A new chapter for Journey North

Dear Journey North Community,

Journey North has been part of the education and research programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum since 2018, after 25 successful years under the leadership of Elizabeth Howard. Having this institutional home means that Journey North is part of a suite of citizen science programming at the Arboretum and benefits from the technological expertise of the UW Department of Information Technology. Arboretum educational programming involves audiences of all ages in Citizen Science, including Journey North; regular bird monitoring at the Arboretum provides a place-based connection to bird phenology; and partnership with the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, collaboratively run by the Arboretum and the Monarch Joint Venture, provides a strong connection to another continent-wide monarch monitoring program.

During most of the time that Journey North has been at the Arboretum, it has benefited greatly from the leadership of Nancy Sheehan and a team which has included Liz Goehring, Lisa Andrewski, Annie Isenbarger, Scott Dyke, and Jacob Swanson. During this period, the Journey North website and data-base structure have undergone important improvements, Journey North data have been shared broadly with the scientific and conservation communities, and strong partnerships have been forged with other conservation and citizen science programs. Nancy will be leaving the Arboretum to pursue other career opportunities at the end of June, but Journey North will remain at the Arboretum for a new chapter of growth that includes ongoing focus on environmental education, engagement of the public in science, and accurate data in support of basic knowledge and conservation.

Sincerely,

Josh Goldman

Interim Director

UW-Madison Arboretum