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By Casey Rentmeester
April 2026 | Conservation
Local conservation begins with a simple question: if not us, who will protect the natural spaces that shape our communities?
My name is Casey Rentmeester and I serve as a Professor of Philosophy at Bellin College, located just down the road from Baird Creek. I also happen to be the brother of Matt Rentmeester, the new Executive Director of the Baird Creek Preservation Foundation, who has asked me to write on the importance of conservation. I grew up hiking and biking the trails of Baird Creek with family and friends, which helped to cultivate a deep respect for nature. In 2012, I graduated with my PhD from the University of South Florida and wrote my dissertation on the importance of protecting the environment from a philosophical perspective, which became my first book, Heidegger and the Environment.
After a stint as a professor in Alaska and the Upper Peninsula, I ended up back home and I recently wrote another book titled (Rational) Animal in which I attempt to outline the proper human place in nature. In that work, I argue that we currently live in the Anthropocene, that is, in the era in which human influence on the planetary trajectory has
reached geological significance. Whereas other species have obviously influenced the planet at various levels, no species has wrought as much damage on mother earth as human beings collectively, as demonstrated definitively by anthropogenic climate change and the Sixth Extinction. Given our current sociopolitical situation, we cannot trust government officials to change things for the better, so it is incumbent upon you and I to prioritize natural conservation not only on behalf of nature but on behalf of ourselves.
At our core, humanity is nature rendered conscious in human form, and our rational nature affords us the ability to think through the ways in which we can prioritize our relationship with the rest of nature. Baird Creek affords so many opportunities in doing so. As the Chinese philosopher Laozi once said, the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. For our purposes, that step begins right here in the greater Green Bay area when we clean up a local park, take a hike with our children to share our love of nature, or educate others on the importance of conservation. In my time in Alaska, a friend told me that when he comes across a fellow hiker on a trail, he makes a point to acknowledge them and their choice to prioritize time in nature. I encourage us all to do the same. In this way, we build solidarity towards what ultimately matters. If any reader would like a free eBook of (Rational) Animal, please feel free to email me directly at [email protected] and I will be happy to share one. See you on the trail!
By Matt Rentmeester, Executive Director
April 2026 | Conservation
Executive Director Matt Rentmeester reflects on his first months leading Baird Creek and the importance of community support.
As I reflect on my first months leading this organization, I am continually inspired by all of you. The commitment from the volunteers, board members, and staff have provided a voice for Baird Creek. This lasting impact to preserve, restore, maintain and educate is vital to our community.
The annual banquet was a tremendous success! We raised over $27,000 and had an evening to share how special Baird Creek is to all of us. We had 64 silent auction items donated, had a wonderful keynote presentation from Crystal Brown, and got to recognize the amazing contributions of Lexi Angemi and Kayla Hughson. All in all, it was a lovely evening, and we hope everyone can join us again in 2027.
Coming from our record-breaking annual banquet, I attended the 2026 Wisconsin Land Trust conference in Milwaukee. The challenges of insufficient funding and other headwinds are a statewide cause for concern. Nevertheless, the 150 attendees that shared stories of earnest community members rising to the occasion remind us that we make the difference. From Kettle Moraine to Bayfield to Green Bay, the Wisconsin conservation efforts have protected over 800,000 acres. All of this is possible with small and mighty voices that work to ensure our natural wonders persist.
Here at BCPF, optimism runs high. I continue to forge partnerships, spark creativity, and leverage the efforts of our volunteers and benefactors. I invite you to reach out, attend Earth Day, or just continue to promote Baird Creek.
By Baird Creek Staff
March 2026 | Events
March brought exciting leadership updates and a successful annual banquet that brought the community together.
Matt Rentmeester was officially welcomed as Executive Director, bringing strong leadership
and a deep connection to Baird Creek.
We were glad to see so many friends, members, and supporters, and to welcome Mayor Eric Genrich and Senator Jamie Wall at our 29th Annual Baird Creek Banquet on February 25 at the Comfort Suites. The evening was filled with great company and inspiring stories about the work we’re doing together to preserve and restore the Baird Creek Greenway. This year’s banquet was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate what we have accomplished, thank those who support our mission, and share our vision for the year ahead. We are especially grateful to our guest speaker, Crystal Brown, for her wonderful presentation on Wildcrafting Community and the interactive tea-making demonstration. Thank you to our volunteers, sponsors, and everyone who donated auction items or participated in the program. Your generosity helps fuel the projects and programs that make Baird Creek such a special place.
At the event, we celebrated the ongoing work our dedicated staff, Lexi and Kayla, have completed over the last year and welcomed our new Executive Director, Matt Rentmeester. One of our goals for the evening was to raise funds to install two Purple Martin bird habitats on the north and south sides of the Hartman Prairie, and we are happy to announce that we are very close to our goal! You can continue to donate through Givebutter. You can look forward to future updates on this project this spring.
Our Silent Auction was also a success, with 64 items donated. Thanks to the 159 guests who attended, we were able to raise $15,677. We are Sign Up View Camps Register Today already looking forward to building on this momentum in 2026 and putting your support to work across our trails, habitats, education programs, and land trust efforts.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this meaningful evening. If you weren’t able to attend but would like to support our work or stay involved, please visit our website or reach out. We look forward to connecting with you!
By donating to Baird Creek Preservation Foundation you will be supporting our efforts to preserve and restore our ecological gem located right in Green Bay. If you would like to designate your donation directly to one of our PROJECTS, please choose that project from the drop down list vs choosing the general donation option. If you want membership benefits with your donation visit the membership page!
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