Photo: Brooke Widmar
Brooke Widmar grew up in Ozark, Missouri, and has always been passionate about the great outdoors thanks to scout family float trips and campouts. Attending a JRBP watershed festival in the 5th grade sparked an interest in water quality, which was further kindled by starting a Missouri Stream Team in high school and attending the Green Leadership Academy for Diverse Ecosystems (GLADE). Her conservation career has included working for Stream Teams United, The Nature Conservancy of Missouri, and most recently the Missouri Prairie Foundation. Brooke is a graduate of Missouri State University (Go Bears!) earning a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation and Management with a certificate in Environmental Education.
1. What made you interested in water quality and the work of the James River Basin Partnership? 5th grade was the year I started to get really into nature and environmental topics, and attending JRBP's watershed festival that year truly set me on the water quality path. I loved playing with the Enviroscape to learn about water-friendly actions, and my favorite and most memorable part was the Fishin' Magicians. I am still proudly their #1 fan! What I learned from JRBP stayed with me, and I got to cross paths again in high school when I met then-board member Larry Martin and we worked together to use JRBP equipment and training for Ozark educational events. Over the years I've been able to stay engaged with JRBP as a volunteer, member, and conservation colleague, and am so tickled to join as a staff member now! 5th-grade dreams really do come true!
2. What are you most looking forward to in your new role? Helping others to fall in love with their local waters and learn to appreciate nature in a new way.
3. What do you like to do outside of work? Attend musicals at Springfield Little Theatre, birding with friends, curl up with my dog and read a good book.
4. What is your most memorable outdoor experience? The first time I held a bird while bird banding in high school. It never crossed my mind that a person could hold a little bird, I thought that was just a Disney princess thing! Getting to hold a tiny warbler that flew in all the way from South America made our habitat work feel so much more important.
5. Favorite float in the James River watershed? The float from Creighton Access is one of my favorites because I have so many fun memories along that stretch, whether it's passing the spot I previously tipped my boat to then finding a toilet in the water, and passing under the old iron bridge to bird watch from the underside.
6. If you could only choose one for the rest of your life, canoe or kayak? Canoe! I like sitting up higher for a better view of the stream bed - plus it hauls more trash and tires!
7. Name one piece of gear (and why) you can't live without it. A net! My favorite part of any river trip is looking for critters!
8. Favorite gravel bar meal or treat? Does beer count?
9. Best Chinese food in Springfield? I'm going to cheat, it's in Ozark, but Golden Dragon is my absolute favorite (when it's not flooded from being on the banks of the Finley River!)
10. Andy's or Pineapple Whip? You can only choose one! Pineapple Whip 100%
