About Gateway FrogWatch Chapter

What is FrogWatch USA?

FrogWatch USA™ is a nationwide community science program managed by Akron Zoo that engages volunteers in monitoring frog and toad populations through sound-based surveys. By listening for calling amphibians and recording observations, FrogWatch volunteers help scientists track species presence, breeding activity, and long-term trends—providing critical data for amphibian conservation across North America.

Gateway FrogWatch Chapter

The Gateway FrogWatch Chapter serves the greater St. Louis region. Founded in 2011 by Mike Dawson of the Saint Louis Zoo (originally called the St. Louis FrogWatch Chapter), it is the 16th chapter of the national FrogWatch USA™ program. We connect community members with nearby wetlands, rivers, and natural areas while contributing locally collected data to a national amphibian monitoring effort.

Our chapter supports FrogWatch USA’s broader conservation mission while focusing on the unique amphibian communities of the Mississippi River Basin. Through training, guided monitoring, and ongoing support, we empower volunteers of all backgrounds to participate in meaningful, place-based community science and develop a deeper connection to the landscapes around them.

The Gateway FrogWatch Chapter is currently hosted and operated through a collaboration between the Saint Louis Zoo and The Great Rivers Research & Education Center, as well as supported by Shaw Nature Reserve, Audubon Center at Riverlands and The Nature Institute.

Who We Serve

Gateway FrogWatch serves volunteers throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, including communities in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois. Our trainings and monitoring sites are distributed across this bi-state region, reflecting the shared river systems, wetlands, and floodplain landscapes that define the St. Louis area. (ADD MAP)

We welcome participants of all experience levels—whether you are new to amphibians, a seasoned naturalist, an educator, or simply curious about the sounds of local wetlands.

If you live outside the St. Louis metro area, we are still happy to help. FrogWatch USA has chapters across the country, and we can assist you in:

Finding an existing FrogWatch chapter near you, or

Learning how to start a new chapter in your own community

Our goal is to make FrogWatch accessible to anyone interested in listening to frogs and contributing to amphibian conservation—locally or beyond.

The Gateway FrogWatch Chapter serves the following areas:

Missouri: Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis County, Warren, and the city of St. Louis
Illinois: Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair

If you are outside the Saint Louis Statistical area, FrogWatch USA recommends volunteer to join the closest chapter for training and resources. If the Gateway Chapter is the closet chapter, please contact one of the Gateway FrogWatch Coordinators for additional assistance by contacting either Michael Dawson at dawson@stlzoo.org (Missouri) or Jessica Molhman at jmohlman@lc.edu (Illinois).

Chapter Coordinators

Gateway FrogWatch is coordinated by Mike Dawson and Jessica Mohlman, who bring backgrounds in ecological research, environmental education, and community science. Together, they coordinate volunteer trainings, support high-quality data collection, and build partnerships that strengthen amphibian conservation and public engagement throughout the region.

Michael Dawson

Mike Dawson is a leading advocate for community science and a passionate frog enthusiast. He is the Saint Louis Zoo’s FrogWatch Chapter Coordinator, the Midwest Coordinator for FrogWatch USA, and the founder and program coordinator of the Saint Louis Zoo's Wildcare Spring Peeper Program. Mike also created the St. Louis Community Science Collaborative to connect local community science groups and support those interested in participating. He brings extensive experience in education, conservation leadership, and volunteer engagement to his work, helping connect people of all ages to wildlife and amphibian conservation.

For the past 13 years, Mike has served as an Adjunct Professor at Webster University, sharing his expertise in biology and environmental education with students.

Mike’s academic background includes a master's degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Biology, a B.S. degree in Biology, and an A.S. degree in Zoo Animal Technology.

Jessica Mohlman

Jessica Mohlman is an ecologist, environmental educator, and community science advocate who is passionate about connecting people to science and the environment and helping spark curiosity about the natural world. She works to engage people of all ages with local wetlands, rivers, and amphibian conservation efforts. Jessica brings extensive experience in wildlife research, education, and science communication to her role, helping volunteers contribute meaningful data to regional and national FrogWatch initiatives.

Jessica serves as the Director of Environmental Education at the National Great Rivers Research & Education Center (NGRREC), leads FrogWatch training at NGRREC, and is a Midwest Coordinator for FrogWatch USA. She has dedicated her career to developing and leading programs that connect community members to science and conservation in meaningful, hands-on ways.

Jessica’s academic background includes a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Management a B.S. degree in Biology and Natural Resources: Wildlife & Fisheries Ecology.

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