Recent Blog Posts

by Barbara Dixson It’s hard to believe that once upon a time, the building that has become the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center was an ordinary family house.  The Schmeeckle staff has made the best use imaginable of the space, squeezing in more function than seems remotely possible—including the wood shop in the basement. As...

by Barbara Dixson Wander onto the Trail of Reflections, starting perhaps from the Visitor Center, perhaps from the Menzel Pavilion, and you’ll find that something rather wonderful has happened!  A dozen signs on the theme of Birds of Schmeeckle Reserve now draw walkers along the trail. My friend Jean Watkins and I visited on...

by Barbara Dixson The spring Candlelight Hike fell on a chilly, rainy day that cleared up just in time for 2,000 people to enjoy the trails, program, education stations, and snacks.  Our amazing Melissa Ruether centered the purposeful chaos of the event; the Schmeeckle student staff were on hand in force for set-up and...

by Chris Thompson Following a year or so of capturing images at Moses Creek Meadows, the Friends trail cameras have been moved to Schmeeckle Reserve for the spring. With a few recent reports of a coyote sighting in the reserve boundaries, the hope was to catch the wily creature on the prowl. After just a...

by Barbara Dixson The children of Bob and Mary Mosier celebrated their parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary through donations of trees to Schmeeckle Reserve.  Mary and Bob came out on a chilly day to witness the planting.  Our Schmeeckle student staff members have worked together for the skillful planting of a number of tribute trees...

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...