Denny
Olson's formal training as a biologist and geologist, as well
as teaching nature for over 20 years in the north woods and mountain
west, has given him expertise in many disciplines. He has done
research on beavers, hares and loons, and received an M.S. Degree
(magna cum laude) from the University of Minnesota. From those
scientific beginnings he forged an unlikely union between science,
humor, and drama, and established a national reputation as an
innovative performer and educator.
Denny
has trained thousands of naturalists, teachers and students in
acting techniques, designed practical instructional evaluations,
lectured on Native American storytelling as a teaching tool, and
conducted workshops nation-wide. He has performed his humorous
alter-egos (Critterman's Unhuggables, Wolfman, The Grizz, Dr.
Death, Prof. Avian Guano, Dr. Loonacy, The Lost Voyageur, The
Mad Herbalist) over 3000 times in 49 states for over 2 million
people. Included in these totals are over 80 conference keynotes,
50+ national park presentations, and 30+ universities.
His
books, Way of the Whitetail, Shared Spirits: Native
Americans and Wildlife, and Cougars--Solitary Spirits
have been critically acclaimed. Wolf: Wisdom Warrior (a
companion book to Shared Spirits) and a children's book, Special
Gifts were released in 1999. "Critterman's World:
News from the Woods" appeared weekly on the statewide
Montana Today Show from 2001 to 2005.
