Emily Cole, a naturalist educator for the Richard Bong State Recreation Area, is the featured speaker for the March 5 Thursdays at the U program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire – Barron County.
Emily Cole
Her presentation, “Bats of Wisconsin,” will run from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Blue Hills Lecture Hall in Ritzinger Hall and also will be livestreamed at ricelaketv.com.
Cole will describe what makes bats such special, valuable and mysterious mammals, how people can co‑exist with them and how scientists study bat populations across Wisconsin and beyond.
Cole began her career teaching in a classroom setting. Her passion for sparking the joy of learning in others, especially for science and conservation, and her desire for a deeper connection with nature led her to Richard Bong State Recreation Area in Kenosha County. At Richard Bong, she enjoys teaching in a setting that values freedom, creativity and an inquisitive mindset.
Cole is a National Association for Interpretation-certified interpretive guide, Wisconsin Bat Ambassador and master naturalist instructor. She has found a special love for the study of reptiles, amphibians, bats and park history. The nature of her work, the land at Richard Bong and the people who cherish the land continue to spark her passion for growth and improvement.
The Thursdays at the U weekly series is free and open to the public thanks to support from the UW-Eau Claire – Barron County Foundation. Neither seating reservations nor parking permits are needed for in-person attendees.
While in-person attendance is encouraged, most presentations in the series are livestreamed and archived on the Thursdays at the U webpage.
The next program in the series will be March 12, with Maj. Kristin Walukas presenting “Civil Air Patrol: ‘Wings of Service.’”
For more information, contact Laura Holden at 715-788-6207 or holdenlk@uwec.edu.
