Chicago-Michigan Retreat, Fall 2026

This fall, our current Fellows, program staff, and alumni gathered for a week of connection, learning, and exploration across two locations—Chicago, Illinois hosted by 2024 Fellow Leo Gaskins, and the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) in south-central Michigan, hosted by 2024 Fellow Cinnamon Mittan-Moreau. It was our first retreat with the full 2025 cohort present, and the week offered ample opportunities to deepen relationships and learn from one another.

 In Chicago, we kicked off at the Ford Calumet Center where Leo, his mentors, and local conservationists gave a regional conservation overview followed by a viewing of the mimic muskrat lodges Leo and his team built. We were also able to connect with alum Shayle Matsuda (2021), who organized a lunch-and-learn with colleagues at the Shedd Aquarium. Fellows enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at ongoing conservation and research projects, offering a rich window into applied science in an urban setting.

Midweek, the group traveled to Kellogg Biological Station for a collaborative project management workshop focused on connecting research to real-world conservation practice. Goals for the workshop included connecting high-level strategy with practical tools, contextualize project management for applied research and conservation practice, and encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset. The session was facilitated by staff and utilized frameworks such as MOCHA, RACI, and Blueprint.

The retreat concluded with a visit to John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, where Fellows participated in a panel discussion and site tour hosted by Cinnamon and her mentor team. The visit highlighted the diverse partnerships required to advance conservation goals, from research collaborations and species recovery programs to education initiatives and community engagement efforts. Fellows had the opportunity to learn about conservation work taking place within a zoo setting and to discuss the different ways organizations contribute to conservation research, education, and practice.