Yesterday I had the most mind-blowing conversation with Jackie Van Der Hout, the education and outreach director of CUSP (California Urban Streams Partnership). They are a wildly successful organization that is very interested in beavers, and wanted to take on my crazy idea. Jackie had great ideas for the beaver conference and took notes about my ramblings in a way that made it seem like I had great ideas too. I staggered away from the consult feeling excited, energized and more than a little overwhelmed.
Then I played around with Survey Money looking for the best way to get input from possible attendees without spending any actual money. This is what I came up with so far. The California Beaver Summit needs YOU. Click the image at the left to give feedback about your interest in the project. It will help a great deal to hear from you about the idea.
Part of planning something like this is thinking about who its for and what the goals area. I mean do we want biologists, stream-keepers, engineers or teachers to attend? Or all of the above? And what is the best way to package a conference like that? All in one fell swoop or in little chunks like brown bag meeting? Knowing who to speak and how to get them involved is the easy part for me, everything else is new territory.
Something tells me things are about to get very interesting.
6 comments on “CAL-BEAVER SUMMIT NEEDS YOU”
David Patterson
October 24, 2020 at 7:26 amI lived in California for seven years in the 1980s. I loved hiking in the mountain forrest,and finding streams trickling even in late summer. Beavers will work wonders for California’s streams and rivers if allowed to.
heidi08
October 25, 2020 at 6:59 amAgreed!
Ginny
October 24, 2020 at 5:28 pmBeavers are great habitat creators particularly in drought areas or devastated habitat ecosystems. After the California wildflowers we need to build natural ecosystems and let nature participate in this effort.
heidi08
October 25, 2020 at 7:01 amExcellent point!
Hasan Nouri, Hoover Medalist
October 24, 2020 at 11:10 pmFor thousands and million of years Beavers have constructed their own small dams. Although these dams normally washout during flooding season but for most of the year they provide water storage for wildlife and groundwater recharge. It is important that we do not pollute streams and rivers because we would be endangering wildlife and polluting the surface and groundwater.
heidi08
October 25, 2020 at 7:00 amWell said!