Conference Workshops
Workshops are ticketed events, for which advanced registration is required by April 12. 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 13, 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: Creating, Sustaining, and Integrating Outdoor and Living Classrooms for Student Purpose, Engagement, and Ecological Success
Date and time: Friday 17 April, 1 to 3:30 pm
Location: Meet at the Leahy Institute of Environment at the College at Saint Michaels.
Instructors: Kristyn Chilich, Director of the Leahy Institute for the Environment, and Declan McCabe, Professor of Biology at the College at Saint Michael's.
Description: We will share the Leah Institute for the Environement's programming, staff, and sstudent structure for developing and maintaining the Outdoor and Living Classrooms of the College at Saint Michael's. While for decades field biologists have readily utilized whatever is around them as a teaching tool, the Institute's underlying educational theory and structure have enabled thses classrooms to be truly interdisciplinary and centered on student leadership development and engagement. This approach ha had a marked impact on the increase of biological health of the campus. Surveys of such indicators have served courses across disciplines from biology to philosophy to art and design. Tentative agenda:
1–1:30 pm — learn about the Institute and its intentional pedagogy and design to center student leadership and learning, expand experiential envornmental education, and position the college as an ecological steward.
1:30–3:30 pm — Tour of 3 largest classrooms: The Natural Area, The Farm, and The Teaching Gardens. Meet the professional staff supporting these learning sites and view examples of teaching tools.
For more information, contact Declan McCabe at dmccabe@smcvt.edu
Limit of 150 participants.
Cost per person: $20.00 for the lunch. Attendees will need to pay the the workshop leaders directly upon arrival at the Institute.
Workshop 2: An Introduction to QGIS, an Open-Source GIS Application
Date and time: Friday 17 April, 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Location: At the conference venue. Room TBD.
Instructors: Larry Spencer, Biology Department, Plymouth University
Description: QGIS is an open-source GIS application that runs under the Mac OS, Windows OS, and Linux OS. It emulates many of the functions of professional gis programs but is free to the user. This workshop is meant to show what can be done with an open-source GIS program with particular emphasis on the uses that might be made in environmental applications. It is important to realize that the session is only to demonstrate (with hands on for the attendees) what can be done with the application. Participants will be asked to load QGIS on the computers before the workshop starts. I will provide the files that will be used with the workshop.
For more information, contact Larry Spencer at lts@plymouth.edu
Limited to 15 participants.
No Fee
Workshop 3: Wildlife Track & Sign Workshop & Certification
Date and time: Friday 17 April, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Location: At the conference venue, then carpool to 2–3 field sites.
Instructors: Sophie Mazowita (Tracking Connection) & Daniel Hansche (Spur Wander)
Description: Join Daniel Hansche and Sophie Mazowita for a day-long exploration of wildlife tracks and sign, with an opportunity to earn a Level 1 Track & Sign certificate 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 activity (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. You will walk away understanding which features of each track or sign can lead to a definitive ID, plus what the sign tells us about the animal's behavior and ecology. Suitable for all experience levels. Learn more about this internationally recognized certification at https://trackercertification.com/storymap.
For more information, contact Sophie Mazowita at trackingconnection@gmail.com
Limited to 14 participants.
Fee : $150 (Financial aid may be available ... apply at https://trackercertification.com/financial-access
Workshop 4: Conservation Detection Dogs: Working Dog Demonstration
Date and time: Friday 17 April, 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Location: Shelburne Farms (987 South Gate Road, Shelburne, VT 05482).
Instructors: Sequoia Dixson
Description: Conservation detection dogs are used for a wide range of research and survey applications. From tracking orcas to protecting endangeered orchids and from monitoring wolves to locating wood turtles, dogs have proven invaluable partners in the field. Join wildlife biologist and conservation dog trainer Sequoia Dixson and her detection dog Sunkhaze for an information session and live demonstration. You'll learn what a conservation detection dog does, how they are deployed, and how their work supports conservation efforts. You'll also have the opportunity to see one in action. This is a great chance to find out whether working with conservation dogs is right for you or simply to experience the incredible skills of a highly trained conservation dog. Note: there will be no access to restrooms for this trip, and make sure to dress appropriately for the weather.
For more information, contact Sequoia Dixson at dixsonsequoia15@gmail.com
Limited to 20 participants.
No Fee
Workshop 5: A One-Day Biodiversity Informatics Workshop
Date and time: Friday 17 April, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: At the conference venue. Room TBD.
Instructors: Christian Liriano, The City University of New York
Description: This hands-on, one-day workshop introduces participants to the biodiversity informatics data lifecycle, moving from field-based data collection to data management, analysis, and interpretation. Participants will begin by collecting biodiversity occurrence data in a local natural area, emphasizing standardized, georeferenced observations and associated metadata. These data will serve as the foundation for all subsequent analyses throughout the workshop. Topics covered include biodiversity data standards and data models (with emphasis on Darwin Core concepts), principles of data management and reproducibility, taxonomic standardization, and evaluation of data quality and sampling bias. Participants will work with spatial biodiversity data, integrate their field observations with open-access occurrence databases, and explore biodiversity patterns using species richness and diversity metrics. The workshop will also introduce foundational concepts in functional diversity and species distribution patterns, demonstrating how informatics approaches support ecological inference and conservation decision-making. Basic programming skills in R or Python are helpful but not required. Participants will work with guided scripts and notebooks to clean, analyze, and visualize biodiversity data. By the end of the workshop, participants will have practical experience applying biodiversity informatics tools to real-world data and a clear understanding of how standardized data, open databases, and reproducible workflows enable scalable biodiversity research.
For more information, contact Christian Liriano at cliriano1018@gmail.com
Limited to 20 participants.
No Fee
Workshop 6: Herbarium Workshop: Collaborative Solutions and Vision for the Future of Natural History Collections
Date and time: Friday 17 April, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: At the conference venue. Room TBD.
Instructors: James Lendmer, New York State Museum; Patrick Sweeney, Yale University; Sean Robinson, SUNY Oneonta
Description: There are dozens of herbaria across the Northeast, and these natural history collections collectively contain millions of botanical specimens. All these herbaria share a common theme of documenting the diversity of algae, bryophytes, fungi, and vascular plants. Nonetheless, each herbarium is unique, contributing to a vibrant landscape of collections with complementary strengths. While each herbarium faces unique challenges, the innovative solutions to overcome these challenges are often broadly applicable to others. The goal of this one-day workshop is to bring together some of the communities involved in herbaria: those who manage them, those who use them, and those who contribute to them. The workshop will consist of a series of sessions. The first half of the workshop will focus on a collaborative brainstorming session to begin the development of a vision for the future of Northeast herbaria. The second half of the workshop will focus on sharing skills and resources, and for troubleshooting shared challenges.
For more information, contact James Lendemer at james.lendemer@nysed.gov
Limited to 50 participants.
No Fee
Additional 2026 NENHC workshops will be listed here as they are confirmed.
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