Division of Extension Natural Resources Institute

08/25/2026

Attention Wisconsin cities, towns, villages, counties, tribes, lake districts, and lake associations! The grant application period for Clean Boats, Clean Waters is now open!

Clean Boats, Clean Waters is a collaboration of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Extension Lakes' Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership dedicated to preventing aquatic invasive species through boat inspections and boater education!

More information and the application is available at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/SurfaceWater.html

08/24/2026

This week Extension Outreach Specialist Jenny Seifert will be on the Iowa Learning Farms webinar discussing engaging strategies for promoting agricultural conservation practices! Jenny will discuss her work on the One Good Idea project and the innovative steps she and other project partners are taking to increase the adoption of conservation!

https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/webinars

08/20/2026

Have you checked out the Lee Rayburn show on Wisconsin Public Radio?

Extension Specialist Bret Shaw was featured this week talking to Lee about the importance of farmers markets in building community.

Full episode link in the comments!

08/18/2026

It is hard to believe it is already the middle of August! While there are still a few weeks of summer left - camp season is officially over at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center!

Over the past three months, Upham Woods had 65 groups on-site totaling 2393 people engaging in our education programs. For Upham's On-site and Accessibility Coordinator Rachael Lewandowski Sarette her favorite part was helping campers get out of their comfort zones and try new things!

08/11/2026

Join forestry professionals, researchers, and land management experts for an engaging field-based workshop exploring the role of prescribed fire in Wisconsin’s forests on Saturday August 22nd in Black River Falls!

During this Wisconsin Forestry Center Field Tour experts from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, UW-Madison Extension Forestry, UW-Stevens Point, and the American Bird Conservancy will share real-world examples and answer questions about incorporating prescribed fire into sustainable forest management plans. Following the tour, participants will return for a provided lunch and a presentation from the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council, along with discussion of key lessons learned and opportunities for future fire management.

Join forestry professionals, researchers, and land management experts for an engaging field-based workshop exploring the role of prescribed fire in Wisconsin’s forests. Participants will travel by bus…

08/07/2026

Have you been to the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve yet this summer? The Estuarium is on the shore of Lake Superior and is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday through the end of August.

08/04/2026

Calling all University of Wisconsin-Madison students! The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) is hiring a outreach student to support the administrative team at NRI and the outreach programs they support across the state.

This is a great opportunity to gain professional experience and build your outreach skills! Past students have gone on to work at The Nature Conservancy, Arizona State University Writing Centers and more.

Apply to join our team today: https://studentjobs.hr.wisc.edu/cw/en-us/job/511802

08/03/2026

Did you visit a local farmers market this weekend? 🍅

🥬 It's National Farmers Market Week and this week we are excited to share new research out from University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension specialist Bret Shaw and partners including the Farmers Market Coalition showing that farmers markets not only help farmers and connect people to healthy nutritious food, but also serve as a hub for community connection!

So the next time you visit your local market you can feel good about more than just the food 🥕

Farmers markets do more than sell food—they help people feel connected to their community. Read the latest research on our blog.

07/31/2026

Still scratching that annoying mosquito bite? Summer brings plenty of them, and researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Wisconsin-Madison want to better understand what Midwestern communities know about mosquitoes and the diseases they can spread.

They’re asking residents to take a short survey to help educators improve resources that keep your community safe from mosquito‑borne diseases. Participants are welcome to enter a raffle for a $25 gift card.

Take the survey linked below:
https://redcap.link/mosquitocontrol

07/30/2026

Earlier this month, Luciana Ranelli, a University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension educator with the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, spent a week working with scientists on the US EPA’s Lake Guardian research ship as part of the Lake Superior Shipboard Science Immersion program.

Luciana gained new insights into Lake Superior science, how to care for the lake, and all the unique maritime jobs you can have on the water. Luciana is excited to bring these stories and lessons back to students and teachers through the Rivers2Lake Education Program!

The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant/Water Resources Institutes just featured all three Wisconsin educators who took part in this year’s immersion, including Luciana.

Check out the full story inked below!

Three Wisconsin educators will spend July 7-13, 2026, working alongside scientists aboard the United States Environmental Protection Agency research vessel Lake Guardian as part of the Lake Superior Shipboard Science Immersion. The immersion program is led by Sea Grant’s Center for Great Lakes L...