About Tom
It is a privilege to live with my wife, Nancy Conger * in our cozy farmhouse in Oxford Township, near North Branch, Minnesota. Our house was built by my great-great grandfather, “Moose Lake” Anderson in the 19th century. It is humbling to live on the same land that previous generations of my family lave lived and thrived. Eating home grown potatoes from this ground is for me an act of humility and connection to the home ground that has sustained my family for six generations.
Graduated from North Branch High School, the same school that my grandfather graduated in 1917, where he was valedictorian. | |
Graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. degree in Wildlife Management/Biology in 1974 | |
Worked a seasonal position with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at the Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area | |
In 1975 I was hired as the first director of the Chisago County Parks Department | |
In 1975 I was appointed by Governor Wendell Anderson to serve on the Region 7E Minnesota Environmental Education Council | |
Hired as the naturalist at the Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center, associated with the Science Museum of Minnesota | |
I was nominated as the Region 7E Environmental Educator of the Year for the Bill Miles Award in 1980 | |
In 1991, I became the Director of the Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center, associated with the Minnesota Science Museum of Minnesota |
WRITING:
Weekly columnist for 15 years for the Chisago County Press. The column, Reading Sign, was twice awarded honors in the “Best Column” with the Minnesota Newspaper Association. | |
In 1989, Voyageur Press published my book, “Learning Nature by a Country Road.” | |
In 1991, Voyageur Press published my book, “Black Bear: Seasons of the Wild.” | |
Was one of twenty Minnesota artists asked to participate in the Minnesota Millennium Journal Project in 2000. | |
Presented a poem (Dawn Bird Chorus) and essay (The Mosquito and Me) on Minnesota Public Radio’s Morning Edition in 2006. | |
Received the Legacy Magazine award in 2003 from the National Association of Interpretation for “Outstanding Feature.” (Moments of Epiphany) | |
Received the Legacy Magazine award in 2005 with the National Association of Interpretation for “Outstanding Commentary” (Owl Pellets and Crisis Management). | |
Freelance writer for periodicals |
PRESENTER:
I have formally presented professional or educational presentations to the following audiences:
National Science for Youth Conference | |
National Association for InterpretersThree Rivers Parks Interpretive Training Keynote Address | |
International Experiental Education Conference | |
Minnesota Naturalist AssociationInternational Right of Way Association Presentation: Up North | |
Minnesota Audubon Chapters | |
Corporations | |
Civic Groups | |
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts | |
Public School Community Education ProgramsMinnesota Conservation Corps Keynotes
Minnesota Canoe Association Annual Meeting Keynote Presentation |
OTHER RELATED EXPERIENCE:
Founded the Minnesota Wild River Audubon Chapter of the National Audubon Society. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Served as the co-chair of three Midwest Population Conferences hosted by the Science Museum of Minnesota.Served on the board of the St. Croix Scenic Coalition. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Led or co-led an array of natural history/education trips for the Science Museum of Minnesota. These include:
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CONSULTING:
Interpretive Trail Design with the Hazelden Treatment Center, Center City, MN | |
Interpretation Techniques with Dodge Nature Center, West St. Paul, MN | |
Using Camping Skills in Increasing your Businesses Efficiencies, Mintahoe Hospitality Group |
*To learn more about Nancy and her work as a certified life coach or about her
one-woman shows, visit her website
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