“Bravo!” — “Thank You.”
“I loved the quality of the presentations.”
“I felt very energized by so much wonderful commitment to
protecting and sharing the wonders of our natural world.”
“That is the best group of kindred spirits!”
“I hope to use what I learned to become more involved.”
These are some typical comments from the 2009 Wild Things conference evaluation forms. The fairly unanimous sentiment is that this was our best Wild Things ever (except for the tuna sandwiches.)
Here are some numbers:
- 1030 attendees
- 99 speakers
- 71 sessions plus 3 keynotes
- 6 authors
- 41 exhibitors
- 92 volunteer organizers
Thank you all for making it the great day it was!
We have included a copy of the 
brochure—please share it with local groups or individuals who may be interested in our conference or presenters. Please refer to Wild Things Conference Materials for conference resources and handouts given out by presenters.
The people who brought you Wild Things
Program Committee
Co-chairs: Greg Rajsky*, steward Lone Oak Fen; Karen Tharp*, Nature Conservancy; Judy Pollock*, Audubon Chicago Region
Track Shepherds
Benjamin Cox*, Friends of the Forest Preserves; Doug Chien, Sierra Club; Tom Peterson*, IBMN; Justin Pepper*, Audubon Chicago Region; Dick Riner, Bartel Grassland Volunteers; Victor Cassidy, author; June Keibler, Fox Valley Land Foundation; Laurel Ross, Field Museum; Rich Treptow*, Sierra Club; Joanne Podkul, Calumet Stewardship Initiative; Mary Finn; Kerry Leigh, restoration consulting; Bob Fisher*, Bird Conservation Network; Megan Dunning, Morton Arboretum; Pete Jackson, steward Deer Grove; Irene Hogstrom; Mary Zaander, Witness Tree Native Landscapes; Karen Glennemeier*, Habitat Project; Robert Sliwinski, Christopher Burke Engineering; Julie Sacco, Chicago Park District; Scott Meister, FPD of DuPage County; Nancy Greenlee, Bird Conservation Network
Publicity Committee
Michelle Uting*; Lucy Hutcherson, Chicago Wilderness; Diana Krug*, Palos Restoration; Julia Martinez, Northwestern University; Dan Townson, Eye of the Axis; Mary Carroll, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Logistics Committee
- Co-chairs: Gina Lettiere*, Loyola University; Brook Herman, US Army Corps of Engineers
- Support Desk: Tom Lang
- Exhibitors: Linda Masters*, North Branch Restoration Project
- Poster Session: Mary Eileen Sullivan, Friends of the Parks
- Book Signing: Kathy Garness, Plants of Concern
- Map Maker: Sue Witkowski, North Branch Restoration Project
- Brochure Design: Barbara Wilson, Lake in the Hills Fen
- After-party planners: Michelle Jost, 20s/30s group
Advisory Committee
Asterisked (*) individuals above plus: Joe Suchecki, steward, Springbrook Prairie; Craig Stettner, Dragonfly monitors; Joan Palincsar, steward, Ryerson Woods; Joan Bruchman, Bird Conservation Network; Stephen Packard, Somme Prairie Grove steward; Doug Taron, Notebaert Nature Museum
Services Donated
- Web site: Marilyn L. Schweitzer and National Audubon Society
- Publicity: Christine Esposito, Terracom Public Relations, Inc.
- Program Book Design: Anne Brent, Gallery No. 9, Inc.
- Fox Artwork: Marlene Hill Donnelly
- Publicity Photography: Carol Freeman, Carol Freeman Photography
Staff Support
Provided by Judy Pollock, Erin Jones,and Janis Wesley of Audubon; Karen Tharp of The Nature Conservancy; and Michelle Uting, Chicago Wilderness
Seed Funding
Provided from the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry and the US Fish & Wildlife Service in support of Chicago Wilderness.
Sponsors
Audubon Chicago Region, Bird Conservation Network, Carol Freeman Photography, Chicago Wilderness, Chicago Wilderness Magazine, Gallery No. 9, Habitat Project, Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network, The Volunteer Stewardship Network, The Nature Conservancy, Terracom Public Relations, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
“Wild Things” is co-sponsored by: Audubon Chicago Region, Chicago Wilderness, The Nature Conservancy of Illinois, and the Volunteer Stewardship Network.
This project was funded through a grant program supported by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, in support of Chicago Wilderness. USFWS grants of federal monies are administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation.