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:

Rafting in the Grand Canyon
Canadian Far North Canoe Expeditions
Following the Footsteps of Linnaeus in   Sweden from south Sweden to the Swedish Arctic.
Amazon and Rio Napo Rivers in Peru, South America
Salt Marsh Ecology on Sapelo Island, Georgia
Winter camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area in Minnesota
Platte River Nebraska Sandhill Crane and Waterfowl Study
Prairie Chicken Observation Trip, Buena Vista Marsh, Wisconsin
Sea Kayaking the Apostle Islands
Sea Kayaking along the Baja Peninsula in the Sea of Cortez
St. Croix River Canoe Trips

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