Explore the nature of the Piedmont with TLC and friends at Wild Ideas – Habitats: Our Home!
Triangle Land Conservancy’s Wild Ideas series provides an engaging venue for experts and the community to share their innovative ideas to improve lives through environmental action by safeguarding clean water, protecting wildlife habitat, supporting local farms and food, and connecting people to nature.
Join us for Wild Ideas – Habitats: Our Home, a night of food, drinks, and engaging presentations! Then, discover ways to take action within the environmental and conservation field in our partner expo.
You’re invited to join TLC and partners on Wednesday, October 23 from 5:30 – 8:30 PM for a FREE evening of talks and community engagement at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, NC! More details coming soon!
If registration is full, please add your name to the waitlist here.
Speakers
Event Emcee
Brandon Wheeler, Conservation Ecologist at the North Carolina Botanical Garden
Brandon Wheeler has spent much of his adult life searching for rare plant species across the state of North Carolina. From rappelling the rocky face of Mount Craig surveying Cliff Avens (Geum radiatium) to wading into the lukewarm water of Lake Phelps to mapping the single population of Military Rush (Juncus militaris) south of Delaware, Brandon has traveled far and wide across the state of North Carolina to conserve and identify rare species of plants. Now as the Conservation Ecologist for the North Carolina Botanical Garden, Brandon is combining his field experience with a background in ecology and genetics gained in a graduate degree at Western Carolina University to bolster NCBG’s conservation efforts and support their mission of science-based conservation and restoration. When not in the field, Brandon enjoys brewing coffee, riding his bike, and cheering on the Durham Bulls.
Reema Garabadu, Conservation Land Manager at Eno River Association
Reema is a Georgia peach posing as a Durham townie. Durham has been a steady place to call home, full of farm-fresh food, wonderful forests, and warm community. As the Land Conservation Manager, she is lucky to spend her days protecting and acquiring land for the Eno River Association. Much of this time is spent frolicking in the woods and working in community to steward land across the Eno watershed. Outside of work, you will find her on frequent walks listening to audiobooks, reading in her cozy corner, and befriending all of Durham’s many cats and dogs.
Chloe Ochocki, Conservation Planner at Triangle Land Conservancy
Chloe’s passion for natural places was fueled by her outdoor experiences in Cuyahoga Valley National Park while growing up in Cleveland, Ohio. She joined TLC in June 2023 to ensure the next generation can cultivate similar formative experiences in nature. With a formal background in environmental engineering, she strives to better communicate conservation science to the public through cartography and GIS software. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, camping, fitness, and cheering on athletics for her alma mater, Notre Dame.
Dr. Clyde Sorenson, Professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology at NC State University
Dr. Clyde Sorenson is an Alumni Assoc. Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Entomology in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University. He has a B.S. in Wildlife BIology (1980), M.S. in Entomology (1984) and Ph.D. in Entomology (1988), all from NCSU. Dr. Sorenson teaches several entomology courses and conducts research in two main areas: the management of agriculturally significant insects, and the natural history and ecology of rare insects and plants, particularly those associated with longleaf pine savannas. He has been studying the occurrence of fireflies in North Carolina for about five years.
Lysandra Weber, TLC Board of Directors
Lysandra is the lead consultant at Lysandra Weber Marketing and Owner/Designer of geek chic clothing. In addition to being on the board of Triangle Land Conservancy, Lysandra is a former board member of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina and the North Carolina Botanical Garden, using her marketing and communications skills to help move conservation forward in North Carolina. Lysandra holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and a BS in economics from The Wharton School.
Community Partner Expo
After enjoying engaging talks from our speakers, come meet the community organizations who are taking action to support local habitats in our community!
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