Emerging leaders for our lakes

About the author: My name is Karin Swanson and I am a student of the Yahara Watershed Academy. I work for Clean Lakes Alliance as the Marketing and Communications Associate Manager and I am a Meteorologist. I am sharing my journey through the Academy in an effort to expand our community’s knowledge and passion for the Yahara River Watershed.

The third class of the Yahara Watershed Academy took place on April 10th at Edgewood College in Madison. There are five day-long classes included in the Academy before the June graduation. Students have been learning about the science and history of the Yahara River Watershed, while being mentored by local leaders.

A cohort of 25 students makes up the 2019 Yahara Watershed Academy. The Academy involves a partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and Edgewood College. By graduation, students will have received the knowledge and skills to become a network of informed leaders for our watershed.

The third day of instruction began with a leadership panel made up of five area leaders, including:

• James Tye – Founder and Executive Director of Clean Lakes Alliance
• Jessie Lerner – Former Executive Director of Sustain Dane, Coordinator of the MPowering Madison Campaign
• Paul Robbins – Dean of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
• Mike Strigel – President and Executive Director of Aldo Leopold Nature Center
• Steve Gilchrist – Program Director of the Social Innovation and Sustainability Leadership Graduate Program at Edgewood College