I was not present when this photo was taken but I can tell you that the woman to Rosemary's right is my mom, Joyce Krahn, and the woman on the far left is my Senior Girl Scout leader Faith Rice. I graduated from Madison West High School in 1976 after growing up in Girl Scouting and attending Camp BlackHawk. I attended University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point in Natural Resource Management and Environmental Education. In 1978 I volunteered as an intern under Rosemary. She taught me many things about environmental education, interpretation and teaching. It is one of the  highlights of my undergraduate career. 

My mom began training as a naturalist at the Arboretum while I was in college and worked with Rosemary there as well as at the Madison School Forest. They spent many years at Camp BlackHawk together where my mom help run Women's Week.

I consider Rosemary as one of the top 10 most personally influential people in my life. The pressed and framed Prairie smoke she gave my husband and I as a wedding gift 33 years ago still hangs in my home. Thank you for posting the photos I'm seeing here. They bring back great memories.

during a visit to Rosemary in Feb. 2009, my mom and I went walking with her in her favorite sanctuaries.  She could never stop teaching!  Judy Alderson

Sharing memories and fun times with Rosemary and Faith Rice (my Girl Scout Leaders) at Women's Week, Camp Black Hawk, Elton Wi. 

Memories of Rosemary Fleming


I met Rosemary when she did a troop camp training for Girl Scout leaders. Ye, she spoke of the things nessasary for a camping experience, but her strongest message was camping and all of the Girl Scout "IS". Girls planned and excuted with adult guidance and support.Not Planned by Adults!

Rosemary,with the help of Arburadum staff and Girl Scouts organized and co-lead an Arburadum Day Camp for 5th grade and older girl scouts.The emphasis was on learning for girl scouts about our natural world. If the Adult unit leaders could not identify plants, birds, trees etc. They were trained to say to the girls, "lets look it up". The camp site had a wealth of books for that purpose. This form of working with girl scouts was cared to the time when Rosemary was on of the trainers of guides, who would be working with school groups, K-12 at Cherokee Marsh;a newly acquired Wetland city park.

One of the years I was a unit leader at the Arburadum, I had to take a day off because my daughter had just been dignosed with "Manic Depression" (something I had never heard of). I was having a very hard time understanding what had happened to my daughter. Rosemary then share her daughters illness with me. I was not the only parent in the world who saw a happy Art Student become someone I did not know.


One of the things I particularly loved about Rosemary, when she was showing a plant with us. She held it in her hand like a CROWN JEWEL.


I am enclosing a copy of my award because it says what Rosemary held dear. She taught so many people to care about these many parts of our natural  world. I am also enclosing a copy of Rosemary's joy about spring. She shared her joy of all of our seasons.


A most special lady, many of being the recipient of her love and care of people and our world.


Thanks for doing this,

Pat               

Auntie Rosemary Memories

Hi!

It was great to hear from you last night.  Have you been able to get into CBS alumni Facebook page?  People have been writing about your aunt there. 

My memories of Rosemary Fleming are interconnected with my Girl Scout days and Cbh days.  She shared her incredible passion for nature with girls and adults throughout her time here in Madison.  Her bog walks each year for staff were great!  Staff who were afraid of squishy, buggy, icky nature things were treated to a new world and most loved it by the time they were done.  Although we all wondered if she made up some of those genus names...  How could anyone remember all the Latin names of so many different plants in so many different environments! 

Seed collecting at the arboretum was also an adventure with Rosemary.  She would know just what to look for and just where to look!

When I worked at the Girl Scout office, Rosemary was one of the first trainers I would call when looking for someone to teach adults or troops about nature, camping, survival skills or conservation.  She was always willing to share her passion, and put the fire in many to appreciate and respect the environment. 

She was a special person who touched many lives, and whose impact will not be forgotten here.  We believe she earned one of black hawk gs councils special awards and will try to track it down. 

Thanks for letting me know. 

Marcy

Post on Camp Black Hawk Alumni site by Marcy

I just received a phone call from Diane keeslar Maynard boliek, a cit with me back in the early 70s. Rosemary Fleming is her aunt. Rosemary used to come up to Cbh and introduce staff to the bog and share her incredible passion for nature. Rosemary passed away yesterday and Diane asked if people would share with her their memories of Rosemary so that Rosemary's son can get to know her better through our eyes. She just friended this site so you can post here or email Diane at dkmaynard@bellsouth.net thanks!

