1. Phenology Trail Project at the College of Menominee Nation
By: Cathy Munson, Sustainable Development Institute Intern
Intern Mentors: Dean Fellman, Marie Schaefer, Lucy Fenzl

2. OVERVIEW What is phenology and what are phenophases?
What is a phenology trail and how will it enhance existing CMN Learning Path?
What kind of investigative research did I do?
Activities to plant the phenology seed in everyone’s mind
What have I learned throughout this process?
Future goals

3. What is phenology and what are phenophases?
What is phenology? Phenology is the science of the seasons…
What are the phenophases? Lifecycle changes that are displayed during a plant or animal’s life.
Some common phenophases are:
initial growth (emergence), budding, leaf out, flowering, fruiting and seeding
Common animal phenophases are migration, hibernation and breeding.
Phenology is the science of the seasons. It is how the plants and animals respond to environmental cues or climatic changes such as the temperature, the amount of sunlight and precipitation.
-The phenophases are the definite life cycle changes that are displayed in accordance with these changes. Some common plant phenophases are the emergence, budding, full leaf, flowering, fruiting, seeding and dormancy. Common animal phenophases include migration, hibernation and breeding.

4. What is a phenology trail and how will it enhance existing CMN Learning Path?
-A phenology trail is an interactive path where nature observers observe, record and track phenological events of designated plants or animals.

5. My investigative research included the following:
The review of various phenological organizations as well currently running phenology trails
Plant identification on the trail collaborative work
Development of:
Phenology Trail Project Manual
Phenology webpage
I had conducted research on a plethora of phenological organizations as well as existing phenology trails -Discovered that the Wisconsin Phenological Society was the first organized group in the U.S. officiated in 1963 (had been gathering since 1959)
--Aldo Leopold the Father of Wildlife Management had started conducting phenology study on his property in Southern Wisconsin in 1935 but died in 1948 while fighting a fire. He wrote the Sand County Almanac.
--GLFWIC Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Commission Phenology Study done by the Climate Change Program study of treaty harvested plant species. Long term monitoring of plant budding (have a phencam with time lapse of spring green out, emergence of insects, migration of birds and thawing of lake ice.
--USA National Phenology Network Nature’s Notebook is an invaluable resource with a Basic Botany Guide; how to observe, record and track observations; how to develop a phenology trail, educational outreach

6. Planting the seeds within the community
Earth Day Mini-Bioblitz
Collaborated with US Forest Service, Menominee tribal professionals and community members
Community meetings

7. What I have learned through this process:
Basic botany including plant identification
How to identify phenophases and the variables that affect them
How to engage in collaborative work with multiple tribal and nontribal organizations
How to develop and utilize available technologies

8. Future Goals Continued development of Phenology Trail Project Manual
Additional community input
Selection of plant or animal species to be observed
Further trail construction: i.e. signage
Work with other college and community groups to encourage the use of the trail

9. Acknowledgements
Sustainable Development Institute & Center for First Americans Forestlands:
Chris Caldwell, Dean Fellman, Marie Schaefer, Rebecca Edler, Cherie Thunder, Cynthia Norton
College of Menominee Nation:
Dale Kakkak, Dr. Dennis Vickers, Dr. William Van Lopik, Lucy Fenzl
UW-Extension:
Jennifer Gauthier
USDA Forest Service:
Dr. Jennifer Youngblood, Dr. Christel Kern
University of Minnesota:
Dr. Rebecca Montgomery
Menominee Tribal Enterprises:
Jeff Grignon
Community Educators/Menominee Plant Knowledge Holders:
Richard Annamitta, Ron Bowan, Jr., Bonnie Mckiernan
Fellow interns:
Denise Kasprzak, Enos Anton, Ciara Powless, Eric Nacotee, Adam Schulz, Brandon Boyd, Kasey Paiser, Jaycee Tourtillott