Looking at the hours he puts in under a 20 percent teaching appointment, a casual observer might see workaholism. But Scott Craven enjoys teaching so much that the Spitzer Teaching Award is frosting on the cake for this wildlife ecologist. “I like the material, and I”m blessed with attractive subject matter. I really enjoy working with wildlife, and I hope that my enthusiasm for that is contagious,” he says.

“The feedback I get is very positive. Students are enthusiastic, they like the material, and enjoy the field trips. And when you like what you”re doing, you do it better.” That applies to Craven”s teaching as well as his students” learning.

Craven teaches Wildlife Ecology 301, Natural History and Ecology of Terrestrial Vertebrates a hands-on course that showcases his contagious enthusiasm. “I happen to enjoy snakes, which is not a commonly shared trait,” he notes. “Even though many students come in as dedicated ”snake-o-phobes,” by the end of the class, not only do they know a lot more about the ecology of snakes, but they”re also at least willing to tolerate them most even hold one.”

Most 301 classes begin with a “critter of the day” a live specimen that students pass around and examine. Despite logistical hassles and financial constraints, Craven remains committed to field trips, using the Wisconsin countryside as a living laboratory. His all-day field trips into the lower Wisconsin Riverway are famous among WE 301 students for the adventure and experience gained by observing and capturing specimens often reptilian in their native habitats.

His classroom efforts provide multiple-use benefits. He coordinates the WE 301 writing project with the needs of the Wisconsin DNR”s Bureaus of Endangered Resources and Wildlife Management and The Nature Conservancy. This allows the agencies to use students” reports for practical purposes, such as fact sheets on wildlife species or management issues.

While he loves to teach, Craven isn”t a podium hog. State and federal agency staff often present material in his classes, since he believes that students can learn a lot from the people who work with species or issues. Just as important, the students meet working professionals, initiating the network necessary to find summer jobs, internships, and ultimately a career path.

Many Wildlife Ecology graduates find careers that deal with hunters and hunting. Concerned that many students had no hunting experience, Craven worked with CALS and DNR colleagues to develop a “student hunter” class. This optional class allows students to get hands-on training in hunter safety, gun handling, hunting ethics, and, if they want, actual hunting. The first sessions earned high marks from students, and drew national attention from educators and wildlife managers.

Craven coordinated the department”s graduate seminar from 1980 to 1992. He has lectured for the Farm and Industry Short Course since 1981, and guest-lectured in nearly 20 other courses at UW-Madison. As the student Wildlife Club”s advisor for the past 16 years, Craven arranges bi-weekly meetings, helps with club activities and field trips, schedules programs and speakers, and donates and cooks the game meat for the club”s holiday dinner.