Heckrodt Wetland Reserve

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is a private, nonprofit Nature Center located in Menasha, Wisconsin.

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is a 91-acre urban nature reserve with habitats including forested wetland, cattail marsh, open water, created prairie, open field, and upland forest.

We had the best time starting our summer camp season with our littlest Eco-Explorers! The last 2 weeks, campers put thei...
06/12/2026

We had the best time starting our summer camp season with our littlest Eco-Explorers! The last 2 weeks, campers put their 5 senses to work exploring the natural world around us.
We are looking forward to a summer packed with adventure, discovery, and endless fun!

Join Heckrodt Wetland Reserve and Fox Valley Memory Project on Friday June 26th for our Forest Friends Bridging the Natu...
06/11/2026

Join Heckrodt Wetland Reserve and Fox Valley Memory Project on Friday June 26th for our Forest Friends Bridging the Nature Gap program!

Participants will take a short guided hike through the Reserve and partake in other forest related activities.

To save your spot, visit: https://heckrodtnaturecenter.org/programs-events/community/

We are less than a week away from our first Coneflower Evenings Event of the Summer!We are excited to share the line up ...
06/10/2026

We are less than a week away from our first Coneflower Evenings Event of the Summer!

We are excited to share the line up of who will be joining us:
La Picosita
Diablos Tacos
Axe Chops


Live Music to be performed by:
Brewster Street Brass Band

Don't you just love that rush of excitement when you discover something new in nature you've never seen before? We do to...
06/09/2026

Don't you just love that rush of excitement when you discover something new in nature you've never seen before? We do too. That's why we're happy to share that we've just refreshed the Track Trail around our central boardwalk loop! Grab a map from the left side of the lobby to find all 11 tracks and learn which animal matches which track. It's especially a hit with the kids, but, as always, all ages are welcome to join in the fun. Can you spot them all?

Link to Track Trail map:https://heckrodtnaturecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Track-Trail-2023.pdf

LOST & FOUND ADVENTURE Found wandering around the Nature Center: one adorable little raccoon stuffy named “Thief” (yes… ...
06/08/2026

LOST & FOUND ADVENTURE

Found wandering around the Nature Center: one adorable little raccoon stuffy named “Thief” (yes… that is actually his Beanie Baby name 😂🦝).

Before reporting for lost-and-found duty, our naturalist Andrea took Thief on a grand tour of the Reserve. During his adventure he:
🌿 Rested on a trail bench
🐦 Bird watched at the Wetland feeder
🪻 Stopped to smell the beautiful iris blooming in the wetland
🛝 Zoomed down the Wildspace slide
📖 Listened very politely to the StoryWalk

Honestly, he may be qualified to become a junior naturalist at this point.

If you are Thief’s forever family, he is currently safe and cozy at the Nature Center waiting for pickup!

Who’s heading to Mihm’s Charcoal Grill Menasha () this June and July? Be sure to try their new Benefit Burger! Not only ...
06/08/2026

Who’s heading to Mihm’s Charcoal Grill Menasha () this June and July?

Be sure to try their new Benefit Burger! Not only is it packed with delicious flavor, but every burger sold helps support the Reserve.

Great food for a great cause now that’s a win-win!

🎣We’re still reeling from the success of this morning’s Community First Free Fishing Day! A huge THANK YOU to our amazin...
06/06/2026

🎣We’re still reeling from the success of this morning’s Community First Free Fishing Day!

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers, enthusiastic participants, and wonderful partners including City of Menasha Police Department, Jefferson Park Neighborhood and Community First Credit Union for helping to make it such a memorable day!

📸 Show us your catches! Drop your favorite photos from the event in the comments below! 👇

Show most people a turkey and they'll think of fall. But here at Heckrodt, spring and summer are the busiest seasons for...
06/05/2026

Show most people a turkey and they'll think of fall. But here at Heckrodt, spring and summer are the busiest seasons for our resident turkeys! Breeding season, also called the "spring shuffle", runs from April to early June. You may hear toms (male turkeys) gobbling loudly to call hens (females) to their location. But now that the breeding season is almost over, most hens are already busy incubating their eggs. It takes poults (baby turkeys) nearly a month to hatch, but they are ready to leave the nest within just 24 hours. So expect to see wild turkey families out and about very soon! 🦃🐤🐤🐤

Looking to Create Your Summer plans? We’ve got you covered. Heckrodt Wetland Reserve has a full lineup of summer fun for...
06/04/2026

Looking to Create Your Summer plans? We’ve got you covered.

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve has a full lineup of summer fun for all ages. Check out this sneak peek of our upcoming programs, and stay tuned for full details on each event!

Blooming in the wetland! Spring and early summer flowers are beginning to brighten the trails at Heckrodt! Swamp Butterc...
06/03/2026

Blooming in the wetland!

Spring and early summer flowers are beginning to brighten the trails at Heckrodt! Swamp Buttercup is adding splashes of yellow throughout the wetland, Calla Lily is blooming beautifully, and tiny Mayapple flowers are peeking out from beneath the leafy canopy of the Mayapple plants. You can also spot Joe-Pye W**d beginning to grow along the trails.

There is always something new to discover in nature this time of year. Be sure to slow down and look closely on your next visit!

Photos taken by Andrea Bierbrauer

Address

1305 Plank Road
Menasha, WI
54952

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

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