Hybrid
2025 Midwest Beaver Summit
Thursday, June 5
Oakton College, Des Plaines, IL
and virtual
​
Presented by
Illinois Beaver Alliance
Superior Bio-Conservancy
Oakton College
Presentations
​​
Agroforestry: Cultivating Climate Resilience in Midwest Agriculture, presented by Fred Iutzi, Savanna Institute
Beavers: Partners in Climate Resilience, presented by Dr. Emily Fairfax, University of Minnesota
Beaver Management Plans for Local Entities, presented by Mike Callahan, Beaver Institute
Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Beavers: An Anishinaabe Perspective, presented by Michael Waasegiizhig-Price, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission​​
2025 Hybrid Midwest Beaver Summit Schedule
9:30 a.m.: Registration, pastries, and coffee (in person only)
10:00 a.m.: Opening ceremony, land acknowledgment, introductions
10:40 to 11:15 a.m.: Keynote: Agroforestry: Cultivating Climate Resilience in Midwest Agriculture, Fred Iutzi, Savanna Institute
11:25 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Beavers: Partners in Climate Resilience, Dr. Emily Fairfax
12 to 12:55 p.m.: Lunch (in person); documentary films "Beavers in Paradise: Official film of the Ealing Beaver Project" and "Beaver: A Medicine of Possibility" (virtual)
1:00 to 1:35 p.m.: Beaver Management Plans for Local Entities, Mike Callahan
1:40 to 2:15 p.m.: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Beavers: An Anishinaabe Perspective, Michael Waasegiizhig-Price
2:20 to 3:50 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
3:50 to 4 p.m.: Wrap up
4:45 p.m.: Happy hour at hotel (in person only)
Virtual Breakout Sessions (virtual attendees will select two at registration)​
Participatory
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A Conversation About Policy and Permitting Challenges in Midwest States, facilitated by Alexa Whipple, Methow Okanogan Beaver Project, and Rob Walton, NOAA Fisheries (retired). An opportunity to discuss the current policies in your state that impact beavers, including water regulations and trapping regulations, as well as the types of research findings needed to make your state’s policies more “beaver-forward.”
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A Conversation for Federal Natural Resource Management Agency Staff, facilitated by Bryan Hummel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (retired). A freewheeling conversation amongst federal agency staff on beaver restoration, beaver coexistence, funding, regulatory and jurisdictional issues, and other challenges and opportunities related to beavers.
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A Conversation for State Natural Resource Management Agency Staff, facilitated by Molly Alves, California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A freewheeling conversation amongst state agency staff on beaver restoration, beaver coexistence, funding, regulatory and jurisdictional issues, and other challenges and opportunities related to beavers.
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A Conversation for Land Trust Staff, facilitated by Lisa Haderlein, the Land Conservancy of McHenry County. A freewheeling conversation amongst land trust staff on beaver restoration, beaver coexistence, funding, regulatory and jurisdictional issues, and other challenges and opportunities related to beavers.
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Power Mapping, facilitated by Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman, Occidental Arts & Ecology Center. Looking to change policies in your state? Power mapping helps you consider all players of relevance to your campaign, identify key players to target during the campaign, and develop a visual representation of where power relationships stand in relation to the issue.
Educational
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Ask the Beaver Rehabbers, featuring Jane Newhouse, Newhouse Wildlife Rescue, Alexis Broz, Wild for Life, and Alex Hernly, The Pipsqueakery. Nibi, Bo, and Agnes’s rehabbers share information about raising beaver kits and answer questions from virtual attendees.
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Writing, Activism, and Citizen Science, presented by author Leila Philip. The New York Times bestselling author of Beaverland will talk about her experiences writing and promoting the book and how it has turned her into an environmental activist.
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Educational Programming and Activities about Beavers for Children, presented by Alison Zak, the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund. Learn how to give a presentation and conduct learning activities about beavers to children.
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Beavers and Floating Wetlands in Urban Chicago, Sammie Clark and Phil Nicodemus, Urban Rivers. What about beavers in urban settings? Learn about Urban Rivers’ floating constructed wetlands in the Chicago River, their ecosystem benefits, and how beavers and other wildlife take advantage of them.
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Using Watershed Units and GIS Technology for the Management of Beavers and Other Wildlife, presented by Kurt Menke, Septima, and Bob Boucher, the Superior Bio-Conservancy. Learn about this open-sourced mapping analysis tool that would allow state and Tribal wildlife agencies to manage wildlife populations more accurately using best available science.
Registration Coming Soon!
Optional
Beaver Co-Existence Workshop with Beaver Institute Founder Mike Callahan
Wednesday, June 4 (In-Person Only)
​Space is limited! Learn all about nonlethal beaver conflict resolution from the people who’ve installed more successful flow devices than anyone in the world. You’ll learn successful flow device theory, design and installation techniques, with hands-on building opportunities.
Oakton College, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sponsors
Diamond Level
The Beaver Institute​ (national)
​Platinum Level
Silver Level
Arkansas Beaver Committee (AR)
Friends of the North Pikes Creek Wetlands (WI)
Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy (MI)
Co-Hosts
Adapt: Community Supported Ecology (Michigan)
Anthropocene Alliance (national)
Biodiversity for a Livable Climate (national)
Bur Oak Land Trust (IA)
The Conservation Foundation (IL)
Driftless Area Land Conservancy (WI)
Friends of the Chicago River (IL)
The Furbearers (national)
Huron River Watershed Council (MI)
Illinois Environmental Council (IL)
Indiana Wildlife Federation (IN)
LC Nature Park (IN)
Monarchs, Milkweed and More (IL)
Mycelium Regenerative Co-design (IL)
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (national)
Northfield Beaver Brigade (MN)
​The Pipsqueakery (IN)
Prairie State Conservation Coalition (IL)
Red-tail Land Conservancy (IN)
Save the Dunes (IN)
Sycamore Land Trust (IN)
Sierra Club National Harmful Algal Blooms (national)
Sierra Club National Water Sentinels (national)
Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy (MI)
Urban Rivers (IL)
Urban Wildlife Institute at Lincoln Park Zoo (IL)
Wild Farm Alliance (MN)
Wild for Life (NY)
Planning Committee
Jeff Boland-Prom, Illinois Beaver Alliance
Bob Boucher, Superior Bio-Conservancy
Gloria Charland, Sierra Club National Harmful Algal Blooms Team
Jonah Docter-Loeb, Northfield Beaver Brigade
Mary Handelsman, Manitou Creek Drainage District
Linda Kaleita, Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy
Amanda Krause, Oakton College
Hannah Malicky, Illinois Beaver Alliance
Rachel Schick Siegel, Illinois Beaver AllianceMichael Waasegiizhig-Price, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
Jayne Willard, CAC Americorps