kind of experience they say they can already reference in job interviews.

“I’ve already used this capstone to talk about real planning challenges in interviews,” said Hubanks, who will join the North Central Conservancy Trust full-time after graduating this May. “We learned how to navigate uncertainty, work as a team, and stay accountable for our work, just like we will in our careers.”

The partnership offered fresh ideas and valuable community feedback for the City of Stevens Point. It was a capstone in name and a launching point in practice for the students. You can view their final report here.

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduate student Ryan Bohen is shedding light on a little-known native fish species in Wisconsin, spearheading research that could inform how fisheries are managed across the state.

Bohen, a student in UW-Stevens Point’s College of Natural Resources, is studying the population dynamics of bigmouth and smallmouth buffalo. These two native fish species often go unnoticed in traditional fisheries management. Despite their longevity—some live up to 70 years—and their ecological importance, they have rarely been the focus of scientific inquiry.

Bohen’s study is shifting understanding of buffalo populations. His research focuses on the age structure, reproductive patterns and growth of buffalo in 14 waterbodies across Wisconsin. Additionally, the study investigates the contribution of buffalo to harvest at bowfishing tournaments across Wisconsin.

“Bigmouth and smallmouth buffalo are lesser-known native species that have garnered more attention in recent years due to their capacity to live to old ages,” said Bohen. “Our goal is to gather the data needed to make informed decisions about managing these populations, especially as bowfishing becomes more popular.”

Bowfishing, which involves shooting fish with a bow and arrow, often at night, has brought buffalo into focus. Buffalo contributed moderately to tournament harvest in 2023 and 2024, representing about 17% of total harvest over the two-year period.

To analyze the relative resiliency of buffalo to harvest, Bohen and his team used advanced techniques to estimate the age of the fish, finding maximum lifespans ranging from 14 to 71 years. They also discovered significant variation in how quickly buffalo reach reproductive maturity, with some populations maturing in as little as two years and others taking more than six.

“These findings show how adaptable buffalo are, but they also highlight the need for careful management,” said Daniel Isermann, director of the U. S. Geological Survey’s Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit and Bohen’s advisor. “Not all populations will respond the same way to harvest pressure.”

The research, conducted in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Bowfishing Association, is the state’s first formal assessment of bowfishing harvest across the landscape. It provides essential data that could inform future regulations and conservation strategies.

For Bohen, the project is more than an academic exercise. It represents a chance to elevate awareness of an understudied species and contribute to the long-term sustainability of Wisconsin’s aquatic ecosystems.

“It’s exciting to conduct novel research on an understudied native fish,” he said. “Non-game native species like buffalo have historically received little management attention, but their role in aquatic ecosystems is just as important as that of native sportfish.”

Bohen’s findings could inform how other native, non-game fish species are monitored and managed.

“Research like this is essential for making informed decisions,” Bohen said. “It’s exciting to be part of something that could actually affect management on the landscape.” Bohen will graduate in January and presented his results at his graduate public seminar in December.

In Wisconsin’s serene wetlands, wildlife conservation is soaring to new heights.

Amanda Griswold, a graduate student in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, is using drones equipped with thermal cameras to transform how biologists monitor waterfowl populations and protect critical habitats.

Griswold’s research, guided by her adviser, Assistant Professor Ben Sedinger, explores how uncrewed aerial systems can improve waterfowl conservation efforts. Sedinger, the Kennedy-Grohne Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation, provided mentorship throughout the project, which was supported by a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant. Additional funding included a scholarship from the Wisconsin Waterfowl Hunters Expo and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, as well as the David R. Luukkonen Waterfowl and Wetland Graduate Student Fellowship awarded by Ducks Unlimited.

For decades, waterfowl surveys relied on aerial flights in small planes and ground-based observations. These traditional methods have limitations, particularly in detecting every bird in each area. But Griswold’s study, conducted over two years, shows that drones are changing the game. 

Griswold and her team used drones to survey a variety of wetland habitats, identifying 773 breeding pairs and 573 waterfowl broods. They estimated densities at 6.76 pairs and 1.32 broods per square kilometer. The drones, equipped with thermal imaging technology, effectively detected birds in areas where traditional surveys often struggled. By flying at heights that minimized disturbance, the drones ensured the birds’ natural behaviors remained unaffected throughout the surveys.

“Our findings show that drones are a reliable and efficient tool for monitoring breeding waterfowl populations,” Griswold said. “They improve detection rates while reducing the need for time-intensive ground surveys.”

This research directly benefits conservation by providing data on waterfowl populations and habitat use, allowing conservationists to better prioritize restoration and management efforts. By identifying areas with high breeding activity or critical habitats for broods, resources can be allocated more effectively to ensure the survival of these species. Additionally, the reduced labor and cost associated with drone surveys make conducting more frequent or widespread assessments possible, giving managers the tools they need to respond to emerging challenges, such as habitat degradation or climate change impacts, in real-time.

The research also tested the Wisconsin Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy, a tool that ranks watersheds for conservation priority. While the strategy accurately identified areas where breeding pairs thrive, it was less precise in predicting habitats suitable for broods—ducklings and their mothers.

“Pair presence and density aligned well with the conservation rankings and wetland areas,” Griswold said. “But brood densities depended more on seasonal timing and local conditions. This suggests our models need refinement to capture the complexities of quality brood habitat fully.”

Sedinger highlighted the project’s collaborative approach and its potential impact.

“This research combines advanced technology with ecological expertise to address real-world conservation challenges,” he said. “Drones give us the ability to observe waterfowl in ways we couldn’t before, allowing for more precise conservation strategies. It’s an exciting step forward for waterfowl and wetland conservation.”

As wildlife populations face threats from habitat loss and climate change, conservationists are turning to tools that guide restoration efforts with precision. Thanks to Griswold’s innovative work, Sedinger’s mentorship and support from state agencies, Wisconsin’s wetlands offer a hopeful outlook for waterfowl populations and their habitats.