In contemporary American culture, nature is often construed as existing “out there” somewhere, especially in parks and preserves. But that’s not where most of us live. Through a slideshow of photographs taken close to home (and work), Rob Kanter encourages people to cultivate their appreciation for the wild creatures that live among us.

Speaker Introduction: Rob Kanter is a Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Earth, Society, and Environment at the University of Illinois, where he teaches courses in environmental communications and issues and serves as an academic advisor. He also writes and narrates “Environmental Almanac,” a weekly program that runs as a column in the Sunday edition of the Champaign News-Gazette and a radio commentary on WILL-AM 580 and other NPR affiliates in Illinois.

This program is brought to you by our University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist volunteers. Our East Central Illinois Master Naturalist mission is to develop an expanding corps of well-educated volunteers to provide service and support for partnering organizations in the conservation, restoration, management, and interpretation of natural resources and natural areas in East Central Illinois.