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Forest Preserve & Conservation Symposium 2026 Sessions

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Check-In and Networking

Check-In and Networking

Summary
Check-in starts at 9:30 a.m. with some morning coffee and tea. Network with peers before the welcome remarks.

Welcome and Ice-Breaker Activity

Welcome and Ice-Breaker Activity

Summary
Welcome remarks and an ice-breaker activity to set the tone for the day.

From Awareness to Action: The Rusty Rodeo

Concurrent #1

Speakers
  • Barb McKittrick - Environmental Education Manager
    Barb McKittrick is a naturalist and the Environmental Education Manager at the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. She grew up in Chicago next to LaBagh Woods Forest Preserve, developing an early love for urban wilderness. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Aurora University, she began her career as a research biologist, and then shifted into a series of corporate and consulting roles after receiving her MBA from Northwestern University. Barb is thrilled to have now transitioned her career to being a full-time interpretive naturalist so she can spend as much time as possible igniting in others a passion for enjoying and protecting our natural areas.
  • Christy Graser - Facility Manager
    Christy Graser is a Certified Interpretive Guide and Certified Parks and Rec Professional with over 20 years of experience in the environmental education field. In her current role as Facility Manager of Red Oak Nature Center, she oversees nearly 100 acres of habitat along the Fox River and works with her staff to educate the community about the natural world.
  • Emily Shanahan - Nature Programs Manager
    Emily Shanahan is the Nature Programs Manager for the St. Charles Park District. She graduated in 2015 with her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to working for St. Charles Park District, Emily worked for the Kendall County Forest Preserve District for 12 years. Emily enjoys teaching children and adults about the natural world, especially taking pleasure in their excitement and enthusiasm as they explore and learn. As a lifelong learner herself, she is always excited to discover more about the wonders of nature. In her free time, Emily enjoys yoga, cooking, and exploring new places with her husband, Mike and Bernedoodle, Bogey.
Summary
The Rusty Rodeo is a hands-on, community-driven annual event that focuses on identifying and removing invasive Rusty Crayfish from a regional watershed while building awareness of local waterway health. In this session, program partners from multiple agencies present the Rusty Rodeo as a case study — sharing how the partnership event was developed, implemented, and refined over several years. Participants will get an inside look at decision-making, partnership dynamics, challenges, and outcomes, with an emphasis on lessons learned rather than a one-size-fits-all model. Attendees will leave with ideas they can adapt to build their own community-based, conservation-oriented partner programs or events. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to describe the structure, goals, and outcomes of the Rusty Rodeo as a community-based conservation case study. 2. Participants will be able to identify key decisions, challenges, and lessons learned from developing and implementing this partnership program. 3. Participants will be able to evaluate which elements of the Rusty Rodeo model could be adapted to fit their own organizational goals and community needs.

Chicago Region Tree Initiative

Concurrent #1

Speakers
  • Evelyn Stasinopoulos - Community Coordinator
    Evelyn Stasinopoulos currently works as a Community Coordinator for the Chicago Region Trees Initiative at The Morton Arboretum. She is also an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist. Evelyn graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2023 with a degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. After working as a utility forester, she soon discovered her love for urban and community forestry. In her current role, she works with communities statewide, providing resources, education, and guidance on urban forestry practices. Evelyn looks forward to starting her master’s degree this fall at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, studying Biodiversity Conservation and Management while continuing to serve in her role at the arboretum.
  • Elizabeth McDermott - Grant Administrator
    Elizabeth McDermott currently works as the Chicago Region Trees Initiative’s Grant Administrator at The Morton Arboretum. She received her Masters degree in Environmental Sustainability Studies from Loyola University Chicago in 2023 and previously worked for University of Illinois Extension, coordinating natural resources programming in Cook County. In her current role, she assists in overseeing the team’s grant projects. Her work entails supporting the CRTI team and over 200 external grant partners in project execution, reporting, reimbursement, and compliance with funding requirements. She also enjoys taking part in outreach opportunities such as delivering presentations and leading tree walks. In her spare time, she is a certified TreeKeeper with Openlands and helps to take care of the trees in her Chicago neighborhood.
Summary
The Chicago Region Trees Initiative, or CRTI, is the urban and community forestry program at The Morton Arboretum. CRTI seeks to improve people’s lives by supporting the trees in and the access to Illinois’ urban forests. To achieve such a goal, the initiative approaches urban forestry from a holistic viewpoint considering the trees, the people, and the practices that impact both. CRTI is involved at multiple scales, working at both a grassroots level with boots-on-the ground planting and education as well as from a top-down level focused on improving forestry in municipalities. This work would not be possible without the immeasurable help of CRTI’s partners. Groups such as nonprofit organizations, cities, park districts, forest preserve districts as well as individual tree champions work with CRTI to progress towards its goal by volunteering, utilizing grant funds, and conducting plantings. Come learn more about the work CRTI does and how to get involved. Explore what resources are available for tree planting, funding opportunities, educational materials, and more. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to describe the history, development, and community impact of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) and its role in advancing urban and community forestry across Illinois. 2. Participants will be able to identify CRTI’s key priorities, programs, funding opportunities, and educational resources that support tree planting, stewardship, and urban forest management efforts. 3. Participants will be able to explain how park districts, forest preserve districts, conservation organizations, municipalities, and community volunteers can engage with CRTI partnerships and contribute to regional urban forestry goals.

