Science Expeditions 2021 - April 9-11th

Lakeshore Nature Preserve Outdoor Activities
Welcome to The Lakeshore Nature Preserve!  Located mainly at the northwestern edge of the UW-Madison campus, the 300-acre Preserve protects the largest stretch of undeveloped shoreline on Lake Mendota -- 4.3 miles of shoreline or 1/5 of the lake’s total circumference! The Preserve supports a variety of plant communities, including woodlands, wetlands, and prairies, which contribute to its designation as an Important Bird Area.
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Considered the “largest outdoor classroom on campus,” the Preserve is a teaching and research facility of the UW-Madison. In addition, it provides a place for recreation and respite for members of the campus community and visitors to campus, service-learning opportunities, and independent study.

To learn more about this outdoor classroom and laboratory, visit the official Lakeshore Nature Preserve website.

The Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve is a non-profit organization that helps support the Preserve in part by providing excellent outreach programming.
 
During the Pandemic, we offer three Self-Guided Walks for Science Expeditions in place of meeting with you in-person. Please abide by the following guidelines. 
For up-to date changes, see https://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/. 
•  The UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset each day.
•  Wear a face mask, maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from non-household members, stay home if you feel unwell, and remain on the trails.
•  Carry a cellphone to access Audio Trail and QR code links. 
•  Bring water to drink, as there are no drinking fountains. 
​•  Wear comfortable hiking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather.
•  Leashed dogs are permitted.  Please pick up and dispose of waste properly. 
•  Free, no registration required. 
•  Rustic toilets are located west of the beach at the Picnic Point Narrows. There are no toilets available at the old Beach House.
•  The fire circles on Picnic Point are closed and no fires are allowed until further notice.
•  Park in UW Lot 130 (2003 University Bay Drive). The parking lot is fee-free on the weekends and after 4:30pm on weekdays.

Beyond Backyard Birding Adventure at the Lakeshore Nature Preserve 
by Ashley Olah and Kristin Brunk, with photos by Jeremy Cohen

255 bird species have been identified in this Important Bird Area of Wisconsin. Follow the trail outlined on the map and tips about what birds to look for and where.

Lichens in the Preserve 
by Susan Will-Wolf
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Lichens can grow in almost any habitat. These symbiotic organisms are an alga growing inside a fungus and are commonly found on dead tree trunks in the Preserve.

The Rock Wall 
by Dave Mickelson, Phil Brown and Dave Liebl

The fieldstone wall at the entrance of Picnic Point, dating to the 1920s, was built from glacial erratics. They were hand picked from farm fields in the vicinity of Cross Plains.