News Feed

Board meetings are now hybrid!

We meet the first Tuesday of every month except January, April (replaced by our Annual Meeting), and August, from 7:00-9:00pm. Meetings are held in person in room 240 of Steenbock Library (550 Babcock Dr, Madison, WI) as well as being hosted over Zoom. Contact preservefriends@gmail.com for the link.
March 11, 2023
The Mounds of Observatory Hill and Willow Creek.  Saturday, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Join UW Historic & Cultural Resources Manager Emeritus Daniel Einstein on a visit to the effigy mounds of Observatory Hill (the lovely bird and two-tailed water spirit) and Willow Creek and learn about the mound builder culture and possible interpretations for the meaning of the shapes.  Einstein will also discuss current land management methods and protocols adopted by the University to care for the mounds and other archaeological sites on campus. Meet at the Observatory Hill overlook (directly across the road from the Observatory). On weekends, parking on Observatory Drive is free (https://map.wisc.edu/).  This is designated Lot 26 and includes the parking area immediately adjacent to the Observatory Office Building (aka the LaFollette Institute). We will spend 35 minutes here and at the Observatory mounds. We'll then walk to the Willow Drive mounds, just north of the new recreational facility. Leader: Daniel Einstein (daniel.einstein@wisc.edu).
 
March 26, 2023
Early Bird Migrants.  Sunday, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Spring is just around the corner!  Join Dane Gallagher for early spring magic!  The bays, shorelines, woodlands, marshes, and prairies of the UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve offer food and shelter for a variety of species of birds.  This means the Preserve is a great place to find returning migrants.  Meet at the Picnic Point entrance kiosk, 2000 University Bay Drive. Leader:  Dane Gallagher (dane.gallagher9@gmail.com)
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SPRING NEWSLETTER 2023
• eBird Hotspot Picnic Point - ​quick link to latest bird sightings in the Preserve.
Second Oak: An ode to autumn.
Movie by Arlene Koziol
The Preserve OPEN HOURS are from 4 am to 10 pm
Fire Circles Open 

The Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve inspires people
​to connect to and care for the​ UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve.

The Friends is a non-profit membership organization that supports the UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve in myriad ways: through volunteering, fundraising, stewardship projects, and interpretive programs. 

Please see our Mission and Goals and join us in caring for the Preserve. We invite you to explore the Preserve on this web site and in person, and attend Volunteer Days and free Field Trips.  

Stretching from the Eagle Heights Natural Area to Picnic Point and the Lakeshore Path, the Preserve is a jewel of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, distinguishing it as one of the most beautiful in the country. 

The Preserve is an outdoor laboratory supporting research and education, and open to the public.​ 
To pay online
• Click the Join/Renew/Donate button above

To pay by check
• Print out a Membership Form, complete the form and mail it with your check to:
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Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
P.O. Box 5534
Madison, WI 53705