Recent Blog Posts

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...

After several months of hard work by our dedicated Friends volunteers, the accessible fishing pier on the south side of Lake Joanis is now officially open for use! The pier extends 70 feet into the lake offering beautiful views, access to deeper water for fishing, and an easy way to launch canoes and kayaks....

The Moses Creek Meadows trail project is moving forward! Moses Creek Meadows is a 33-acre natural area donated to the Friends in 2021. The Friends are currently fundraising to construct a trail, boardwalk, and viewing deck that will provide access to a pristine sedge meadow wetland, the headwaters of Moses Creek. This past December,...

We are thrilled to announce the hiring of a new Outreach Coordinator at Schmeeckle Reserve! A warm welcome to Melissa Ruether, who will be stepping into the role previously held by Megan Espe. Melissa served as Schmeeckle Reserve’s graduate assistant from 2015 to 2017, with her research focused on the development of inter-generational nature...