September 9, 2010 – Zoonotics

 Speaker: Susan Weinstein, DVM, Arkansas Department of Health

Program: Zoonotics

Dr. Susan Weinstein will teach us about zoonotics, diseases that normally infect animals but can be transmitted to people.  Several diseases are carried by birds. What’s the latest on West Nile Virus?  Is there a risk of catching Swine Flu in Arkansas?  Are there risks to feeding or handling wild birds?  Ask Susan.

 Dr. Weinstein works as the State Public Health Veterinarian for the AR Dept. of Health.  She is Chief of the Zoonotic Disease Section, where she works with diseases animals are able to transmit to humans.

October 14, 2010 – Leave No Trace

Speaker: Dr. Greg Hamilton

Program:  Leave No Trace

Dr. Greg Hamilton will share with us the principles of Leave No Trace, a program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts while enjoying the outdoors. It is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations. Leave No Trace information helps public land visitors understand and practice minimum impact skills and ethics. 

Dr. Hamilton is a senior research economist, demographer, and director of research at the Institute for Economic Advancement.  Greg is active with the Boys Scouts (BSA).  He served as Scout Master of Troop 30 at St Paul’s Church in 2005. Since then he as become a Leave No Trace Master Trainer and is engaged in developing and delivering the BSA’s Leave No Trace Training Programs.

November 11, 2010 – The Ozarks Project (tentative)

 Speakers: Kelly Mulhollan and Donna Stjerna

Program:  The Ozarks Project, Toucan Jam, and more 

Kelly and Donna will entertain us with folk stories collected from the people of the Ozarks.  They may even share a song or two inspired by these tales.  In addition to being skilled musicians, they are excellent educators and will describe the ways they teach children about exotic cultures and nature through their Toucan Jam program. 

Both Kelly and Donna are accomplished songwriters and play a plethora of acoustic instruments under the moniker Still on the Hill. The group's repertoire is primarily their own original, roots-based compositions, a genre hybrid they term "folkgrass."  The twosome has created several very popular children's shows and educational workshops which they perform under the name Toucan Jam.  They also teach students about birds at the Halberg Ecology Camp.