Wolves in Wisconsin
2025-11-19 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Virtual, Zoom Webinar
Join wildlife biologist Richard P. Thiel for an engaging exploration of Wisconsin’s wolves—past and present. This presentation will trace the natural history of the species, examine the ecological principles of predation specific to wolves, and offer a thoughtful overview of wolf management in Wisconsin. Beginning with the bounty era of the 1920s–1950s, Thiel will illuminate the evolving relationship between humans and wolves across decades of policy, perception, and conservation.
Presented by Dick Thiel: Dick Thiel led Wisconsin’s timber wolf recovery project (1980–1989), helped draft the state’s Wolf Recovery and Management Plans, and remains active in wolf education. He’s authored key books on wolves and conducts annual ecology workshops through Timber Wolf Information Network, advocating for fair understanding of this often-misunderstood predator..
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A0FyKP-gTR-IZa-XurEQpQ#/registration
Please note: The webinar is Free, but pre-registration is required.

"Timber!" A Northwoods Story of Lumberjacks, Logging, and the Land
2025-12-17 18:30 - 19:30
A presentation about the book “Timber!” by Susan Apps-Bodilly and co-written with Jerry Apps. This book, suitable for young readers and people of all ages, recounts the history of logging in the Midwest through the era of reforestation. The book also includes ways to appreciate and care for our forest lands today. Susan will also discuss connections to Jerry Apps’ book, “When the White Pine Was King.”
Presented by Susan Apps-Bodilly: Susan Apps-Bodilly is a retired educator and writer. She taught elementary and middle school students for 34 years. She holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. When she is not reading or writing, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, hiking at the family cabin, kayaking, and experimenting with new recipes using produce from her garden.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AKO41A1ERMGayEzyvKPTtw#/registration
Please note: The webinar is Free, but pre-registration is required.

Moonshine in the Northwoods
2026-02-18 18:30 - 19:30
Historian Jim Bokern of the Manitowish Waters Historical Society will share new research on Northwoods moonshining, uncovering how local citizens and crime figures shaped the trade before, during, and after Prohibition. Drawing on fresh images and a 13‑month research project, he explores production sites, extortion schemes, kidnappings, hidden operations, and Al Capone’s northern Wisconsin connections, with stops in Crandon, Eagle River, Rhinelander, Hurley, St. Germain, Manitowish Waters, Mercer, and other regional hotspots.
Our presenter, Jim Bokern, is a respected historian and educator and a dedicated advocate for preserving Wisconsin’s Northwoods heritage. His work has earned major recognition, including the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 2022 Historic Preservation Award and FHAW’s 2023 Fixmer Distinguished Service Award.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gcmGxZKVTbq72aTf3N2v6w
Please note: The webinar is Free, but pre-registration is required.

Wisconsin - Michigan State Border Debate 1836 to 1923
2026-03-18 18:30 - 19:30
Michigan’s border with Wisconsin shifted for 86 years after the Toledo War and the compromise granting Michigan the Upper Peninsula. Faulty maps, geographic mistakes, and imaginary rivers in a roadless wilderness kept the line unsettled as surveyors struggled to chart a reliable route. Even after their work, the states clashed over a wandering braided river that moved the boundary nearly 20 miles and affected about 500 square miles. At stake were valuable mineral deposits, ultimately awarded when the U.S. Supreme Court settled the dispute.
Presented by Tom Jerow, vice president of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin’s Board of Directors. A retired Wisconsin DNR employee, he volunteers as Rhinelander’s city forester and stays active with a food pantry garden and family genealogy.

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yjHTPwxKQ_iqgebOSTpaww#/registration

Please note: The webinar is Free, but pre-registration is required.

The Fruits of Their Labor: The Civilian Conservation Corps–Indian Division in the Northwoods
2026-04-22 18:30 - 19:30
Description: While many people in the Northwoods are familiar with the Civilian Conservation Corps, far fewer know about its Indian Division. The Wisconsin branch of the CCC‑ID operated an administrative camp on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation, overseeing projects in six Native American communities across northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In this division, Indigenous communities identified the projects most important to them and supplied the workforce to carry them out. This presentation will highlight how the CCC‑ID differed from the mainstream CCC and showcase several of the projects completed by its crews.
Speaker: Cindi Stiles is a Registered Professional Archaeologist with a Master’s Degree in Anthropology/Archaeology and more than 50 years of experience. Although her work has taken her across the Midwest and Plains, much of her career has been rooted in Wisconsin, collaborating with state, federal, and tribal agencies as well as the public. She served for many years as the Tribal Archaeologist for the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Historic Preservation Office before retiring in 2020. She now works as a semi‑retired archaeological and historical consultant.

“The Birthday Tree” Project and the History of the Laona School Forest
2026-05-20 18:30 - 19:30
Description: The “Birthday Tree” project highlights Wisconsin’s forest history and future through the Laona School Forest, established in 1928. It explores the shift to sustainable, multi-use forestry and the important role of education in conservation. This webinar connects past and present efforts, emphasizing partnerships, stewardship, and community engagement in preparing the next generation to responsibly manage forest resources.
Speaker: Sara Witter Connor is an author and forestry historian highlighting Wisconsin’s forest heritage and its impact on conservation and industry. A past president of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin, Connor connects historical forestry practices with modern stewardship.
Please note: The webinar is Free, but pre-registration is required.

The Hunt For The Hodag In History
2026-07-15 18:30 - 19:30
The Hunt For The Hodag In History presentation outlines Miazga’s research on the lumberjack and Ojibwe tradition of the Hodag with a focus on how the lumber camp reference and Eugene Shepard’s creation have spread throughout North America and census tracts in the United States over time. In addition, the presentation will discuss variations of the Hodag in North American media references and non-traditional references to the word Hodag including its occurrences in the Middle East going back to 1250 A.D. and its use as a surname in Eastern Europe, the United States, and Sweden.
Presenter: Mark Miazga, is a Rhinelander native and the author of the three volume set of Tales of the Northwoods: Echoes from Rhinelander’s Past, and now, The Hunt For The Hodag In History, as well as additional publications within public health and survey research. He holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (1991) and a JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law (1996).
Please note: The webinar is Free, but pre-registration is required.
