Bring on the heat, the bugs, the plants, the birds, and the learning. Madison Audubon’s summer ecological restoration internships are now in full session, with twelve undergraduate students learning the techniques, art, and science of ecological restoration at our Faville Grove and Goose Pond Sanctuaries.
Hannah Sigg catches a garter snake during her internship at Faville Grove Sanctuary in 2017
This internship program has been going on for many years, helping young adults early in their nature-related careers broaden their skills. Past interns have earned a variety of titles within the DNR, ecological restoration businesses, and even Madison Audubon! (Madison Audubon’s current land stewards, Drew Harry and Graham Steinhauer, and director of communications and outreach, Brenna Marsicek, are all alumni of the program.) It is a delight to see where these students go with their skills!
Students work with Drew and Graham, as well as the sanctuaries’ resident managers, to collect seeds, keep invasive species in check, hand-pollinate certain species, and much much more. On top of that, they also learn about the many native plants, birds, amphibians, insects, and mammals that are found at the sanctuaries.
We are thrilled to welcome this group of 12 students to the crew this year, and look forward to sharing some of their work and stories with you.
Faville Grove Sanctuary crew:
Zachary Ausavich
I am Zachary Ausavich, and I am from Holmen, Wisconsin. I am entering my fourth year at UW- Madison as a Conservation Biology and Communications major, with a certificate in Environmental Studies. I grew interested in conservation because of my parents and their love of biking, canoeing and hiking—which they shared with me. I hope to continue working in conservation after I graduate UW-Madison.
Ben Boerigter
I am a biology major at UW Madison about to enter my fourth and final year as an undergraduate! I grew up just south of Madison in Oregon, WI, and I love hiking, bike rides, and other outdoor activities in nature whether in my native south-central Wisconsin or further afield. Partly for this reason, conserving our natural resources for future generations has always been important to me and I'm excited to participate in the process of restoration ecology at Faville Grove this summer.
Katherine Koehler
Hi! My name’s Katherine and I’m from Cornwall, Vermont. I am studying Geography and Spanish at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My family has an apple orchard, so I grew up climbing trees, picking fruit, and spending as much time as possible outside. I first became interested in conservation work when I worked for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps two summers ago. I really enjoyed working outside on projects that had tangible impacts on the environment and community. I am looking forward to working outside again this summer with the Madison Audubon!
Isabelle Labus
Aidan Tautges
Hi my name’s Aidan Tautges. I’ll be a senior at UW-Madison after the summer, I’m double majoring in biology and field and wildlife ecology. I hope to continue a career in conservation as a wildlife biologist. I’ve always loved nature growing up in North Central Wisconsin, but when I was a kid I was obsessed with sharks which I think started my love for animals.
Nicole Klein
My name is Nicole Klein, and I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Microbiology with a certificate in Environmental Studies. I am originally from Waterford, Wisconsin, which is where I first got interested in the environment through my agriculture classes in high school. This passion transformed through the years into a love for conservation and ecological restoration!
Prairie Partners crew:
The Prairie Partners is a collaboration between Madison Audubon, the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, Friends of Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Friends of Cherokee Marsh, and Groundswell Conservancy. The Prairie Partners crew rotates through each partners’ properties to allow for their time and help to be distributed among multiple sites and organizations. Thank you to these partners!
Bill Davis
I was raised in Minneapolis, and as a kid my dad and I went on countless camping trips and adventures in national parks and nature preserves. I have always been interested in and excited by wildlife and the great outdoors. After a five-year enlistment in the Marine Corps, I enrolled in UW-Madison and declared a major in Biological Systems Engineering, focusing on environmental engineering, where I am now a junior.
Luke DeBiasio
Luke is graduating from UW-Madison following this summer semester with a Bachelors of Science in Conservation Biology and a certificate in Environmental Studies. Originally from Pennsylvania, Luke has lived in the Madison area since middle school. It was spending countless days with his friends at the nearby Pheasant Branch Conservancy that gave him the spark to enter the field of conservation. An interest in the outdoors turned into a passion, and nowadays Luke spends a significant amount of his free time outside hiking and birding. He is extremely excited to be able to assist the Madison Audubon crew in keeping our natural areas (and their inhabitants) happy and healthy.
Cara Farrow
Cara Farrow is currently earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Ecology with a certificate in Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Originally from Brookfield, Wisconsin, she spent summers growing up at her parent’s cabin in Waupaca, Wisconsin which sparked her lifelong interest in the outdoors. She would spend hours in nature as a child, catching frogs, toads, turtles, and bugs with her father, along with other outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking. In her free time, she is an avid birder, hiker, camper, and nature photographer, and loves finding new places to explore. She is also the Treasurer for the UW-Madison chapter of the Audubon Society, helping to organize educational bird hikes and facilitate volunteer opportunities for the club to participate in. Cara is very excited to be a part of the Prairie Partners this summer and to partake in this important ecological restoration work!
Kyle Hulbert
I am an Environmental studies and Geography student at UW-Madison. I am from Albany, Wi. I have always loved nature, and have been doing conservation work for the past two summers. I am very excited to get to work with everyone on the Audubon's crews this summer and see their wonderful properties. Hope to see many of you out there!
Emma Raasch
My name is Emma, and I graduated from UW-Madison this spring with majors in Conservation Biology and English and a certificate in Environmental Studies. Although I’m originally from Central Wisconsin, I’ve completely fallen in love with Southern Wisconsin ecosystems and all the great groups of people that work to protect them! I’ve always been passionate about nature and wildlife, but since coming to Madison for school, I’ve turned that passion into action by volunteering on a number of restoration activities in Southern Wisconsin. Notably, I’ve volunteered with Madison Audubon for about two years now, so I’m very excited for the opportunity to continue exploring Goose Pond and the other work sites this summer!
Tucker Sanborn (Goose Pond intern)
My name is Tucker Sanborn and I’m very excited to be Goose Pond’s intern! I have a bachelor’s from UW in conservation bio, and my main interests are prescribed fire and plant ecology. I’m returning to Madison from a seasonal job with the SCA at the Davy Crockett National Forest. I worked with the Forest Service mainly burning pine savanna in East Texas, and I’m looking forward to hopeful burns in the fall at Goose Pond!
