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Girls with microscope for Volunteer Essentials

Meet the Expert

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes is launching a new virtual program, “Meet the Expert!” Girl Scouts of all ages, family members, and community members are invited to tune in to our Facebook page to view interviews, tours, activities, and much more done by experts in your communities! Many of the experts will be live in the chat during the event to answer any questions you may have.

Although this series is not badge-earning, many of the videos will directly tie to a badge! Videos will also be available on the website to view on your own time! These videos will take place on the first and third Wednesday of every month at 6 PM CST as we continue to collect videos!


Meet ALL of Our Experts! 

Ryan Swadley, Museum Educator at the Neville Public Museum


His job includes curating exhibits, taking care of the artifacts, giving tours, and planning programs and events.

In this video, Ryan will talk a little bit about the history of the Neville Public Museum, what kinds of artifacts they have, how and why they create exhibits, and the types of jobs at the museum.

Coordinating Badges:
  • Brownie:Celebrating Community
  • Junior: Business Owner
Katrina Schiedemeyer, Supplier Development Engineer at Oshkosh Corporation

Katrina Schiedemeyer works in the Supplier Development Engineering department at Oshkosh Corporation. She went to school in Oshkosh, WI, and now travels the world for work! Katrina is very committed to staying connected with her community and serves on 4 art-related non-profit boards. Katrina will talk about what is a supply chain, what a supplier chain developer does, and how girls can use creativity while pursuing STEM careers.

Coordinating Badges:
  • Brownie: Inventor, STEM Career Exploration
  • Cadette: STEM Career Exploration
Eileen Moskowitz-Palma, Author of The Popularity Pact


Join Cadette Girl Scout Gabby, as she interviews the author of The Popularity Pact series, Eileen Moskowitz-Palma! Eileen has always loved reading and was inspired to write her own. See more about Eileen.

Coordinating Badges:
  • Junior: Scribe
  • Senior: Novelist
Ryan Swadley, Museum Educator

 

Ryan is the Museum Educator at the Neville Public Museum. His job includes curating exhibits, taking care of the artifacts, giving tours, and planning programs and events.

In this video, Ryan will talk a little bit about his 5 favorite exhibits at the Neville Public Museum and an introduction to Stompy the Mastadon!

Coordinating Badges:
  • Brownie: STEM Career Exploration
  • Cadette: STEM Career Exploration
James Harrington, Assistant Complex Coordinator

 

James Harrington works as an Assistant Complex Coordinator with Residential & Community Living at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to this position, James studied at UC Santa Barbara and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and Comparative Literature.

Coordinating Badges:
  • Ambassador: College Knowledge
The Einstein Project, Kevin Grondahl & Brown County Innovation Center helpers

 

The Einstein Project focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Education in the classroom and the community. Kevin Grondahl works for the Einstein Project located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Kevin helps run the Makerspace and develop programming and will be leading different activities around NE Wisconsin in area parks.

Kevin has degrees in Outdoor Education, and Computer Sciences – specializing in Cyber Security and Education. He, and his wife Mackenzie, are troop leaders for troop 2523​ located in Kaukauna. They are both STEM Trainers for our council, and he is also a trainer for our 1st aid programs as well.

Kevin and his daughter Ellie enjoy exploring nature and capturing photographs of what they see. They also love to hike, camp, garden and his whole family also love Geo-caching.

Coordinating Badges:
  • Daisy: Think Like An Engineer
  • Brownie: STEM Career Exploration, Inventor
  • Junior: Think Like An Engineer
  • Cadette: STEM Career Exploration, Think Like An Engineer
  • Senior: Game Visionary, Think Like An Engineer
  • Ambassador: Good Credit, Think Like An Engineer
Deb Johnson, Chef

Hop over to Chef Deb Johnson Kitchen as she walks us through how to make Lemon Blueberry Muffins!

Ingredients:

  • Eggs 
  • Sugar 
  • Plain Greek Yogurt 
  • Unsweetened Applesauce 
  • Honey 
  • Vanilla Extract 
  • Lemon Zest 
  • Lemon Juice 
  • Flour Baking 
  • Soda Baking Powder 
  • Salt 
  • Blueberries 

Deb has a great passion for teaching children the basics of cooking and good nutrition. When not teaching Budding Chefs classes, Deb enjoys reading, being on the water on her paddleboard or the boat, searching for and trying out new recipes, and spending time with her husband and her college-age boys.

Chef Deb also offers classes for Girl Scout Troops! Learn more here: http://www.buddingchefsinfo.com/

Coordinating Badges:
  • Brownie: Snacks
  • Junior: Simple Meals
Jennifer & Emma, Lawrence University

 

Join Emma Reading and Jen England as they chat about the college admissions process, specifically "Demystifying the College Admissions Process".

