Friends of Starkweather Creek

06/18/2026

THE 25TH ANNUAL SUMMER SOLSTICE BONFIRE CELEBRATION 2026

Come gather around the bonfire on Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 4:00pm-9:30pm, at Olbrich Park on Lake Monona, near the intersection of Atwood Avenue and Oakridge Avenue.

This is a Free Event

The annual summer solstice gathering celebrates community, nature, humanity, and life on earth on the northern hemisphere's longest day of the year. This event started to highlight our own humble Starkweather Basin as part of the larger universe.

Enjoy canoe rides, music, picnicking, food carts, ice cream, the lighting ceremony, and the biggest BLAZE of the Bonfire at 8:30.

Bring thoughts and worries to release in the fire, wishes to ascend with the smoke, and hope for more light in our lives and the lives of others, as we celebrate the beginning of the shortest night!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

4:00 Canoe rides at the boat launch parking lot by the Thai Pavillion next to Olbrich Garden

5:30 Food carts and ice cream arrive

5:45 Paper mache “critter heads” arrive for volunteer dancers to try on

6:30 Music (Onadare Celtic Band; Group singing)

8:20 Welcome and Blessing the Bonfire with the human microphone

8:30 (Sunset): Bonfire is lit with the International Flame of Hope by honoree Michael Vickerman

8:30 Drumming by the Elmore Lawson drum circle begins (Dancing and drumming continue until 9:30).

8:45 (ish) Assisted by “Wish Agents” people can write and add wishes to the fire after it burns lower (no containers, bags, or cardboard).

06/10/2026

Summer Solstice Celebration!!!
Olbrich Park June 21, 4-9:30pm

- 4-7 Canoe Starkweather Creek
- 5-8 Make Music Madison
Food Vendors
- 7 Be an Insect or Animal in the Parade!
- 8:15 BONFIRE & Drumming

Bring worries and thoughts to release in the fire, wishes to ascend with the smoke, and hope for more light in all of our lives, as we celebrate the beginning of the longest day. 🌟

For information: S A S Y N A dot org (https://sasyna.org/) or call 608-239-9426.

05/09/2026

Very sad ending to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund which has preserved thousands of acres for nature in Wisconsin, including Starkweather Conservation Park in Madison.
We can hope the next legislature will reflect the will of the vast majority. 🌳🐦🌻🦋

The state’s popular land stewardship program runs out of funding June 30. Some worry more Wisconsin natural areas will be bulldozed.

05/09/2026

Growing up on the Wisconsin River in the 1960s, Arnie DeWitt remembers the not-so-pleasant smell and look of the water. “There would be foam on top of the river, maybe a foot thick,” he said. Now, DeWitt lives in Burnett County near the Yellow River, which currently meets criteria for high-quali...

05/09/2026

Here is a map of Hartmeyer Roth Park Planning Option 3 Conservation Park supported by Friends of Hartmeyer Natural Area.

Please send an email saying you "Support Hartmeyer Roth Option 3 Conservation Park" and a statement in your own words, to

[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];

Use this link to fill in a survey on the Parks planning site.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HartmeyerRoth

* Option 3 respects the Native American mound by putting a neighborhood playground, activity area and basketball court in areas being planned for new development across Roth along Huxley.
* Option 3 saves all of the upland ecosystem around the wetland that native bees, birds, frogs and other wildlife need to survive.
* Option 3 provides border paths and observation decks for people to enjoy nature and wildlife, with no internal paths in the wetland to avoid disturbing the wildlife.

05/08/2026

Paddling eco-tips! 🛶🌏🪻

5 likes. "Paddle Responsibly: Clean, Drain, Dry"

05/06/2026

Join Madison area Naturalists, Birders and Friends group members at Memorial Day Weekend Bird and Nature Camp Retreat for Big Kids! Bring Family and Friends! No Tents! No Cooking! We still have some openings for Madison FUN Bird and Nature Camp at Lake Lucerne Camp and Retreat Center group cabins on a clear lake with swimming and canoes only a little over an hour north of Madison. Its a great way to start your summer with School Naturalists and Master Naturalists and Expert Birders who come every year and enjoy lots of Slow Birding! Anyone can come, camp trails and bird outings are fairly accessable. See the flyer for more details and email [email protected] to reserve your spot now!

05/03/2026

Over 20 wonderful folks helped last Saturday at our our Annual Earth Week Paddle and Clean-up. Many brought their own kayaks or canoes!

Some paddled and cleaned up the West Branch nearly up to the Airport at Anderson St. Others ventured the East branch, reporting seeing nearly 50 Painted Turtles and two large Soft-shelled Turtles on the bank.

Some folks traveled to clean up several especially trashy locations

"Thanks to everyone helping clean up our home!" - said one turtle. 🐢👍😊