Mission of the Friends

Inspire people to connect to and care for the Lakeshore Nature Preserve

Goals

The Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve support this exemplary urban natural area to preserve it for the community and generations to come – through Land Stewardship, Advocacy, Financial Support, Education and Outreach, and by collaborating with, supporting, and advising the University’s Preserve Management Staff and Preserve Governance Committee.

​1. Land Stewardship
  • Protect the natural and cultural resources of the Preserve by participating in invasive species control, prescribed burning, increased water infiltration, flood reduction, and erosion control.
  • Promote plant and animal diversity by preserving, restoring, or establishing appropriate biological communities.
  • Encourage a sustainable balance between demands of human activity and natural resource protection. 
  • Monitor and document the Preserve’s vegetation, animals, and human uses.
  • Care for unique places and visual aesthetics.
2. Advocacy and Financial Support
  • Protect the integrity of the Preserve through advocacy and building strong community support. 
  • Mobilize volunteers to lead or participate in fieldwork, organizational tasks, project development, education, and promotional activities.
  • Raise funds to support the Friends and Preserve activities.
3. Education and Outreach
  • Plan and facilitate learning, teaching, and research activities and field trips, in partnership with university and community groups.
  • Publish Preserve news and ecological information in print and online. 
  • Promote the Lakeshore Nature Preserve to the university community, the surrounding urban community, and to visitors from the state and the world.​
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Field trip to the Class of 1918 Marsh

We invite you to connect 
with the Preserve and become engaged
​in the Friends activities.

Please consider becoming a member to help us achieve our mission and goals.

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Friends volunteers with a load of cut buckthorn at Picnic Point
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Bird banding at the Biocore Prairie