UMISC Workshops
We are pleased to offer a variety of workshops at UMISC 2026 with exciting learning opportunities for anyone involved with invasive species management. All workshops will be held on the afternoon of Tuesday October 6th, during one concurrent session time period (1 hour and 40 minutes), with the exception of "Shared Stewardship of Nonnative Species: Convening Tribal Managers for Collaborative Learning", which will take place over two session periods. Please note that workshops are designed to be in-person experiences and will not be livestreamed.
Workshop Descriptions
Mille Lacs, photo courtesy of Jake Walsh, University of Minnesota
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Shared Stewardship of Nonnative Species: Convening Tribal Managers for Collaborative Learning
Tuesday October 6th 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Presenters: Jake Walsh, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; Raining White, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; Matthew Santo, 1854 Treaty Authority; Madison Bear, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; Elizabeth Zingg, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; several other speakers by invitation. There are over three dozen federally recognized Tribes in the Upper Midwest, representing a broad range of perspectives regarding nonnative species and diverse socioecological contexts in the stewardship of nonnative species. For example, some Ojibwe bands view nonnative species as “non-local beings” and treat them as any other visitor to their communities while respecting their agency and personhood. This perspective allows for a unique “respectful observation” approach that could result in more careful application of management effort and recognition of potential "gifts" that nonnative species may bring with them. Such efficiency will be critical as the number of nonnative species and the number of ecosystems they inhabit continues to increase and ecosystems continue to change. At this workshop, Tribal management staff will share their Tribe’s perspectives, programs, successes, and ongoing challenges in nonnative species management. After information-sharing, we will provide a series of discussions regarding common approaches to successful management, pressing issues facing Tribal invasive species managers, and opportunities to address those issues through continued relationship-building. Attendees will learn about diverse Tribal invasive species management programs in the Upper Midwest as well as the opportunities and challenges that they deal with in their areas, all while meeting and networking with Tribal invasive species staff. Cost: Free to attend, registration is appreciated for planning purposes |
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Art & Invasives: A Creative Approach to Outreach
Tuesday October 6th 1:00 pm - 2:40 pm Presenter: Kim Boustead, Freelance Artist Engaging, hands-on, creative experiences can help connect people with the natural environment and provide an opportunity to educate them about invasive species and ecosystem relationships. After an introduction on how art can be used in invasive species outreach, freelance artist Kim Boustead will take participants through a demonstration of Gyotaku print-making using invasive goldfish. After the demonstration, each participant will be provided with materials to create their own print. Cost: $40.00 |
European frog-bit, photo courtesy of Michelle Beloskur
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Identification of Native and Exotic Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest
Tuesday October 6th 1:00 pm - 2:40 pm Presenters: Paul Skawinski, Extension Lakes Educator of the Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network at UW-Stevens Point, Aquatic Botany instructor at UWSP and the author and photographer of "Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest: a photographic field guide to our underwater forests"; Michelle Nault, Lakes and Rivers Section Manager for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Jo Latimore, Michigan State University Extension The Upper Midwest region is blessed with an amazing diversity of aquatic plants – over 150 species. Knowing what to look for is the key to distinguishing between the members of this important group of plants. In this workshop, participants will learn the biology and identification of native and exotic aquatic plants of the Upper Midwest region. The instructors will use a combination of laminated teaching specimens and fresh plants (as available) to teach participants how to identify common native species as well as many non-native species. No prior knowledge of aquatic plant identification is necessary. Cost: $25.00 |
red swamp crayfish, photo courtesy of the US Geological Survey, Bugwood.org
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Hands-on Identification of Native & Invasive Crayfishes
Tuesday October 6th 1:00 pm - 2:40 pm Presenters: Natalia Szularuk, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Roger F. Thoma, Ohio State University Museum of Biological Diversity Invasive crayfish pose a significant threat to ecosystems across the Midwest and beyond. Accurate identification is critical for early detection and effective management; however, crayfish can be difficult to identify due to subtle morphological differences between species and their wide range of sizes, colors, and body patterns. This hands-on workshop is designed for professionals looking to strengthen their crayfish identification skills and better distinguish invasive crayfish from native look-alikes. Participants will learn practical strategies for identifying crayfish found in the upper Midwest region using preserved specimens and guided instruction. Workshop content will include crayfish anatomy, identification tools and resources, best practices for documentation, and common pitfalls that lead to misidentification. Participants will leave with reference materials and resources to support accurate and consistent crayfish identification in the field. Cost: $25.00 |
banded mystery snails, photo by Megan Weber, University of Minnesota Extension
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Know Your Native and Invasive Snails
Tuesday October 6th 3:20 pm - 5:00pm Presenters: Amanda Schuermann and Megan Weber, Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center Being able to tell the difference between native and invasive snail species is a key skill for any aquatic biologist, but can be daunting to learn on your own! This workshop is for the complete beginner. We'll begin with a short lecture on snail taxonomy, anatomy, and field methodology, followed by hands-on experience with real snail specimens. We will highlight the morphological differences between common native and invasive snail species so you can be more confident in the field, no matter what you find. Cost: $25.00 |