Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin

06/13/2026

Wisconsin’s State Natural Areas are home to the state’s most imperiled and unique landscapes.

This year marks 75 years since the State Natural Areas program was established by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. NRF first started providing funding for SNAs in 2004 and has continued to support their conservation ever since.

Today, we provide over $200,000 annually to manage these unique landscapes.

Discover an SNA near you by searching your county on the DNR website or by signing up for one of our SNA Field Trips this season! Explore available trips at WisConservation.org/Field-Trips/Trip-Finder

📸: J Beers

Image: Field Trip participants hiking at Rocky Run State Natural Area

06/12/2026

It sounds like Birdathon team “NHC Nighthawks” had a record-breaking experience! According to Richard, an NHC Nighthawks team birder, “We had the largest number of teammates ever this year and we were able to fan out across Madison and Dane County to record the highest number of species as a team over the last four years – 128.”

From Owen, another NHC Nighthawks birder: “91 species for the day early in migration was not too shabby! Thanks a million to all who donated to help conserve Wisconsin birds!!!”

Join and donate to the Birdathon and help us reach our goal of raising $130,000 at WIBirdathon.org.

📸: Courtesy of NHC Nighthawks Birdathon Team

Image: Team 'NHC Nighthawks' taking a group selfie, team members taking a selfie with their dogs while birding

Great Wisconsin Birdathon

06/11/2026

"I was excited from day one to learn about the monarch life cycle." -- Inmate J.K. at Redgranite Correctional Institution

There are a lot more monarchs flying around one of Wisconsin's prisons these days. Incarcerated individuals at Redgranite are helping monarch butterflies through a new program supported by NRF. In return, the monarchs are giving the inmates a renewed sense of meaning and connection.

In our new blog post, learn how inmates are repurposing garden beds into pollinator habitat, caring for monarch larvae, and sharing the importance of planting native plants with friends and family.

Read now at WisConservation.org/Metamorphosis-Inmates-Saving-Monarchs-Find-Purpose-And-Hope

📸: Robert Haase, Carrie Jahnke

Image: Monarch on purple flowers, monarch enclosure at Redgranite Correctional Institution, pollinator garden beds inside monarch enclosure, monarch butterflies hanging from ceiling of netted enclosure

06/10/2026

The Wisconsin Wayfarers Millennial Falcons team showed up and showed out for our Birdathon outing, and we reached our goal of raising $1,234 !

Our team of 18 Wayfarers spotted 101 species, including a pileated woodpecker, prothonotary warbler, and lots of fluffy goslings! We started the day at Picnic Point before visiting Nine Springs and Vienna Pothole Wildlife Area.

Thanks to everyone for coming out last weekend and helping us raise funds for bird conservation. We hope to see you at our next event this month planting native perennials for monarchs in Milwaukee!

Join and donate to the Birdathon and help us reach our goal of raising $130,000 at WisConservation.org/Great-Wisconsin-Birdathon

📸: Naomi Hadley, Emma Schatz

Image: Wayfarers Millennial Falcon Birdathon team taking a group photo in front of trees, team taking a group photo on a beach all looking through binoculars and looking in different directions, Birdathon members smiling at the camera standing next to a scope, Birdathon members looking out into a marsh

Great Wisconsin Birdathon

06/09/2026

It's unfortunate that our elected officials have failed to find common ground on the future of one of America's most innovative land and water protection programs, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

This 30-year-old program consistently garners 90% support from Wisconsinites. Please contact your legislator today to share your thoughts on this critically important conservation program: https://knowlesnelson.org/take-action/ #/42/

The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin is deeply disappointed that a bipartisan agreement to extend funding to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program could not be reached before the June 30, 2026, deadline. Letting funding for this program lapse puts the land, waters and outdoor traditions that define our state at risk.

For more than 30 years, the bipartisan Stewardship Program has conserved hundreds of thousands of acres of Wisconsin’s wild spaces; protected critical watersheds and wildlife habitat, and expanded public access to the outdoors — strengthening our communities and local economies. Statewide polling commissioned by The Nature Conservancy shows an extraordinary 93% of Wisconsin voters support continued public funding for conservation through Knowles-Nelson — support that has remained above 90% for a decade.

We will continue working with both Democratic and Republican legislators and the next governor to restore long-term, stable funding that reflects the clear will of Wisconsin voters and safeguards our state’s most treasured outdoor resources for generations to come.

(Photo by Chris Helzer)

06/08/2026

Hello Wisconservationists! My name is Jamie (she/her), and I will be working as a Communications Intern for NRF this summer. It's nice to meet you!

I have a background in conservation (land/wildlife management, sustainability, recycling, communications, education) as well as film and photography. I am super excited for the opportunity to bridge the two in this role.

I will be documenting Field Trips and other conservation work done by NRF in social media and blog posts, so keep an eye out for my work this summer! I was an intern with NRF through the Diversity in Conservation Internship program in 2024, where I worked in wildlife management with the DNR. It was a very impactful experience that continues to present its benefits to me today, and I am grateful to work with NRF again this summer.

I also have a podcast called Field Notes by Jamie on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, so check that out if you're interested in my experiences, lessons, and stories of life.

📸: Natalie Chong, Jaeden Carrasquillo, Jamie Kollman

Image: Jamie smiling on a beach, Jamie soaked in rain in front of a wetland and holding a wood duck, a selfie of Jamie on a horse, Jamie with her camera at sunset in front of a grassland, a selfie of Jamie in a tractor

06/07/2026

Since 2009, the Foundation has been committed to connecting people to nature through education.

Over the years, we’ve granted nearly $2 million to nature-based learning across Wisconsin!

Learn how our supporters strengthening environmental education in Wisconsin at WisConservation.org/Impact/Education

📸: Mrs. Suehring

Image: students using water testing kits on the Little Shioc River

06/05/2026

06/04/2026

“We saw countless birds, including the elegant quetzal, trogons, toucans, and 20 species of hummingbirds!” — Charlie Luthin, former NRF executive director

In 2004, NRF kicked off its travel program with a trip to Costa Rica, and we’ve offered dozens of trips across the globe since. By traveling with the Foundation, participants help support conservation efforts here in Wisconsin as well as local projects in the places we visit.

From the birding hotspots of Costa Rica to the wild landscapes of Montana, we want to explore the world with you! See where we're headed in 2027 at WisConservation.org/Travel

📸: Chad Moritz

Image: emerald toucanet perched in a tree

06/02/2026

The Feminist Bird Club - Madison Wisconsin's Birdathon team 'Yes We Pelican!" completed three group outings across southern Wisconsin and finished with an outstanding 120 species while raising over $1,800 for bird conservation!

Their first stop at Owen Conservation Park featured highlights like golden-winged warbler, red-headed woodpecker, and blackburnian warbler.

At Nine Springs they added shorebirds, marsh birds, and plenty of American white pelicans, pushing their total close to 100 species before the final stop at Lakeshore Nature Preserve.

The day ended with memorable sightings of sandhill crane colts, magnolia warbler, and broad-winged hawk, capping off a joyful and community-focused Birdathon!

Join and donate to the Birdathon and help us reach our goal of raising $130,000 at WisConservation.org/Great-Wisconsin-Birdathon

📸: Courtesy of Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter

Image: people birdwatching at a marsh, people looking for birds up in the treetops through their binoculars, group of birders looking through binoculars

Great Wisconsin Birdathon