RB HAPPENINGS…

We’d like to have some indoor meetings while it’s still cold out, but we’re waiting to see how the COVID-19 situation evolves once classes start — stay tuned.

First up, the deadline to apply for the Red Bison Undergraduate Award is January 23, 2022 at 11:59 PM. We encourage you to apply for this $500 award, open to all full-time undergraduates of any major passionate about the environmental sciences, especially underrepresented students.

We’re making plans for next semester, including guest speakers, burns, socials, invasives removals, fundraisers, and possibly some new RB merch! We’ve also been thinking about having more frequent meetings if you can’t make the regular time at 10 AM on Saturday. Drop us a line if you’re interested!!

RB needs a new volunteer to tend the pollinator garden at the National Soybean Research Center (NSRC), a commitment of around 15 minutes per week. Email us for more information if you are interested in this position!!

If you are interested in helping clear the downed trees at Camp Kiwanis for the Girl Scouts, hold tight! We’re awaiting more details on when that’ll take place. Be sure to watch for details in a future newsletter.

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EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES…

On Wednesday, January 12 at 7 PM CST, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District and Master Naturalist Programs are hosting Dr. Eric Schauber over Zoom for “Ask the State Biologist: Answers and insights into Illinois natural history and the Illinois Natural History Survey“! Register and ask your questions here and email volunteer@ccfpd.org with registration issues.

The Red Oak Rain Garden (RORG) will hold a prescribed burn at the Dorner Drive Retention Pond (right across from the RORG) sometime before January 15! If you’re on campus and want to help direct people away from the prescribed burn, please email Layne at lknoch2@illinois.edu to be added to a list of potential volunteers. UIUC Natural Areas Manager Jamie Ellis will be present to help direct the burn!

Finally, if you’re interested in helping out the Champaign County Forest Preserve District by using herbicide at any of their workdays, some of which Red Bison plans on attending, you’ll need to attend a Zoom workshop Thursday, January 20th at 5:30 pm. The training is 1-2 hours long, and you can register here or by emailing Natural Resources Director Peter Goodspeed at pgoodspeed@ccfpd.org. This is a great way to get some hands-on experience with herbicide, an important tool in any ecologist’s kit. (It’s also possible that getting this training will allow you to use pesticides on RB workdays, but I can’t make any promises).

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Be sure to reach out with any questions! Looking forward to a great semester with everyone!

Vijay Shah
RB Secretary
redbison.rso@gmail.com

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