Groundswell Conservancy

06/18/2026

Groundswell is participating in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' 2026 Invasive Species Awareness Weekend, and you can help!

Join us at Patrick Marsh Conservancy Park in Sun Prairie from 9-11:30 a.m. this Friday, June 19. Help restore and care for our local natural landscapes for communities to enjoy, and for wildlife to thrive. We'll cut invasive brush and pull invasive weeds like garlic mustard and wild parsnip.

No experience is necessary, and we provide the tools for the job. Please bring work gloves. Dress in comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor work, and wear close-toed shoes or boots.

We'll meet at 1052 Derby Drive, Sun Prairie. Park on the street and walk alongside the home into Patrick Marsh.

If you'd like to join us, contact BJ Byers at [email protected] or 608-258-9797.

You can find other Invasive Species Awareness Weekend events throughout our area here: https://widnr.widen.net/s/2qlsmdcz6b

06/17/2026

Some experiences stay with you long after you leave the water.

Recently, Groundswell Executive Director Heidi Habeger had the privilege of joining the Ho-Chunk Nation for part of its annual Dugout Canoe Journey, paddling alongside tribal members and community partners as they traveled from the Historic Indian Agency House in Portage to Harpers Ferry, Iowa along ancestral waterways of the Ho-Chunk people. The multi-day journey celebrates Ho-Chunk history, traditions, and enduring connections to the rivers that have linked communities across this landscape for generations.

"There are experiences that stay with you long after you leave the water," Heidi said. "I was grateful for the opportunity to paddle, listen, learn, and spend time on a river that has connected people, cultures, and communities for generations."

A special thank you to Ho-Chunk Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Bill Quackenbush for the invitation and welcome, and to longtime Groundswell supporter Willi Van Haren for sharing the journey.

At Groundswell, we know that conservation is about more than protecting land. It's also about honoring the stories, cultures and relationships that connect people to place. We're grateful for opportunities to learn from those who have cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial.

Read more about the canoe journey in this Wisconsin State Journal article: https://madison.com/news/state-regional/wisconsin/article_2eee9c75-d680-5f9d-bd66-dbfd431363bb.html

06/11/2026

What can you eat in the woods around you? Quite a bit, as it turns out!

During a recent Groundswell field trip at Hickory Hill Conservancy in Cross Plains, outdoor skills instructor Chris Gavin of Eagle Outdoor Skills introduced participants to the fascinating world of foraging and the many edible plants growing right under our noses.

Along the way, we learned that people come to foraging for all kinds of reasons—from culinary adventures and a deeper connection to the land, to self-reliance and emergency preparedness. We discovered that many edible plants offer both leaves and flowers that can be eaten; that most berry-producing plants need plenty of sunlight to thrive; and that while a handful of plants should be avoided, truly dangerous species are less common than many people think.

One of the day's more surprising lessons? The leaves and roots of wild parsnip, known for causing painful skin irritation when combined with sunlight, can actually be safely eaten by most people because we don't have sunlight in our mouths. (Anyone can have a reaction or sensitivity to wild foods, so please do your own research and experiment before indulging!)

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a day of learning and exploration at Hickory Hill Conservancy, a property protected through Groundswell's conservation efforts.

Special thanks to our field trip sponsors for making programs like this possible:

• FairShare CSA Coalition
• First Business Bank
• Quercus Land Stewardship Services
• Spencer Real Estate Group

And a big thank you to Chris for being such an engaging, fun field trip leader!

We appreciate everyone's support of conservation, education, and connecting people to the land. View photos from the day below.

Shared album · Tap to view!

06/06/2026

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐭 Target, 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥!

We’re a featured charity in Target Circle™'s community giving program this quarter. Vote for us in the Target app now through June 30 to direct Target funds in support of our work to protect land and connect more people with nature. Here’s how:

Step 1: Choose ‘My Target’ in the Target app or ‘Account' on Target.com

Step 2: Tap ‘Cast votes’

Step 3: Find us & cast as many votes as you have for Groundswell Conservancy!

If you have any trouble, feel free to message us, and we'll do our best to help.

Thank you in advance for leveraging your Target shopping to benefit Groundswell!

06/03/2026

"Spring is in full swing, and with so much happening outdoors right now, it’s hard to decide what to highlight in this month’s nature report. One thing that stands out immediately, however, is the dawn chorus that wakes me up around 4:30 a.m. Each morning, it sounds as though thousands of birds are singing right outside my window.

Robins and cardinals tend to steal the show early on, but if you listen closely, you’ll also hear chickadees, nuthatches, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and the occasional mourning dove, depending on where you live. The chorus is wonderfully loud and serves as a welcome reminder that spring has truly arrived."

Take a few moments with Land Management Director BJ Byers and see what's happening outside your window in this month's Nature Now blog post: https://groundswellconservancy.org/may-prairie-smoke-wild-lupine-crayfish-chimneys/

05/29/2026

Thanks to the City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, USA parks staff for hosting our Board of Directors meeting last night! After the meeting, our board members and staff gathered with City Administrator Aaron Oppenheimer and Mayor Steve Stocker for pizza. We talked about our partnership in maintaining and improving Patrick Marsh Conservancy Park. We also celebrated Board President Todd Shucha and Development Coordinator Amanda Dambrink's birthdays with cake!

We capped the evening with a walk through Patrick Marsh, enjoying a flock of pelicans, and lupines in full bloom in the prairie.

05/18/2026

This weekend’s front-page Wisconsin State Journal story shines a spotlight on the Herro property along the Yahara River in the Town of Dunn—an extraordinary landscape with both ecological importance and deep cultural significance.

Groundswell Conservancy is proud to be part of the ongoing effort to ensure this land is permanently protected for future generations.

Read the story here: https://madison.com/article_61e12c0d-ec3b-5150-ba31-80df6446ff27.html

Image descriptions: A view of part of the land to be protected and donated to the Ho-Chunk Nation, looking east where the Yahara River meets Lower Mud Lake. Photo credit: Ben Jones

05/15/2026

Last night was a major milestone for conservation in Dane County.

With overwhelming support, Dane County approved funding for the protection of the Herro property — an extraordinary landscape along the Yahara River with significant ecological, historical, and cultural value.

This moment reflects years of partnership, persistence, and shared vision. We are grateful to the Herro family, the Ho-Chunk Nation, County Executive Melissa Agard, Dane County Land & Water Resources Department staff, and all who worked together to advance this effort.

Groundswell Conservancy is proud to have helped lead and support this project alongside our partners, and we look forward to the work ahead to ensure this land is protected for generations to come.

05/07/2026

Take a moment to read this story from The Capital Times about what could happen to conservation in our region — and throughout Wisconsin — if the state Legislature allows Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funding to expire next month.

“Without the Knowles-Nelson program, we will have far fewer places to recreate, birdwatch, (go) hiking, hunting, fishing, all those great activities,” Tony Abate, our Senior Director of Conservation, told The Capital Times. “There will just be fewer of those, and it’s quite the shame.”

Please keep contacting your legislators to express your support for this long-running bipartisan program!

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