Updates from the Woods

Sheboygan Co 4-H fundraising flyer

Sheboygan Co 4-H cabin photo

Partners in fundraising: 4-H Leaders Associations and Federations!

We are so thankful to the Sheboygan County 4-H Leaders Association! They are fundraising to replace all of our Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), also known as life jackets! Does your organization want to support Upham Woods? We have many more projects on our wish list:

Repair or Replace Campfire Benches
Fund an accessible Door Release Button for the Dorm
Help renovate Cabin Hill Stairs
Support Trail Upkeep
Repair Boardwalks to Canoe Launch to Increase Accessibility
Restore Blackhawk Island Trails
Contribute to our Animal Ambassador Fund
Fund New Archery Equipment
Voyageur Canoe Restoration
Replace Waders
and more!

If your organization is interested in one of these projects, please let us know through this form:

We're Interested!

Save the Date:

Day of the Badger returns March 28-29!

Last year we raised over $3,000 on Day of the Badger and we are asking for your help again! Your support of Upham Woods will ensure we can continue to provide quality outdoor educational experiences connecting youth with nature. This year we are focusing on equipment and facility improvements that bring smiles to young faces!

Triple your impact! We are so grateful and pleased to announce two $5,000 match challenges from Robin C. Buerki and an anonymous donor! This means your $100 donation to Upham becomes $300. A $500 dollar donation becomes $1,500! Help us reach the $15,000 mark by donating in any amount to reach our $5,000 goal!

Thank you to all of our past, present and future Day of the Badger donors for helping to make this fundraising year a success!

Craig Boehlke

Welcome to our New Facilities and Operations Manager!

Craig Boehlke brings over 21 years of experience in operations and facility management from active-duty service in the Wisconsin Army National Guard to Upham Woods. His operations and facility management experiences range from managing base defenses to correctional facility operations in Iraq, supporting Civilian Authorities with disaster recovery operations, to his last assignment as the Operations and Budget Manager for the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s Schoolhouse overseeing faculty and staff that educates, lodges and feeds 2,300 students per year. He holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and completed the U.S. Army’s Sergeant Major Course.

New Programming Initiatives

We are excited to announce that Upham is a collaborator on two Wisconsin Idea Collaboration Grants for 2023-25! The first grant is an exciting collaboration between UW-Madison ecologists, the Division of Extension, Madison School and Community Recreation (MSCR), and the Wisconsin DNR. In the “Learning from the past to secure the future of oak forests in Wisconsin,” Upham will develop a curriculum in conjunction with MSCR based on the research of UW-Madison ecologists on safeguarding Wisconsin’s iconic oak forests.

The second grant, "Nature’s Navigators Camp: Supporting Neurodiverse Learners in Effective STEM Education," is a collaborative effort with the Nelson Institute's Center for Climatic Research to develop and pilot a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics summer camp experience for Autistic middle and high school youth and other neurodiverse learners. Stay tuned for updates on these exciting new initiatives!

Photo Credit: Madison School Forest

Photo Credit: the Nelson Institute

Upcoming Events

Volunteer at Camp

There is still time to sign up to be an adult chaperone during camp! Help promote a safe and inclusive space for every camper while attending camp for free!

Register for Camp

Sign up to spend time at Upham Woods canoeing, exploring Blackhawk Island, and making new friends. We have a few options from youth camp to family camp, so that everyone can have fun this summer. Registration is open!

Spring Archery Club

Join us on Saturday mornings in April as we learn about archery together! Participants will learn the basic rules, safety measures, equipment and techniques in order to gain or improve archery skills. Register now!

Master Naturalist Training

We are partnering with the Wisconsin Master Naturalist in August and September for this exciting 40-hour class! This program promotes awareness, understanding, and stewardship of the state’s natural world Registration opens Jan 9th.

Fishing Education Instructor Certification

This free training on April 1st will certify you as a Fishing Education Instructor and provide you with tips and materials to lead fishing programs. We’ll even go fishing to do some practice teaching.

Peanut Butter Mountain Facilitator Training Training

This free training on April 1st will certify you as a PBM facilitator for the next 3 years. It is perfect for group leaders/adult volunteers who would like to facilitate their own PBM courses during upcoming visits.

Consider Supporting Upham Through your Legacy

with a Planned Gift

If you care deeply for the work and mission of Upham Woods and want to help provide a sustaining source of support in the future, 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. For more information on how to leave a bequest, contact Molly Schmidt, Senior Director of Development, Division of Extension at 608-224-9843, email Molly.Schmidt@supportuw.org, or click the button below.

Leave a Legacy Gift!

Dates Available for Summer/Fall

Interested in coming to Upham Woods?

The following dates are available for your overnight visit!

Please contact us for conference room availability as it is different!

June

7-10

Sept

1-3

5-10

12-15*

19-22*