Susie Koch Rosemary was a mentor to me early on, I think I was a ninth-grade Cadette or maybe was in Seniors already. I was an aide or counselor at the summer day camp at the Arboretum, and saw her nearly every day. I just loved her and have thought of her often all these days.

Monday at 8:39pm

Vicki Dawson I remember Rosemary; I remember that she taught me to see and share with the kids the wonders of the bog, to learn to not be "afraid" of the slimey stuff and pass that inquisitiveness on to the kids. Thank you Rosemary. Forever seeing things with different eyes...

Monday at 8:39pm

Susie Koch I was really active at the Arboretum and did Senior Service and other activities for several years. She taught me so many things, like how to make casts of animal tracks, and clean bird cages on the edge of the lake (thigh-high boots) and all about the prairie as well as the woods and the animal signs. My pal Jean Bormett and I did all these things together - one experience we had that we never told Rosemary was finding pornography when we were cleaning litter! That was a first for me. Jean and I also spent winter time sorting prairie seeds, omg, so hard on the fingers but we laughed the whole time.

Monday at 8:43pm

Susie Koch Because of Rosemary I really wanted to become a naturalist just like her. Unfortunately I couldn't handle the math (so became a literature major.) But Rosemary was such a guiding light to me, and I loved her very much. Oh, crying!!

Monday at 8:45pm

Lorie Schmitt She gave so much of herself to us at Women's Week, we will hike the bog this year for her and think of her often. Rosemary gave a special gift to all that hiked with her. What a wonderful women!!

Monday at 9:39pm

Vicki Dawson Did Rosemary have a camp name?

Monday at 9:40pm

Kim Shafer Rathsack Thank you so much for passing this on Marcy. Rosemary was an inspiration to so many. We will miss her immensely! :0(

Monday at 11:27pm · Edited

Mary Degenhardt I'm so sad. Rosemary was my Girl Scout leader and I can't even begin to tell you how much she inspired me. She was a wonderful woman and I am proud to say she was also a wonderful friend. I will always treasure the many great memories I have of her.

16 hours ago

Mary Lourigan Thanks for the information Marcy. I will share with those I know that might not see this. I will also email Diane.

14 hours ago

am "Sunny" (Diane Keeslar Maynard-Boliek) a 1972 CIT 1973 Asst. boating staff and 1974 Asst. Camp Counselor at Camp Black Hawk. Born in Chicago, my family moved to Fl. where I grew up.

 I grew up in scouting with my mom being our leader from Jr. thru Sr. Her best friend was my brownie leader. Mother was leader, trainer, Service unit Director, Board member, an international delete as you can tell scouting has always been a big part of my whole families’ life. How lucky was I to have my Dad sister, Auntie Rosemary also being extremely active in scouting in Madison WI? For as long as I could remember Auntie Rosemary told me great stories and experience about Camp Black Hawk, she loved the Camp.

I wanted to go to camp there so bad and finally it was worked out that a friend of mine Linda Jones (Pooh-Bear) and I went 1972 as CIT ‘s. It was with my Aunt’s support that I too fell in love with one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Not only the beauty of this camp but for me it brought together some of the most influential people in my life.

My Aunt first and foremost (as a younger kid we saw the Fleming’s maybe every couple of years). Becoming a member of the Black Hawk Family gave her and me a special bond that just enhanced our relationship on so many levels.

I want to thank those of you that have left such wonderful thoughts of Auntie Rosemary. My cousin Rick has set up a web page that will be on going.

 You can get there http://www.forevermissed.com/rosemary-fleming/#about  

It is my hope that those of you that have pictures, articles from the newspapers, newsletters will down load  them to the above listed site.

Again, thank you all for your love, support and kind words,

Diane (Sunny)

Rick, son and Jennifer,granddaughter

Suzanne Ankenbrandt She was quite a gal. She made a great impression on many young Girl Scouts, myself included.
 
A kindly force to be reckoned with!