Purdue University Wildlife Students Visit Nicolet College to Learn About Northern Ecosystems 

A contingent of nearly 50 wildlife ecology students from Indiana’s Purdue University recently visited Nicolet College to learn about and experience the rich and diverse northern natural ecosystem on campus. 

“This was an incredibly valuable learning opportunity for our students,” said Jarred Brooke, Purdue Wildlife Extension Specialist, who coordinated the field trip. 

“We always strive to give our students a broad base on instruction and knowledge and I really have to commend Nicolet College for being so welcoming and helpful in this regard. It was a wonderful experience.” 

The day started for the students with a presentation in the Nicolet Theatre on ruffed grouse biology and habitat by Jon Steigerwaldt, a Nicolet graduate who now works as Forest Conservation Director for the Ruffed Grouse Society. 

After this presentation, students headed into the woods on campus for an instructional tour led by Nicolet College Science Instructor Roger Dorsey, who focused on the dynamics of forest succession. 

The morning visit to Nicolet was one of many stops the students made during their five-week tour of Northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. That afternoon they visited the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Treehaven facility to learn about the ecology of that location. 

Pictured: Nicolet College Science Instructor Roger Dorsey, pictured here in the orange vest, has been using the woods on the Nicolet Campus as a teaching tool for more than 30 years. Here, he discusses forest succession with students from Purdue University, based in West Lafayette, Indiana, as part of their five-week tour of the Upper Midwest.