Jennifer England is the Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Visit Experience at Lawrence University. She has nearly 25 years of experience in college admissions at both small, liberal arts colleges and midsize public universities. She has served on the Board of Directors for Colleges That Change Lives and supports their mission of student-centered admissions. While Jen has worked in all facets of college admissions, her favorite part of the job remains meeting with students and families to help make the application process less stressful.

Emma grew up in Castle Rock, CO, and moved to Wisconsin in 2014 to attend Lawrence University, a school, and state she is proud to call home. After graduating from LU in 2019 with a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies, Emma continued her student work as a tour guide and admissions worker by joining the Lawrence University Admissions Team as a music admissions counselor. In her work, Emma is passionate about taking a personalized approach to the college search, helping students discover what they want and need in their future school while helping them see how Lawrence can support their dreams. She believes in celebrating the unique college search of each of her students and strives to serve them as a supportive resource no matter which school they end up attending. When not working with students, Emma can be found exploring hiking trails across Wisconsin, making music on flute, guitar, and piano, and playing with her cat Circe.

Coordinating Badges:
  • Ambassador: College Knowledge
La'Tanya Campbell, Marathon County Diversity Affairs Commission Member

 

Meet our next expert, La’Tanya Campbell!

La’Tanya is a mentor, consultant, and advocate. She has been inspiring, empowering, and motivating individuals and communities for over 15 years. She began her career in 2008, helping to empower victims of violence to become safe, stable, and self-reliant. Her work addressing racism, implicit bias, and systemic oppression began as a means to ensure the safety and self-sufficiency of those she served, combating all forms of institutional oppression while lifting the voice of survivors.

Locally she is an appointed member of the Marathon County Diversity Affairs Commission and the City of Wausau Liberation and Freedom committee, and advisory member of the United Ways Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access taskforce. Her passion is to build resilience, motivate all to thrive, and inspire champions of diversity.

Coordinating Badges:
  • Brownie: Budding Entrepreneur
  • Junior: Business Owner
Chrissy Earl, VicTreeFi

 

Meet our Expert, Chrissy Earl!

Chrissy is the co-founder of VicTreeFi, an EdTech company focused on financial literacy. VicTreeFi partners with schools and community organizations to teach students smart money management strategies and introduce key financial concepts. Prior to founding VicTreeFi, Chrissy spent a decade in banking regulation. Before entering the financial industry, she studied Finance and Economics at the University of Alabama.

Chrissy also was a Girl Scout from her time as a Daisy until high school graduation.

Coordinating Badges:
  • Daisy: Making Changes
  • Brownie: Philanthropist
  • Junior: Savvy Shopper
  • Cadette: Budgeting
  • Senior: Financing My Future
  • Ambassador: Good Credit
Ken Wiele, Photographer

 

Meet our expert, Ken Wiele!

Ken is a professional photographer who focuses on capturing animals in action and the beautiful scenery around him. Ken is also an avid fisherman and enjoys spending his summers in the beautiful woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Recently Wiele was awarded 1st place in Lake Superior Magazine’s nature photography contest. His photography can be found at kenwiele.smugmug.com

But Ken wasn't always a professional photographer, he was a band director in Kenosha, Wisconsin for 35 years!

Ken is going to show us some of his photography, give us some tips and tricks, and how important being creative is for everyone!

Coordinating Badges:
  • Brownie: Outdoor Art Creator
  • Junior: Digital Photographer
  • Senior: Collage Artist
  • Ambassador: Photographer
Sonja Downing

 

Learn about the Song and Dance of Bali.

Coordinating Badges:
  • Brownie: A World of Girls
  • Junior: Musician
  • Senior: Traveler
WI Department of Natural Resources

Girl Scouts Love Wisconsin Forests

The Wisconsin DNR has teamed up with the Wisconsin Girl Scout Councils to encourage Girl Scouts to help protect the state’s forestland and explore the exciting careers in forestry.

Forests are woven into the fabric of Wisconsin. There are 17 million acres of forestland that cover nearly half the state and are vital to our social, ecological and economic well-being.

Learn about Wisconsin's forest resources, discover how you can be a hero for the forest now and in the future and support the trillion tree planting pledge to protect and restore Wisconsin’s forestland.

The collaboration will culminate with in-person tree plantings organized and hosted by the Wisconsin Girl Scout Councils. All participants in one of these events will receive a free tree seedling courtesy of the Wisconsin DNR.