Wild Spartans Series

 

WildSpartans_NoLinkWebsite_Banner20232024.pngJoin 4-H staff for the "Wild Spartans" series for a look into life working with fisheries and wildlife! Follow along as we climb through bogs, peer into bear dens, mist net songbirds, snorkel for fish, or perhaps even tag deer. Meet researchers, learn about their field work, and the education and career path they've followed to get there.

 

LOCATION: Online Meeting will be held using the free app called Zoom.

Register for Wild Spartans here

Each 60 minute session will feature 1-2 guest researchers. Youth will be encouraged to ask questions to learn more through a live Q&A with scientists.

Upcoming Program Dates and Topics:

Monthly Sessions will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. ET October through March. 

  • October 14, 2025- “Helping Others Help Nature” with Trish Brockman, Ecologist with Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc
  • November 11, 2025- "Wildfire, Wildlife, and Warriors: Science Where You Least Expect It” with Michele Richards, Natural Resources and Wildland Fire Program Manager with the MI Army National Guard
  • December 9, 2025- “Adventures in Wildlife Medicine: From the Field to the Clinic” with Avery Tilley, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia
  • January 13, 2026- “Nature’s Detectives: How Insects Help Solve Crimes Against People, Animals, and the Environment Through Forensic Entomology” with Dr. Samantha Sawyer, Forensic Entomologist at the University of New Haven
  • February 10, 2026- Carly DeVet, Michigan Department of Natural Resources 
  • March 10, 2026- Zach Wilson, Forest Ecologist, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission 

Interested in being a Wild Spartans guest speaker? Fill out our interest form here!

All event recordings are now available below!

Attended or viewed recordings? Please fill out our brief feedback form.

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To learn more, contact: 
Veronica Bolhuis, Stacie Gath, Anne Kretschmann, or Dr. Alexa Warwick.

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Share past sessions in classrooms, home school group, or your 4-H club! Links below include resources for continued learning in science, research, and career preparation.  Meet these scientists and more in the videos below.

View previous 4-H Wild Spartan sessions

  • Wild Spartans: Working Toward a Career as a Wildlife Biologist with Erin Johnston; January 2023

    Published on January 10, 2023

    “Working Towards A Career As A Wildlife Biologist” You will meet Erin Johnston, Wildlife Biologist- Wildlife & Habitat Section Lead, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Natural Resources Department. We will talk to a biologist about researching, managing, and protecting species with cultural significance. You will learn about her field work, and the education and career path she followed to get there. Youth will be encouraged to ask questions to learn more through a live Q&A. This free series is open to 4-H and non-4-H youth ages 12-19 years. Monthly sessions will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm EST.

  • Wild Spartans: Special Education to Wildlife Biologist with Erim Gomez; December 2022

    Published on December 12, 2022

    “Special Education to Wildlife Biologist” You will meet Erim Gómez, Assistant Professor of Wildlife Biology, University of Montana. You will learn about his field work, and the education and career path he followed to get there. Youth will be encouraged to ask questions to learn more through a live Q&A. This free series is open to 4-H and non-4-H youth ages 12-19 years. Monthly sessions will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm EST.

  • Wild Spartans: Exploring Michigan’s Largest State Park with Katie Urban; November 2022

    Published on November 8, 2022

    “Exploring Michigan’s Largest State Park.” You will meet Katie Urban, Interpreter for the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. You will learn about her work, and the education and career path she followed to get there.