Conference Workshops
Workshops are ticketed events, for which advanced registration is required by April 16. Workshops are conference events, and as such, participation in them is limited to those registered for the conference. Except if otherwise noted, transportation from the convention center to Workshops located offsite of the convention center will be via carpooling. For such offsite workshops, we will forward the names and email addresses of all those who sign up for a workshop to the workshop organizer prior to the conference, who will contact each participant in advance to set up a time for a brief meeting to provide directions and work out the details of who will be driving. If you signed up for a workshop and if you have not heard from the workshop leader by April 18, we advise you to contact him/her (email listed in info given below) to confirm your attendance and the logistical details. Also, if you had registered for a workshop, but then realize you will not be able to attend, please promptly notifiy the workshop leader so that they know who to expect and can offer your spot to someone else in the event the workshop has filled up and there is a waiting list.
Workshop #1: Wildlife Track & Sign Workshop & Certification
Date and time: Friday 21 April, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Location: Meet at the conference center to carpool.
Instructors: Nate Harvey and Sophie Mazowita
Description: Join Senior Tracker Nate Harvey and Sophie Mazowita of the Burlington Mammal Tracking Project for a day-long exploration of wildlife track and sign, with an opportunity to earn a Level 1 Track & Sign Certification from CyberTracker Conservation. We will visit 2–3 wildlife hotspots in the Burlington area where we can expect to encounter a great diversity of wildlife sign (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates). Participants will be asked 30-35 questions including tracks, sign and wildlife behavior, with feedback and instruction throughout the day. Suitable for all experience levels. Learn more about this internationally-recognized certification at www.trackercertification.com.
Limited to 12 participants
Fee: $100 (Important: in addition to indicating your interest in attending this workshop on the conference registration form, attendees must also complete sign up and make payment via the link www.trackingconnection.com/nenhc).
For more information: contact Sophie Mazowita at trackingconnection@gmail.com.
Workshop #2: An Introduction to Using Open Source GIS Software (QGIS)
Date and time: Friday 21 April, 2 pm – 5 pm
Location: Room TBA.
Instructors: Larry Spencer, Department of Biology, Plymouth State University
Description: This workshop will introduce the participants to QGIS, an open source GIS software, that does most of the tasks required of a GIS program. Participants will be asked to supply their own laptops, but since QGIS software runs on both Macs and PCs and works the same on both, there is no problem as to which system the participant brings to the workshop. The workshop director will supply both the software and sample GIS files. The workshop will cover the basic fundamentals of using the software, but not the basics of what GIS is. If time permits the participants will get a chance to download information towards their own projects.
Limited to 25 participants
No fee
For more information: contact Larry Spencer at ts@plymouth.edu.
Workshop #3: Bryophytes of Vermont
Date and time: Friday 21 April, 9 am – 7 pm
Location: Meet at the conference center to carpool to sites and then lab work and lectures in Room TBA.
Instructors: Christian Liriano is a field ecologist whose focus is on plant and arthropod diversity in the New York metropolitan area. He is also a student at the City University of New York where he works on various projects in the fields of community and ecosystem ecology.
Description:This workshop is suitable for beginners and those with an advanced understanding of bryophytes. The basic structure, life history, ecology, and classification of mosses and liverworts will be covered in formal lectures and discussions. Field trips to a variety of habitats will introduce these plants in their natural settings where participants will be taught to recognize bryophyte genera and
species, describe their macro- and microhabitat preferences, and learn basic collection techniques. Lab work will focus on the identification of representative bryophytes selected by the instructors and the identification and curation of student collections.
Limited to 12 participants
No fee
For more information: contact Christian Liriano at cliriano1018@gmail.com.
Workshop #4: Headstarting as a Conservation Tool
Date and time: Friday 21 April, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Location: Room TBA.
Instructors: Brian Bastarache, Bristol Agricultural School
Description: Head-starting has been used for decades in attempts to augment declining populations of various species. This lecture will present the important points and lessons learned through raising 2000 animals over more than a decade of head-starting rare turtles and other species. The typical criticisms, thoughts about best practices, and considerations before initiating head-starting will be discussed. (This presentation will not include live animals.)
No fee
For more information: contact Brian Bastarache at bbastarache@gmail.com.
Workshop #5: Biodiversity Data at Your Fingertips: Accessing and Analyzing Community Science Observations to Inform Conservation
Date and time: Friday 21 April, 9 am– 12 pm
Location: Room TBA.
Instructors: Michael T. Hallworth, Ph.D., Data Scientist - Vermont Center for Ecostudies - Norwich, VT
Description: This workshop will introduce participants to the Vermont Atlas of Life's community science data stored at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) submitted through various platforms such as eBird.org, iNaturalist.org, OdonataCentral.org, and eButterfly.org. Participants will get hands-on experience analyzing community science observations, from creating species lists to mapping species distributions. The workshop will be taught using R, a free, open-source statistical computing program. Participants are encouraged to be familiar with R to get the most out of the workshop. A laptop is required for participation.
No fee
Limited to 25 participants
For more information: contact Michael Hallworth at mhallworth@vtecostudies.org.
Other 2023 NENHC workshops will be listed here as they are confirmed.