School Program Roundtable Discussion

Concurrent #2

Speakers
  • Derek Gronlund - Environmental Interpretation Supervisor
    Derek Gronlund is the Environmental Interpretation Supervisor for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. He has been working in the field of environmental and outdoor education since 2007, sharing science and nature with a wide variety of audiences. He has a B.S. and M.S. in animal sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a M.S.Ed. in curriculum and instruction with a focus on environmental and interpretive education from Northern Illinois University.
  • Dave Andrusyk - Campus Supervisor
    Dave Andrusyk is the Fullersburg Woods Campus Supervisor for the Forest Preserve District, where he has worked since 1998. He spent five years in Natural Resource Management, gaining hands-on experience in ecological restoration throughout the preserves. Dave later led educational programs for schools, scouts, and the general public, sharing his knowledge of local ecology and conservation. His expertise in native gardening is grounded in years of fieldwork with the District as well as maintaining native plantings at home. He is a member of the National Association for Interpretation and a Certified Interpretive Guide.
Summary
Join us for an interactive facilitated roundtable designed to spark fresh ideas and meaningful connections within the Forest Preserve and Conservation field. Through rapid-fire small group discussions on relevant topics, participants will share experiences, tackle shared challenges, and gather diverse perspectives—all while maximizing professional development and networking in a dynamic, collaborative setting. Topics will focus on managing growing program demand, including strategies for handling large groups and keeping content fresh and relevant. Come ready to discuss your experiences, share your ideas, and learn from peers. Learning Objectives: 1. Collaboratively explore common challenges and opportunities in the forest preserve and conservation sector. 2. Facilitate meaningful professional connections and encourage peer-to-peer learning. 3. Discover innovative solutions by gathering insights from professionals with varied roles and backgrounds.

Round Table Discussion Panel on Preserve Accessibility: What It Takes to Participate in a Program

Concurrent #2

Speakers
  • Katie Schweiger - Director of Community Engagement
    Katie is a people leader. A goal-setter. A champion of fun and curiosity. On any given day, you will see her walking around asking questions that start with “why,” “what if…” and “what would it take to…” Then turning those insights into teams, programs, and experiences that matter. Currently, Katie is the Director of Community Engagement at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.
  • Jason Stubbeman - Accessible Recreation Coordinator
    Jason Stubbeman is an accessible recreation professional with more than 15 years of experience advancing inclusive recreation, program accessibility, and community engagement. He currently serves as the Accessible Recreation Coordinator for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, where he helps ensure programs, services, and experiences are accessible to people of all abilities. Previously, Jason served as Program Director for Adaptive Adventures, leading adaptive recreation programming across more than 30 states and Puerto Rico. His experience also includes program leadership roles with the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) and Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, where he managed large-scale events, coached adaptive sports teams, and developed partnerships that expanded recreational opportunities for diverse communities.
  • Helen Zhou - Assistant Director of Digital Accessibility
    Helen Zhou is the Assistant Director of Digital Accessibility Services at the University of Illinois Chicago. She specializes in digital accessibility consultation, training, and compliance, and supports initiatives to improve accessibility across the university’s digital platforms, applications, and content. She holds the Information Accessibility Design and Policy (IADP) Certificate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is certified by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) as both a Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) and a Certified Accessible Document Specialist (ADS). An active member of the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Planning Committee, she is passionate about advancing accessibility in higher education.
  • Maddy Neubauer - Marketing Manager
    Maddy Neubauer is the Marketing Manager at McHenry County Conservation District, where she brings professional expertise in marketing, communications and digital content strategy. In her role, she is helping guide the organization’s efforts to achieve compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. Her work involves understanding accessibility requirements and applying them to the organization’s digital communications and online presence, with the goal of creating content and experiences that are accessible to a broader range of users. Through her hands-on experience supporting organizational accessibility initiatives, Maddy has developed practical knowledge of the challenges and considerations involved in implementing WCAG standards within a public-sector organization. This combination of marketing experience and direct involvement in accessibility compliance provides valuable subject matter expertise for this session.
Summary
A panel of accessibility experts share experiences of planning & participating in a program at a forest preserve. Experts, including Jemma Ku and Helen Zhou from UIC’s Digital Accessibility Services and Engineering team, Jason Stubbeman, Accessible Recreation Coordinator from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and Maddy Neubauer, Marketing Manager from the McHenry County Conservation District, will walk through visiting the preserve website, registering for an event and visiting the preserve, from the technical side and from the user’s side, sharing and discussing various barriers and pitfalls through the experience. We will review the importance of accessibility on our websites to ensure program leaders are equipped with information well before a program to ensure participants will be able to participate. Learning Objectives: 1. Develop an understanding of goals of the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2. Better understanding of how to make forms more accessible on websites. 3. Discover potential resources and colleagues to assist when encountering accessibility concerns.

