Rivers shape the landscapes we live in, and wildlife has long adapted to their natural rhythms.

This talk explores how we can learn from wildlife and wild habitats as we strive to become better stewards of our waterways for future generations.

Speaker

Radley Watkins

Executive Director of the Missoula Conservation District

Rad is a lifelong nature lover and conservationist based in Missoula, Montana. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Missoula Conservation District, where he helps to protect local streams, wildlife, and working lands. He has been an Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator and a lake management consultant. His career has taken him from the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest studying endangered seabirds, to Glacier National Park collecting grizzly bear DNA, to the Northwoods of Wisconsin tracking wolves and rehabbing bald eagles. Rad also loves personal development and is a certified life coach who does leadership speaking and training. Rad is the creator of the Animal Leadership personality test and the book Animal Leadership: Leadership Lessons Learned from Wildlife.

We will discuss the definitions, applications, and implications of phenology as an area of biological study and participatory science practice.

From the global to the personal, a study of seasonal changes helps us track phenomena like shifting baselines in a changing climate, animal migratory patterns, and our own moods and behaviors through the years. This session will include a journaling prompt to enliven your own practice of phenological observations.

Speaker

Joe Loviska

EPI Yellowstone Program Manager

Joe has been working with EPI since 2024 to bring students of ecology to Yellowstone National Park. He focuses his teaching on deep observations of the natural world using tracking, nature journaling, and participatory science projects as tools to engage students. In 2015, Joe began incorporating phenology into his lessons with the North Cascades Institute and today he continues to weave observations of seasonal cycles into the curriculum of EPI's Yellowstone Program. He understands that all living things are enmeshed in complex social-ecological systems, so he wants to know: what is your phenophase today?

This presentation begins with an overview of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks AmeriCorps Program that shows the impacts of service in conservation efforts, educational outreach, and volunteer recruitment efforts. This segways into AmeriCorps member development and support activities and efforts throughout the course of a 10-month term of service. Our 2025 AmeriCorps Team Leader, who is now an employee at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park as the FWP-Region 2 Education Technician, will provide insights on his experience within the program. Participants are encouraged to ask questions.

Speakers

Duane Schlabach

FWP AmeriCorps Program Manager

Duane grew up in an Amish community where he was introduced to the concepts and importance of community and service. He spent 15 years in public education as both a classroom teacher and educator. While in education he spent most of his summers packing mules into the Bob Marshall Wilderness for the Rich Ranch out of Seeley Lake. He has been the FWP AmeriCorps program manager for 2 years, which melds his passion for the outdoors and helping people become the best version of themselves.

(Olivia Klein photo forthcoming)

Olivia Klein

FWP AmeriCorps Development Specialist

Olivia has a background in behavioral therapy which she brings to the forefront as an asset when supporting members during their term of service. She spent time working at a behavioral health center in Oregon prior to moving to Helena. She brings four years of AmeriCorps experience as the recruitment specialist for Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) prior to taking the position with FWP AmeriCorps.

Ryan Binga

FWP AmeriCorps Region 2 Education Technician

Ryan Binga is an Education and Customer Service Technician with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, based in Missoula, MT. In this role, he travels across Western Montana delivering hunter education, wildlife education, and a variety of outdoor learning programs for students, instructors, and the public. He also contributes to the agency’s outreach through social media and has appeared in educational content such as Wildlife Wednesday's series on Facebook and Instagram. Ryan began his career with the agency through the AmeriCorps program as the Team Lead in 2025 and quickly transitioned into a full-time position with the agency. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Northern Arizona University’s nationally accredited School of Forestry.

This presentation explores how active listening, empathy, and connection with both people and place are essential for effective, two-way communication.

It highlights communication as a relational process that builds trust, understanding, and meaningful engagement with diverse audiences.

Speaker

Erick Bolaños

EPI Communication & Development Coordinator

Erick Bolaños is a communications and development professional working at the intersection of conservation, education, and storytelling in Costa Rica. As Communications and Development Coordinator at Ecology Project International (EPI), he supports research, environmental education, and fundraising initiatives at Pacuare Reserve, translating complex scientific work into accessible and inspiring narratives.

Erick has experience working in both rural conservation settings and corporate environments, allowing him to build meaningful bridges between communities, institutions, and donors. His approach to communication is grounded in active listening, holding space, and fostering genuine connections with diverse stakeholders.

He has led workshops focused on storytelling, data presentation, effective calls to action, and breathwork, equipping students and young leaders with tools to advocate for conservation and behavior change in their communities. Erick is passionate about using communication as a catalyst for social and environmental impact.

All across the West, aquatic ecosystems are under pressure – from reduced snowpack and rising temperatures to degraded habitat and the ever-increasing human demand for water. In an era defined by complicated problems, resource managers are finding success by turning to simple, natural solutions.

Join Kurt Colhoff with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition to learn about the climate-linked challenges facing rivers and streams in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and how conservationists are working in tandem with beavers to protect the clean, cold waters of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Speaker

Kurt Colhoff

Senior Climate and Water Conservation Associate

Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC)

Kurt works across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to build resilience and facilitate the adaptation of aquatic and terrestrial systems in response to climate change. From large landscape-scale planning to local project implementation, he helps facilitate the Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s efforts to safeguard lands, waters, and wildlife. Based in Lander, Wyoming, Kurt enjoys his work at the nexus of science, policy, and hands-on stewardship. Outside of work, Kurt takes every possible chance to get out on foot or ski to explore Greater Yellowstone’s mountains, forests, and rivers with his partner, Kara, their son, Anton, and his dog, Fisher.

Speaker

Ana Beatriz Hernández

EPI Galapagos and Belize Program Coordinator

Born, raised, and currently dwelling in Heredia, Ana Beatriz's connection with EPI sprouted as a student, kindling a fervor for Biology and guiding her toward a career path in Environmental Interpretation. Specializing in this field, she has actively participated in diverse conservation programs, leaving a notable imprint with the National Forest Fires prevention campaign in Costa Rica (2011 - 2019). Her involvement spans various domains, including awareness, environmental education, and prevention and control initiatives. During her time participating in the campaign, she also volunteered as a Forest Firefighter. This odyssey is Ana Beatriz's expression of gratitude, an opportunity to reciprocate the wonders that Biology and Conservation have unfolded before her. EPI, in her teenage years, sparked a commitment to making a positive impact on others, akin to the transformative experiences she had at 15 and 17. Beyond the realms of conservation, Ana Beatriz discovers joy in the harmonies of tropical music and tango, the exhilaration of trail running, the solace of reading, and the exploration of new landscapes through travel. Her interests also encompass the artistry of gardening, the serenity of bird watching, and engaging conversations with friends and loved ones. An avid learner, she continues to deepen her understanding of the world around her."