Category: Uncategorized

by Barbara Dixson In the past few weeks, Mike Orella, Tom Mihm, Bill Fisher, and lately Peter Fee, Steve Jensen, Erik Lacey, Ryan Mullen, Gary Speckmann, Mark Strey, Karl Wolf, and Ron Zimmerman have been working to refinish the beautiful and very sturdy benches that accompany the ash tables in the Menzel Pavilion.  They...

by Barbara Dixson This past Friday, January 20, the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve celebrated the winning photographs, art, and writing entries from the 2022 Writing, Photography, and Art Contest.  In our Zoom gathering, we got to see the gorgeous images and hear from the photographers and artists what led to each piece.  We also...

by Jerry Lineberger The assembly of the Life Member plaque installation is complete. The board authorized the project and the location of the plaques last year.  The project was funded by two anonymous donors.  Jim Buchholz did the design work and coordinated with Point Trophy of Stevens Point on the manufacturing process. The board...

by Chris Thompson and Griffin Bray With the winter chill setting in, it seems like our furry creatures may be hunkering down a bit.  The last couple of weeks have been a little slow in terms of critters on the Friends of Schmeeckle – trail cameras.   Cottontail rabbits and Whitetail deer seem to be...

by Sunshine Buchholz Looking for some last-minute holiday gift ideas? Don’t forget to visit the Gift Shop in the Visitor Center at Schmeeckle. One of the perks of being a Friends of Schmeeckle Member is receiving 10% off all full-priced items in the shop. If you can’t decide what to buy or are unsure...

by Barbara Dixson and Chris Thompson The webcams out on the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve trails have been capturing photos of a bobcat! (shown above and below) Chris Thompson explains, “The bobcat pics I sent were from 12/1 to 12/4.  Seems the little fella has been using the same game trail for the last week. ...

by Barbara Dixson At first on a cold, grey Sunday afternoon in mid December, the Reserve looks quiet.  Linger a little while, though, and you’ll find there’s plenty of life, even on a winter day.  Here are some of the folks I met up with yesterday, December 11. The Kiggins family, and photographer Jordan...

by Barbara Dixson More than eighty volunteers welcomed our 4,000 attendees to this fall’s Candlelight Hike. Hear what three new volunteers had to say about the experience.  What’s left of the October 28 Candlelight Hike at this point? More than 80 volunteers made it possible for the 4,000 visitors to enjoy the lantern-lit trails,...

by Chris Thompson Hidden near Reserve boardwalks or the Friends property at Moses Creek Meadows trail cams record the secret lives of our nocturnal inhabitants.  Ever wonder what goes in Schmeeckle Reserve when us humans are not around?  What creatures may go un-noticed, or what they are up to?  Well, since 2021, the Friends...

by Liz Schmutzer Liz Schmutzer, president of our campus environmental educators’ association, recounts the steps from the creation of the Candlelight Hike education stations through moments of uncertainty and discovery as these students met the public. Having EENA (Environmental Education and Naturalists Association) help out with the Candlelight hike was an awesome experience. One...