Drovers’ Prairie Tour and Bumble Bee Atlas Training with Doug Helmers

The Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas is a statewide citizen science project aimed at tracking and conserving Missouri’s native bumble bees. Join MPF Board Member Doug Helmers to tour MPF’s Drovers’ Prairie near Sedalia, MO, on July 22 to receive training on the Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas. No ID experience needed! Pack a sack lunch to enjoy on the prairie, dress for a day in the field, and be prepared to pack your trash out with you. Children are welcome to attend with guardians.

Doug Helmers retired in 2018 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the Iowa private lands state coordinator. As project leader for the Partners for Fish & Wildlife program, Doug worked with private landowners to improve fish and wildlife habitat on their lands. The Partners Program in Iowa worked diligently with partners to implement restoration/establishment of monarch/pollinator habitat. Prior to working for USFWS, he was a wetland emphasis team leader with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Missouri. In addition, he spent three years working for the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network in Massachusetts. Doug received his B.S. and M.S. in fisheries and wildlife from the University of Missouri. He grew up in the corn fields of western Illinois and has lived in Missouri for over 35 years. He enjoys traveling, various outdoor recreation activities, and spending time with his dogs at the farm. Doug and his lovely wife are restoring and managing 65 acres of prairie and woodland on their farm in Chariton County.

Space is limited. Register at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BACA92AA4FCC16-bumble.

Photo by Bruce Schuette.