logo

ILI Staff Biographies

 
Bob Kovar, Project Director
Bob was the ILI project originator in January 1999. His duties include overall ILI coordination and project organization with community and schools, fundraising and community outreach for ILI project, co-facilitation of ILI sessions and ILI project communications. Bob is also currently project director for the Positive Alternatives Coalition, a coalition of schools, service providers, governmental agencies, public healthcare agencies and law enforcement working on bringing science-based Model Programs for prevention of ATODA issues into the county. Founding member of the North Lakeland Education Foundation in 2002, a community organization formed to help provide sustainable funding for innovative programming at North Lakeland Elementary School. Bob was also a founding member of Northwoods Restorative Justice in 2006, a framework for juvenile justice reform that seeks to engage victims, offenders, their families and other citizens in an effective response to youth crime. One of the North Lakeland Discovery Center (non-profit dedicated to preserving area natural, cultural and historic resources) founding members in 1996 he was the Board President from January 1997 to July 2000. Bob was appointed in 2005 by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster to the Wisconsin Advisory Council on Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Programs. Invited in 2007 to become a member of the Advisory Board for the Alliance For Wisconsin Youth. He is a Wisconsin Prevention Network Public Policy committee member. Wisconsin Council on Children and Families “Giraffe Award” recipient, January 2007.
 
Ernie St. Germaine, Curriculum Coordinator
Ernie has been working with ILI since the spring of 2004. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Tribal Law for the University of Nevada Judicial College. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Education for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  He has served as a consultant for the ILI Program during the past year at Lakeland Union High School.  He also serves as an Executive Board member of the Wisconsin Tribal Judges Association as well as serving on the Wisconsin Tribal Appellate Court.  He has been a Tribal Judge since 1990.He has worked extensively with Tribal youth in the Great Lakes Anishinabe Youth Leadership Institute which he created in 1989.  He also worked together with Olympic 10 K Gold Medalist, Billy Mills to create Great Lakes Running Strong for American Indian Youth. He is a writer and has published works in curriculum including the Wisconsin Woodland Indian Project and Family Circles, a 24 week AODA Parenting Curriculum. He has also written and published, Winaboozho Adisokan, a collection of 24 traditional Ojibwe stories. He is enrolled in the Lac du Flambeau Tribe, a husband and parent of three children.

Craig Kerr, Student Development Specialist
Craig has been with the program since 2000. He develops, designs and teaches ILI curriculum. He previously worked for the Gear UP program at the Lac du Flambeau Public School where he was Student Advocate for students in grades 3-9. While housed in Lakeland Union High School, he developed and implemented the After School Learning tutoring program. Craig has a Masters Certificate in Organized Camping and Experiential Education through Wheaton College and Honey Rock Camp,1998. Craig brings enthusiasm and experience to ILI activities. B.S. Psychology Florida State University, 1993.
 
Alice McFarlane, Project Assistant/Facilitator
Alice has been with ILI as a part-time facilitator since 2003, and full time Project Assistant/Facilitator since January 2006.  She received her BA at Wheaton College with a certificate in Camping and Outdoor Education in 2000.  Her love of the outdoors and kids brought her to Honey Rock Camp to continue her education through the Advanced Wilderness Leadership Program, a graduate program of Wheaton College.  She has led wilderness trips for junior high age through adults during each of the seasons of the Northwood's and in the Boundary Waters. 
 
Matt White, Facilitator
Matt has been with ILI as a part time facilitator since 2003.  His experience includes 15 years in residential and wilderness camping.  He has taken an Experiential Education program through Wheaton College and Honey Rock Camp, and has led various wilderness camping and retreat programs at Honey Rock.  He has also served as the summer Camp Director for Camp Kaskitowa- a boy’s residential camp in Allegan, Michigan.