Dinner on the Bluff: “Whooping Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population” by Stephanie Schmidt (with special guest chef Tyler Shipton)

Stephanie Schmidt will speak on the eastern population of endangered Whooping Cranes. Event includes an exquisite 4-course meal provided by guest chef Tyler Shipton of Juniper’s Restaurant in Lanesboro!

🦢 About the talk:

In the 1940’s, Whooping Cranes, once native across North America, faced near extinction as a result of increased threats from habitat loss, hunting, and more. It wasn’t until 2001 that Whooping Cranes returned to the eastern United States following a collaborative reintroduction program led by the International Crane Foundation (ICF). Today, around 76 Whooping Cranes make up this population, the majority of which breed in central Wisconsin each year. Please join Stephanie Schmidt, Whooping Crane Outreach Coordinator for the International Crane Foundation, to learn about the Whooping Cranes of the Eastern Migratory Population and the work ICF and crane conservation partners are doing to safeguard their future. Following this presentation, you will be able to identify Whooping Cranes by sight and sound, understand the historic threats towards Whooping Cranes that led to their decline, know the ins and outs of the reintroduction program and the current work crane conservation partners are doing to protect cranes throughout their flyways, and find out how you can be an ambassador for cranes in your community. Cover image provided by US Fish and Wildlife Services Headquarters.

Speaker Bio:

Stephanie Schmidt is the Whooping Crane Outreach Coordinator for the International Crane Foundation. Stephanie grew up in the Kettle Moraine area in southeastern Wisconsin, a region that is known for its many Sandhill Cranes and ignited her early love for birds, wetlands, and nature. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison to earn her bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Studies in 2018 and in 2022 she earned her master’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Guest Chef Bio:

Tyler Shipton is the Executive Chef and owner of Juniper’s. His culinary journey has placed him in some of the country’s most prominent restaurants. In 2012, he decided to embark on his own journey and was one of the opening Chefs and owners of Minneapolis’ Borough. In 2015, he moved to the west coast, with a desire to explore the food scene. After spending several years as an Executive Chef of various top restaurants along the coast in San Diego, the pandemic forced Chef Tyler and fiancé Ame back to the farm he grew up on, and together, the duo founded Juniper’s.

Evening Itinerary:

• 5:00 pm – Dining hall doors open
• 5:30 pm – Dinner in the dining hall
• 6:35 pm – Presentation begins
• 7:20 pm – Q&A with presenter

Lodging options:

If you are interested in lodging for the evening of the dinner, our friends at Stone Mill Inn & Suites and Root River Inn and Suites in Lanesboro have graciously offered a 10% discount for any event attendee who books a night stay with them ahead of time. Check out the confirmation email for details on how to redeem this offer. Please confirm availability with inn ahead of time.

About Dinner on the Bluff:

Dinner on the Bluff, now in its 20th year, is designed to give thought-leaders and experts in the environmental field the opportunity to discuss issues with the broader Eagle Bluff community.

About Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center:

Located in the scenic bluff country of Lanesboro, Minnesota, Eagle Bluff is a non-profit, year-round environmental learning center providing education programs & outdoor adventures to over 16,000 children and adults each year. Through transformative hands-on experiences we aim to increase environmental awareness & academic literacy, spark curiosity & appreciation for the natural world, and empower people to care for the earth and each other.