The Prairie Enthusiasts - Glacial Prairie Chapter

05/04/2026

🔥Today is National Fire Day, and suffice to say, we really like fire.

This spring, many of our Chapters introduced fire to the land through prescribed burning, one of the major tools we use to help restore prairie and other fire-dependent ecosystems.

To learn more about the intricacies of prescribed burning, we recommend reading Ecologist Dan Carter's piece, "Stability Part One: Why I Recommend Frequent Dormant Season Burning" through our blog here: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/stability-part-one/

Photo of Empire-Sauk Chapter burn by Jim Wilson

04/23/2026

Join us this Saturday!

Celebrate Earth Day this week with these upcoming events!

All event information can be found on our Events Calendar: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/tpe-events/events-calendar/

St. Croix Valley Chapter Field Trip at Brokken Woods in Afton, MN
Monday, April 20 - 5:00 p.m.
Join us to see the pompom-like flowers of the earliest sedges on this prairie walk.

Northwest Illinois Chapter Field Trip at Hanley Savanna in Hanover, IL
Wednesday, April 22 - 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Come on out for a tour and afternoon work party on this site to celebrate Earth Day.

Glacial Prairie Chapter Work Party at Benedict Prairie in Bristol, WI
Saturday, April 25 - 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Help us clear brush and potentially create burn piles at this site.

St. Croix Valley Chapter at Earth Fest in River Falls, WI
Saturday, April 25 - Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Learn about this Chapter and prairies and savannas at this free community celebration.

Coulee Region Chapter at Earth Fair in La Crosse, WI
Sunday, April 26 - 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Come chat with this Chapter and learn about fire-dependent ecosystems at this event.

Photo by Bob Jankowski

04/23/2026

On this Earth Day, we hope you reflect on the many gifts and joys nature provides.

Whether laughing with fellow volunteers at a work party, soaking in the beauty of a sunset over a prairie, or hearing birdsong carry through the trees, we all have something that reminds us of how special Earth is. What are you grateful for today?

Photo by Kathleen Henning

04/16/2026

Oak woodlands sit in that striking middle ground between open savannas and deep forests, full of life, history, and complexity - yet often overlooked.

Join ecologist Dan Carter of The Prairie Enthusiasts for an engaging look at how to recognize, restore, and care for these rare ecosystems, and why they matter more than ever.

Dan brings decades of hands-on restoration experience, including work with oak woodlands and savannas across Wisconsin and beyond, as well as leadership in developing assessment tools for the Wisconsin DNR. From prairie reconstruction to regional conservation planning, his work connects science, restoration, and real-world land stewardship.

Whether you’re a naturalist, landowner, or simply curious about Wisconsin’s ecosystems, this is a chance to see and appreciate oak woodlands in a whole new way.

Register today at: https://laphampeakfriends.org/events/identifying-and-caring-for-oak-woodlands-may-3/

04/09/2026

Join our chapter representative, Nancy Gloe, next Saturday to discover practical ways to support birds and wildlife at home!

Register here:
https://form.jotform.com/260055314533145

Please click the link to complete this form.

04/03/2026

04/02/2026

Wisconsin Public Radio recently put out a great article explaining the current precarious status of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, a critical piece of historically bipartisan legislation that has provided funding for the protection of public lands for conservation and recreation throughout the state of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Senate failed to take up any bills to continue the program in the recent floor session, putting it at risk of expiration in June. WPR's article provides a great overview of what's at stake if this funding isn't renewed.

Read more here: https://www.wpr.org/news/stewardship-program-likely-expire-after-wisconsin-senate-fails-take-bills

Photo taken at Mukwonago River Oak Barrens, protected by The Prairie Enthusiasts with the help of Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funds. By Helen Holtz.

03/25/2026

Dan Carter remarks on skunk cabbage following a prairie burn: "I figured the skunk cabbage flowers would be cooked by our burn, but maybe not...at least not completely. Here the spathe (the maroon hood that protects the flowers) is scorched at the tip, but the flowers (the inflorescence known as the spadix, which is yellow and inside the spathe) appear to be untouched. Many other spathes experienced only minimal scorch, perhaps because they are thick, fleshy, and full of water, so they've got some thermal mass behind staying cool as the fire passes."

Photo by Nathan Tennies

03/15/2026

03/15/2026

Through The Prairie Enthusiasts Burn School, the next generation of prescribed fire practitioners are getting hands-on experience in the field!

Prior to the main burn, four burn school trainees participated in field training to learn the fundamentals of conducting a safe and effective prescribed burn - from reading conditions on the landscape to understanding how fire behaves across different habitats.

Just before the big snowstorm rolls in, two of those trainees were able to complete their first apprentice burn, an exciting milestone in their journey of learning how to use fire as a restoration tool.

Prescribed fire is one of the most important ways we care for prairies, savannas, and other fire-dependent ecosystems. Programs like our Burn School help ensure that this knowledge, and the responsibility that comes with it, continues to be passed on to new stewards of the land.

02/26/2026

The spring issue of The Prairie Promoter is now digitally available!

In this issue, you can enjoy pieces like "Monitoring Bat Activity Following Prairie Savanna Restoration" by Robert J. Marquis, "Reason for Optimism: Long-Term Results from Planting Prairie into Live Exotic Cool-Season Grass Sod" by Dan Carter, and "Good Fire: An Environmental and Cultural Practice" by Erin E. Belanger.

Dive in to the spring issue here: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/prairie-promoter/

We are currently accepting submissions for our summer issue. The deadline to contribute is April 23. Learn more about submitting through our website (link above).

Cover photo by Sue Steinmann