Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin

Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin Celebrating 40 years of protecting Wisconsin's lands, waters, and wildlife and connecting all people to nature
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$20,000+ is flying back to local bird conservation thanks to funds raised through this year's Birdathon! Great Wisconsin...
08/26/2026

$20,000+ is flying back to local bird conservation thanks to funds raised through this year's Birdathon!

Great Wisconsin Birdathon teams that represent nonprofits, bird clubs, Bird Cities, and classrooms are eligible to keep 50% of the funds they raise. This year, a beak-dropping $20,887 will support bird conservation in hometown habitats.

Our 27 amazing organizational teams are doing imperative conservation work like building and installing nest boxes, funding bird tracking projects, putting binoculars in the hands of new birders, and more!

Learn more about the conservation impacts of this year's Birdathon at WisConservation.org/2026-Birdathon-Report

📸: Courtesy of Pheasants Forever Wisconsin

Image: Team Funky Pheasants representing Pheasants Forever Wisconsin taking a group photo while birding during the 2026 Birdathon

Last weekend, the Wisconsin Wayfarers and the Madison Mycological Society met up at Natural Bridge State Park to hike th...
08/25/2026

Last weekend, the Wisconsin Wayfarers and the Madison Mycological Society met up at Natural Bridge State Park to hike this important state natural area, learn about outdoor ethics, and sustainable foraging! 🍄

The group set out to find and collect a variety of fungi and other exciting elements. They regrouped afterwards to identify their finds, discuss mushroom biology and ecology, and create a list of the species discovered.

Join us in September for seed collecting and a watercolor workshop! Learn more and register for these events at WisConservation.org/Wayfarers

📸: Naomi Hadley

Wisconsin Wayfarers connects young adults to opportunities to explore Wisconsin’s outdoors, with the goal of fostering the next generation of conservation stewards.

Image: Wayfarers looking at mushrooms and petals on a table, Wayfarer holding a mushroom, basket filled with different types of mushrooms, Wayfarers hiking across a field, mushrooms on display on a table

UPCOMING WAYFARERS EVENT: Young Prairie Seed Collecting Come collect seeds for native plants with us at Young Prairie S...
08/24/2026

UPCOMING WAYFARERS EVENT: Young Prairie Seed Collecting

Come collect seeds for native plants with us at Young Prairie State Natural Area (SNA), a wet mesic prairie with a rare plant community!

We will collect seeds from the native plants here for the start of a 40-acre prairie planting at nearby Bluff Creek SNA. The planting will convert current agricultural fields to prairie to reduce fertilizer runoff into the site, create a buffer area, and expand the prairie.

đź“… Sunday, September 20th from 9am to 12pm

đź“ŤWhitewater

Learn more and RSVP at WisConservation.org/Wayfarers

📸: Naomi Hadley

Wisconsin Wayfarers connects young adults to opportunities to explore Wisconsin’s outdoors, with the goal of fostering the next generation of conservation stewards.

Image: event graphic with a photo of a person collecting seeds on a prairie with text that reads Wayfarers Young Prairie SNA Seed Collecting in Whitewater on Sunday, September 20th from 9am to 12pm WisConservation.org/Wayfarers

We are so proud of our 2026 Diversity in Conservation interns!They recently finished up their internships by presenting ...
08/23/2026

We are so proud of our 2026 Diversity in Conservation interns!

They recently finished up their internships by presenting their work in front of an audience of more than 70 people! It was very inspiring to hear the challenges they faced, the things they learned, and the goals they will be working towards in the future.

The future of conservation is bright thanks to these superstars!

đź“·: Jamie Kollman

Images: The 2026 Diversity in Conservation Interns standing outside the UW-Madison Arboretum Visitor Center, a wide photo of intern Tarynn presenting in front of a crowd of people, a close-up photo of intern Maya smiling as she presents in front of people, intern Oscar looking up at his presentation slides while presenting

Aldo Leopold Nature Center Holy Wisdom Monastery International Crane Foundation Lake Michigan Bird Observatory Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin UW-Madison Arboretum Wehr Nature Center Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Zoological Society of Milwaukee

POV: Your classroom is a Wisconsin State Park! Brad Roost, a science teacher at Ripon High School, took 40 of his studen...
08/21/2026

POV: Your classroom is a Wisconsin State Park!

Brad Roost, a science teacher at Ripon High School, took 40 of his students to High Cliff State Park as part of his Earth Science and Outdoor Adventures class. The students explored the geology of the Niagara Escarpment—observing rock formations and glacial features and connecting geological processes to the surrounding landscape.

NRF's Go Outside Fund supported this project, specifically funding transportation expenses so all students could experience the ultimate outdoor classroom.

