JOIN US
Join us at Mississippi Park Connection's Annual Membership Breakfast! We cordially invite you to gather with us as we celebrate achievements from the past year.
This special event will include an opportunity to learn firsthand about the recent impacts of your membership and updates from the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Hear about ongoing initiatives from environmental stewardship, youth education, and co-created affinity community programs.
Engage with Mississippi Park Connection staff, park partners, and fellow supporters. Whether you've been a long-standing member or are new to Mississippi Park Connection, your stewardship allows Mississippi Park Connection’s core values of Community-focus, Inspiration, Resilience, Partnership, and Joy to flourish for all to experience the river.
Join us to celebrate the past, present, and future of Mississippi Park Connection and the National Park Service with park partners and fellow supporters. Hear about new research to locate beaver lodges in the park, and understand how beavers and climate change are impacting the floodplain forest. Share in the successes that you made possible with a preview of the 2023 Annual Report. Shape the future of the organization over breakfast!
This event is free for members and supporters. Seating is limited so register early.
Mark your calendar and join us for an inspiring morning of reflection, and learn more about what’s ahead for the future of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
Breakfast and coffee will be provided.
Date: January 30, 2024
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Pool and Yacht Club | Saint Paul, MN
Please register to secure your spot. Questions about membership? Email us at zthaoseng@parkconnection.org.
Event Panelists
The event program will include a panel sharing updates from staff and park partners! Join us for a discussion led by expert panelists dedicated to preserving this iconic waterway. Learn about ongoing efforts around beaver monitoring and the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change Initiative at Crosby Farm Regional Park, in partnership with the University of Minnesota. Ask questions and be part of the conversation!
Jayne Willard
Biotech, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - National Park Service
Jayne Willard is a biological science technician at MISS where she leads the data collection of the park’s long term beaver monitoring survey alongside researchers at the University of Minnesota. Prior to her move to the Midwest, Jayne earned her B.S. and M.A. at The University of North Carolina where she studied the water quality impacts of urban beaver populations. When not busy studying North America’s largest native rodent, Jayne can be found listening to Taylor Swift, watching Carolina/Minnesota sports, or road tripping to see the tackiest of roadside attractions.
Dr. Marcella Windmuller Campione
Associate Professor of Silviculture Major Coordinator: Forest and Natural Resource Management, University of Minnesota
Dr. Windmuller-Campione explores topics of silviculture, forest restoration, adaptive management, forest ecology, stand and plant community dynamics, and forest regeneration dynamics. Specifically, she explores how conventional and alternative forest management approaches can be used to increase forest resistance and resilience to current and future threats. Marcella received her BS and MS in forestry from Michigan Technological University and a PhD in Ecology from Utah State University. Marcella mentors graduate students in the Natural Resources Science and Management and Conservation Sciences programs and teaches silviculture at the University of Minnesota.
Marielle Mateo
Forestry Program Coordinator, Mississippi Park Connection
Marielle coordinates tree plantings, manages MPC’s gravel beds, assists in habitat restoration events and conducts tree planting survival surveys. In this position, Marielle has worked with MPC’s stewardship team to improve and restore forest habitats across the Mississippi River, build resilience against climate change, and benefit local communities and wildlife. She is a graduate from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a B.S. in Conservation Biology and comes from a diverse background of conservation and sustainability-focused positions with Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Hennepin County, and Great Basin Institute. Across her positions, she’s enjoyed learning about the natural world and sharing that connection with others.