My name is Brenda and I am serving as Program Assistant with the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly in Cadillac. I will be serving Wexford, Missaukee, and Roscommon Counties in the upper reaches of the watershed through educational outreach programs, coordinating on-the-ground restoration/conservation projects, and water monitoring.
My Bachelor of Science degree was obtained from Beloit College in Wisconsin (my home state) and my Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in Natural Resources Management. I was employed with the Michigan DNR/DEQ for 15 years before taking an early retirement in 2001 to be a 'stay-at-home' mom.
Since then, besides raising my two beautiful daughters, I have been mostly freelance writing. I have been published in Michigan History Magazine and in the Cadillac News as a weekly local history columnist (which I continue to do). I have also filled my 'free' time with planting way too many flower gardens, teaching outdoor education at the Kettunen Center in Tustin, substitute teaching at Manton Schools, and coaching Manton High School's awesome Odyssey of the Mind team (last year's State champs and World competitors for the past 3 consecutive years!). My home is in the woods with husband Steve, daughters Rachel (17) and Brittany (15), two dogs (Goldie and Bandit), a horse (Iris), two rabbits (Dandelion and Velvet), four chickens (who names their chickens?!), and too many cats to count.
It feels good to be a voice for the environment once again. My goals for this year are to increase awareness of our precious natural resources while enjoying the experience of being an AmeriCorps member.
