The Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve is a community-based nonprofit organization that supports Schmeeckle Reserve, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus natural area. The mission of the Friends is to support the work of and advocate for Schmeeckle through engaging the local and wider communities. This is accomplished by:
Upcoming events
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Do you love fall? Schmeeckle is the perfect place to come and enjoy it!
If you want to discover more about the "why" behind the colors and how trees prepare for the season, join us at the Menzel Pavilion tomorrow, October 13, from 5-6 p.m. for our first fall family nature program. Take walk to appreciate the red, orange, and golden yellow leaves and participate in a craft connected to the fall colors.
If you want to discover more about the "why" behind the colors and how trees prepare for the season, join us at the Menzel Pavilion tomorrow, October 13, from 5-6 p.m. for our first fall family nature program. Take walk to appreciate the red, orange, and golden yellow leaves and participate in a craft connected to the fall colors.
We're fortunate that Katelyn Klemm decided to continue working for Schmeeckle this fall! Our amazing student artists showcase their talent every day, creating realistic carvings and paintings on cedar signs and benches. For more information, visit https://www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle-reserve/cedar-signs-benches/
From forest to table! Our cozy cookbooks and foraging guides are back on the shelves at the Schmeeckle Reserve Gift Shop. Fall is the perfect season to learn what grows wild around you and to fill your kitchen with warm, hearty recipes. Find your next favorite read at the Visitor Center, open daily 9 AM to 4 PM.
Yesterday was a beautiful fall day for a prescribed fire! Thank you to the UWSP Fire Crew for conducting the controlled burn in the Lake Prairie, along the west side of Lake Joanis. Carefully managed fire stimulates native prairie plants (which are protected by their deep roots), removes dead plant litter, recycles nutrients, and controls woody and invasive species. Be sure to watch for all the regrowth this spring!
We received a new supply of fair trade ceramic luminaries and trinket dishes at the Schmeeckle Reserve Gift Shop! These lovely items are handmade in Nicaragua. They are no longer available from our supplier, so what we have in store is all that is available. Stop by the Visitor Center, open daily from 9 AM to 4 PM, to pick yours up while they last.
On your mark, get set, bake!
Join us for the Fall 2026 Candlelight Hike Festival on October 30th from 6–9 p.m. as we see what’s on the menu for Schmeeckle’s wildlife during "The Great Schmeeckle Bake Off."
With jack-o'-lanterns and torches lining the trails, hands-on activities, face-painting, and a student-lead character performance, there are activities for the whole family.
Want to help make this year’s festival a recipe for success? We’d love to have you volunteer! Sign up for a spot at https://grasshoppersignup.com/s/o2xvcj.
Join us for the Fall 2026 Candlelight Hike Festival on October 30th from 6–9 p.m. as we see what’s on the menu for Schmeeckle’s wildlife during "The Great Schmeeckle Bake Off."
With jack-o'-lanterns and torches lining the trails, hands-on activities, face-painting, and a student-lead character performance, there are activities for the whole family.
Want to help make this year’s festival a recipe for success? We’d love to have you volunteer! Sign up for a spot at https://grasshoppersignup.com/s/o2xvcj.
