Autumn has arrived in full force here at Upham Woods with both the main campus and Blackhawk Island awash in various hues of red, yellow, and orange. The school field trip season is fully underway and we’ve had the privilege of hosting groups from County Line Elementary, THINK Academy, Randall Consolidated, Rock Prairie Montessori, and Bay View Montessori. These youth enjoyed hikes to the North Shore, canoeing, fishing, team building on Peanut Butter Mountain, and many of our other program offerings. We were also visited by two programs from Baraboo High School. The Baraboo H.S. WINGS program spent a day engaging with our biology and ecology focused programming. The Baraboo H.S. Educators Rising program learned about what it means to be an outdoor  educator and completed a service project assisting with the construction of our Blackhawk Island fire break. 

Summer may have ended, but our 4-H events are still going strong! Wisconsin 4-H Arts Camp brought three days of fun and creativity to Upham. The camp provided youth in grades 6-8 an opportunity to explore different art mediums, meet new friends, and make lasting memories. Upham staff also participated in 4-H’s Fall Forum. Rachael Lewandowski-Sarette, Upham’s On-Site and Accessibility Coordinator, led both a camp counselor and an inclusion session at the event. 

October also saw several conference groups utilize Upham for their events. Spirit River Coaching, WI Monarch Collaborative, and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives at UW-Madison all took advantage of the various conference spaces and outdoor beauty on display at Upham Woods. The LOV, Inc. Ho-Chunk family camp gave families the opportunity to spend meaningful time together and enjoy the natural wonder that abounds throughout Upham Woods, as well as providing resources to parents.

WisCorps completed the project to build a new boardwalk on Blackhawk Island and the island is once again accessible for our registered groups to enjoy.  

We were so very lucky to host the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education conference. Environmental educators from throughout the state and beyond gathered at Upham, making connections and learning all that is new, fun, and exciting in the world of environmental education.  

We are eager to begin our outreach and project season as winter rolls around!

Upham Woods is happy to announce that Jacob Malek has started his new role as Upham Woods Custodian on November 4, 2024.

Jacob is a graduate of Baraboo High School, worked at Handyman in Baraboo for two years, and served as a seasonal custodian at Upham Woods for seven months before beginning his new position. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, hiking, and enjoying time spent in nature. We are so happy to have Jacob on our team!  

Jacob pictured 3rd from right; holding up the Kubb King after victory at Upham Woods Staff Appreciation Day 2024!

Start your Outdoor and Environmental Education Adventure this Spring!

Join a dedicated team of outdoor educators connecting youth and adults to positive outdoor experiences on 320 forested acres of land bordering the Wisconsin River. Teach environmental education and outdoor recreation programming to school and community groups and facilitate public/community outreach both on and off-site to groups ranging in size from 20-150 participants.

Support conservation projects by preparing necessary tools, safety equipment, and project materials for use on conservation project days to manage invasive species and improve habitats. And care for programmatic, outpost and recreational equipment, which includes the science center animals. All of the above is to be done with a focus on customer service and effective educational methods in a safe environment.

To be considered for these positions, interested parties must apply through Jobs@UW by December 2, 2024.

October 18th marked the culmination of WisCorps’ three-week Blackhawk Island Boardwalk project. The project included a full replacement of our landing platform and boardwalk, which are used with our floating dock for the Upham barge and pontoon. The improvements made represent a significant upgrade to the prior infrastructure from the perspectives of both accessibility and aesthetics.

We are extremely grateful for the WisCorps crew that worked tirelessly to make the project a success, for the staff at Upham Woods that helped out when needed, and for the generous donors that funded this project through last year’s Day of the Badger! The landing is now once again fully operational and we were thrilled to fully resume our Blackhawk Island programming just in time for the peak of fall colors.

The WisCorps roving crew who installed the new boardwalk and performed trail rehabilitation!

The new Blackhawk Island Landing Platform looking southwest at the Upham Woods mainland.

Late in October, Upham Woods was the host site for the annual Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) fall conference and the organization’s 50th Reunion. The conference ran for four days from October 23rd to October 26th.

Upham staff helped on the conference and reunion planning committees and led several of the conference’s workshops including:

Staff were also able to network and attend several of the other workshops to further our professional knowledge and skills in various areas of environmental education.

The conference was an overwhelming success and we are very grateful to all of the people who attended and experienced the beauty of the real Wisconsin Dells!

Madison Metropolitan School District Educators dive into Oak Forest Project's Junior Forester Program

We are very excited to share that our Junior Forester Program at the Madison School Forest at Olson Oak Woods is officially up and running. The program, spearheaded by Upham staff members Amy Workman and Matthew Becraft, was a collaborative effort between Upham Woods, Researchers at UW-Madison, and Madison School and Community Recreation. Olson Oak Woods is a State Natural Area and has been used on many occasions to assess the effects of prescribed burns on oak savannah ecosystems, making it a unique location for outdoor education.

The Junior Forester curriculum was developed with several goals in mind. It introduces youth to the important role that fire plays in many ecosystems and the specific importance of fire within the white oak ecosystem. Furthermore, the curriculum was created with the intent of enabling youth to be young scientists. The program allows them to observe and record data, identify plants, and assess canopy cover. We hope that the experiences youth have in the program will show them that science is more accessible than it may seem and encourage them to actively participate in the world of scientific discovery. 

On October 14th, Upham staff members Rachael Lewandowski-Sarette, Jen Maggio-Laack, and Elliot Hull were able to attend the Sauk County Indigenous Peoples’ Day event in Baraboo.

The event included a showcase of indigenous dancing and drumming, craft vendors, and screenings of short films in the Al. Ringling Theatre. All three staff members participated in the dancing and had a wonderful time celebrating Indigenous culture. 

Participants at Sauk County Indigenous People day, including Jen and Rachael from Upham Woods!

Upham Woods is hosting a Winter Sports Day on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 10 AM to 3 PM.

We will welcome youth ages 7-11 to enjoy winter activities, including Snowshoeing, Broomball, and Outdoor Survival! Lunch and afternoon snacks are included. 

Cost: $32.00 per person

Registration closes January 17, 2025.

Bring your youth group to Upham Woods

Did you know that we serve groups as small as 10 and as large as 150? You can come for a half-day or stay a few nights!

If you care deeply for the work and mission of Upham Woods and want to help provide a sustaining source of support  for the next generation, consider creating a legacy gift by including the University of Wisconsin Foundation and specifying a restricted gift to Upham Woods in your estate plans. You may prefer to include in your will or trust a sum of money, a percentage of your estate, a specific asset, a work of art, or a piece of real estate that you wish to give. Our most sincere gratitude for your lasting support!