Help connect students to nature-based learning in Wisconsin at WisConservation.org/Give

📸: Brad Roost

Image: Ripon High School students taking a selfie with their teacher at a lookout point at High Cliff State Park, people walking on rocks along the shores of Lake Winnebago, students on a hike at the Niagara Escarpment, students sitting at a picnic table, student walking up steps while exploring the Niagara Escarpment

Ripon Area School District

Last summer, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin launched its Bus to Nature program, hosting six outings to destinations...
08/20/2026

Last summer, the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin launched its Bus to Nature program, hosting six outings to destinations like Horicon Marsh and Lake Farm Park. Over 170 participants learned from Wisconsin DNR staff and community educators while experiencing birding, hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

For many participants, these trips were their first experiences in Wisconsin’s natural areas.

Thanks to the funds raised by our dedicated Birdathon teams, NRF’s Bird Protection Fund was able to support transportation, meals, binoculars, portable stools, and other essential program expenses.

Projects like these lay the foundation for future bird conservation by inspiring the next generation to fall in love with Wisconsin’s birds.

Learn more about Bird Protection Fund projects supported by the Birdathon at WisConservation.org/2026-Great-Wisconsin-Birdathon-Report

📸: Courtesy of BIPOC Birding Club

Image: Middle schoolers exploring the trails, learning to use binoculars, and finding joy in bird calls on a BIPOC Birding Club Bus to Nature outing

Great Wisconsin Birdathon Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

There’s 15 Field Trips in September with open spaces! Join us in the field before the season ends. Get up close with rap...
08/19/2026

There’s 15 Field Trips in September with open spaces!

Join us in the field before the season ends. Get up close with raptors, fish, and monarchs, or learn about soil, stars, or how to identify tree species.

NEW DATE 168-B. Tour the Raptor Education Group, Inc. on Sept 10 in Langlade Co.

NEW DATE 177. Exploring Trees at Stewart Lake County Park on Sept 11 in Dane Co.

238. Exploring Soil Health: The Sauk County Farm on Sept 18 in Sauk Co.

242. Historical Tour of Meadow Valley Wildlife Area on Sept 19 in Juneau Co.

254. Hunting Without Harvest: Nature Observation on Sept 26 in Rusk Co.

View ALL 30 trips with open spaces and register at WisConservation.org/Open-Field-Trips

📸: Cindy Schlosser, Jeff Trapp, Joshua Mayer, Trey Foerster

Image: Saw-whet owl perched on a trained professional's arm, autumnal leaves on a tree trunk, tall pine trees at Meadow Valley State Wildlife Area, white-tailed buck standing in the forest

Since its early days, NRF has been supporting projects that open up outdoor experiences to people of all abilities.Build...
08/18/2026

Since its early days, NRF has been supporting projects that open up outdoor experiences to people of all abilities.

Building accessible infrastructure is one way we can build a sense of belonging and help more people find joy in the outdoors.

As the Foundation celebrates 40 years of conservation, in our new blog post we reflect on how outdoor accessibility efforts have continued to grow and catalyze change.

Read the blog post here: WisConservation.org/Then-And-Now-Building-Belonging-Through-Accessibility-Funding

📸: Friends of Copper Falls State Park, Ruth Brennan, Lindsey Taylor

Image: A woman in a wheelchair using the accessible fishing pier at Copper Falls State Park, the accessible parking and pathway to the pier, and an accessible rustic cabin and picnic table

Visit Montana with us and experience one of the last remaining wild and intact landscapes in North America! ⛰️Through a ...
08/14/2026

Visit Montana with us and experience one of the last remaining wild and intact landscapes in North America! ⛰️

Through a mix of engaging presentations and immersive fieldwork, participants will build foundational naturalist skills while studying bird ecology, wetlands, insects, forest and fire ecology, botany, and wildlife tracks and signs.

Hands-on activities such as guided hikes, citizen science projects, nature journaling, and wildlife monitoring encourage close observation and deeper ecological understanding

đź“… July 18 - 24, 2027

This trip is in partnership with Swan Valley Connections. Learn more at WisConservation.org/Montana-Nature-Immersion

📸: Swan Valley Connections, Michael Levine Clark

Image: Mountain landscape, moose standing in water

We’re thrilled to announce the 18 incredible projects being funded through the Bird Protection Fund this year — the most...
08/14/2026

We’re thrilled to announce the 18 incredible projects being funded through the Bird Protection Fund this year — the most we’ve ever supported!

From monitoring chimney swift nesting sites in northeast Wisconsin to restoring critical wintering habitat for songbirds like the summer tanagers in Costa Rica, this year's projects will support a variety of Wisconsin's most threatened and endangered birds.

Each year, the Bird Protection Fund Committee, made up of a group of Wisconsin bird conservation experts, works carefully to ensure these funds will have the most impact .

Thanks to the birders, donors, and sponsors from the Great Wisconsin Birdathon for making this all possible!

Learn more about the projects at WisConservation.org/2026-Great-Wisconsin-Birdathon-Report

📸: Jacob Collison

Image: a male summer tanager perched on a tree branch

Great Wisconsin Birdathon

Address

211 S. Paterson Street Suite #100
Madison, WI
53703

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+16084093122

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