Course Registration
ADV - Bison Naturalist Training
Bison Naturalist Training website
2660 Fawn Lake Drive NEEast Bethel, MN 55005
Become a Bison Naturalist at Cedar Creek! Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in East Bethel, MN is a world-renowned biological research station with a long history of research into diversity, climate change, prescribed burning and natural communities. In the summer, the reserve hosts a small herd of bison as part of long-term research into oak savanna restoration and management.
This year, we are recruiting up to 10 new volunteers to provide interpretation at our bison viewing gazebo. This is a great opportunity to learn more about a threatened ecosystem and Minnesota's historical and current ecology, to spend outside time in a unique location, and to share your love of the outdoors with other naturalists and visitors!
Our bison herd is onsite in our oak savannas from mid-May to early October, and public access is available on Saturdays. Bison Naturalists are stationed at our viewing gazebo, where they share information, physical resources (biofacts), equipment (binoculars, spotting scopes, etc) and enthusiasm with visitors. Naturalists are responsible for opening and closely the gazebo, representing Cedar Creek professionally, and accurately communicating science and natural history. No specific experience is necessary; training and all needed resources are provided by Cedar Creek. Naturalists must be available to attend this May 9th pre-season training, and to work a minimum of four 4-hr Saturday shifts during the summer and early fall. Specific dates are flexible and both morning (8am - noon) and afternoon (noon - 4pm) shifts are available. Additional information about the bison project is available on the Cedar Creek website: cedarcreek.umn.edu/conservation/bison
If you are a returning Cedar Creek bison naturalist, please do not register for this training. This registration is for NEW volunteers only.
Course Dates:
Meeting from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. on:
- Saturday, May 9, 2020
Instructor Information
Dr. Barale Potter is the Associate Director at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, where she also manages education and community engagement programs. Her background is in wildlife ecology, and she holds a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology as well as a masters and Ph.D in ecology and evolutionary biology. She studied wildlife and animal behavior all over the world (mostly monkeys in Ethiopia) before finding her true passion doing environmental education! Currently, she manages the daily operations of the Cedar Creek field station as well as leading K-12 field trip groups, public science projects, research tours and volunteer opportunities.
Sponsor Information
Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
Register Now!
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