Full Bio
Dawn Pape started planting gardens in third grade when she was awarded a packet of seeds by her teacher and hasn’t stopped planting since. She may have been the only college student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison to plant flowers at the places she rented. There, she earned undergraduate degrees in Education, German Literature and Environmental Studies. She later earned her Masters degree in Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. Over the last two decades, she has worked as a high school teacher, at a non-profit helping schools develop nature areas on their school grounds and as an environmental education coordinator at a watershed district where she started the Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water program.
Dawn has served as a Master Gardener volunteer for 18 years, is a local newspaper columnist, owns and operates her own business and still manages to spend several days a week at home with her two young boys, ages two and five. When asked about her free time, Dawn replied she doesn’t really have free time right now. But if she did, it would be spent doing yoga, visiting friends and reading books–probably about gardening.
Abbreviated Bio
Dawn Pape is a local author and self-proclaimed “lawn chair gardener”. She has written a gardening guide and two children’s books about pollinating insects. Ms. Pape has a Masters in Environmental Education, founded the Blue Thumb-Planting for Clean Water program and has served as a Master Gardener volunteer for 18 years. Currently, Dawn enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge through freelance writing and public speaking on many eco-friendly gardening topics. Her company’s mission is to promote eco-friendly, functional yards and her company proudly shares profits with community organizations.
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Pollinator Puppet Show, Sing Along and the Basics of How to Host Mason Bees
Join us to sing, learn about how to raise mason bees and enjoy a puppet show.
Meet Mason—a boy who is afraid of bees. Discover how Mason conquers
his fear of bees and feels like a superhero on a mission to save bees
after he meets a talking mason bee. Yes, a bee sharing his own name!
This puppet show teaches timely, important and weighty topics about
native bees, habitat, pesticides, and native plants in a light and fun
way. Although geared for grades K-5, adults may learn a thing or two
as well.