Lunch

Lunch

Developing Environmental Stewardship in Early Learners: A Nature Integrated Approach

Concurrent #3

Speakers
  • Stephanie Wiencke - Environmental Science Specialist
    Stefanie Wiencke is an early childhood educator and environmental science specialist who has served the Kendall County Forest Preserve District since 2013. With a background in early childhood education, forest kindergarten, and a certification in environmental science, she played a key role in shaping the Natural Beginnings Early Learning Program. Stefanie also oversees a range of educational programs, including camps, scout and senior programs, school partnerships, and teacher professional development. She is a certified interpretive guide and holds a High-Performance Leadership Certificate from NACo, reflecting her commitment to impactful, nature-based learning and public service leadership.
  • Jessica Vosburgh - Program Coordinator
    Jessica Vosburgh has been with the Kendall County Forest Preserve District and the District’s Natural Beginnings Early Learning Program for over ten years. She earned her Associate in Science from College of DuPage and B.A. in Early Childhood Education from National Louis University. Jessica also holds an Illinois Professional Educator License and Illinois Master Naturalist training. As a Nature-Based Early Childhood educator she seeks to nurture children’s sense of self, belonging and a sense of place in nature. Fostering care for the environment and its inhabitants while igniting the spark of wonder children often find in nature is at the heart of her teaching. Jessica encourages play, exploration, and sensory input through immersion in the natural elements. (Yay for mud and puddles!) Believing that children need these experiences now more than ever, she feels fortunate to be a part of the Forest Preserve District team and community in Kendall County.
Summary
Natural Beginnings Early Learning Program offers a powerful model for reconnecting young children with the natural world. Discover how NB uses nature-based practices to support whole child development and inspire environmental stewardship. This session highlights the program’s history, core principles, and evidence based approaches to integrating nature into daily teaching through developmentally appropriate practices. Through hands-on examples and adaptable activity ideas; attendees will learn how to nurture curiosity, support sensory exploration, build foundational academic skills, and encourage healthy risk-taking in young learners. This session also highlights how early nature-based learning lays the groundwork for environmental stewardship, helping children develop empathy, responsibility, and a meaningful relationship with the world around them. Leave with adaptable tools and fresh inspiration for creating meaningful, nature connected experiences in early childhood settings. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to explain the foundational principles of nature-based learning and how these practices support the cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development of young children. 2. Participants will be able to implement adaptable, developmentally appropriate nature-based activities that encourage curiosity, sensory exploration, outdoor learning, and healthy risk-taking in early childhood settings. 3. Participants will be able to describe how consistent experiences in nature help foster environmental stewardship by building empathy, responsibility, and meaningful connections to the natural world at an early age.

Awards Presentation

Awards Presentation

Hoover Forest Preserve Tour

Facility Tour

Summary
The Hoover Forest Preserve is a unique host to a team-building outdoor education course, variety of camping options, nature play space, baseball field, sledding hill, trails, prairie, woodlands and the Subat Nature Center.
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