Recent Blog Posts

by Barbara Dixson Tess Bigalke spends her fall evenings In Schmeeckle Reserve with flying squirrels. So long as the temperature is above forty degrees and the wind below fifteen miles per hour, Tess and the other seven co-leaders of the Flying Squirrel Project take turns heading out to Berard Oaks at 6 p.m. to...

by Barbara Dixson Stop by the Portage County Public Library anytime this month to see the photos, writing, and art from the 2022 Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve arts contest.  The display window, at the Corner of Main and Third, features gorgeous photos taken within the Reserve, a mysterious narrative poem in a wraparound banner,...

by Barbara Dixson When a graduating co-leader handed off the gray squirrel project to Dan Meyers in 2018, the project—a long standing UWSP legacy project—was moribund.  It had next to no funding, and it had no co-leaders lined up for the year ahead.  Dan was looking for research experience, as his calling to work...

by Barbara Dixson As the Grey Squirrel Project gained momentum in its Schmeeckle Reserve location, Maddie Hartlaub joined as a co-leader.  “It was great!” Maddie says.  She became project leader for three years and got in three full field seasons before her December 2022 graduation.  Like Dan Meyers, Maddie was looking for research experience. ...

by Barbara Dixson Abby Mueller is a current co-leader in the Gray Squirrel Project, and when she graduates next year, she’ll have accomplished three full years of field experience.  “It’s been a lot of fun,” Abby tells me, “doing research, getting out in the field, and getting really great hands-on experience handling wildlife.”  Abby...

by Chris Thompson With days getting longer, and temperatures on the rise in February, the animals of Moses Creek Meadows got more active. In those last weeks of the month, the Friends of Schmeeckle trail cams captured a number of interesting creatures. Some highlights are a pair of wily coyotes, a racoon passing through,...

by Barbara Dixson It’s a sad day for the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve, as we have lost our stalwart supporter and friend Jack Porter. Jack and Cynny Porter were founding Friends members, even attending our very first member meeting in 2014.  Since then, Jack and Cynny have joined in work projects, like sprucing up...

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...