Thank you for all of your support throughout 2023. It has been an exciting year filled with many new initiatives and continued program improvements. This year we worked with 7,709 participants, a 25% increase from 2022! We look forward to continuing to provide educational opportunities to youth, youth leaders, and adults through programs focused on environmental and leadership education throughout 2024 and hope that you will be able to join us! Please click on the images below to see the full report.

Seasonal Outdoor Educator

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. Compensation starts at $15.87 per hour and includes housing.  We're still looking for an educator to join our team starting in March or April!

Summer Custodian

We are seeking a reliable and detail-oriented Custodian responsible for:
-Cleaning, sanitizing, and maintaining a variety of buildings related to Upham Woods including the dormitory, Lodge, Dining Hall, Nature Center, Bathhouse and Cabins.
-Monitoring building security and safety by performing such tasks as locking doors after operating hours.
-Ensuring cleanliness, orderliness, and safety in assigned areas.
-Minor grounds and landscaping duties as necessary including mowing, trimming, weeding, and basic trail maintenance projects

Compensation starts at $17 per hour. Apply online here. Deadline Feb 20

Summer Research Opportunity

The Freshwater@UW Summer Research Opportunities Program provides high-impact educational opportunities by facilitating immersive, hands-on mentored research experiences in freshwater science across the 13 UW Institutions. The program’s central aim is to support the growth of our freshwater research enterprise and freshwater workforce through collaborative, cross-system programming designed to train, recruit, retain and diversify the next generation of freshwater professionals. The Upham Woods Mentored Project is focused on Monitoring Aquatic Species Using Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the Wisconsin River!

The 2024 program will run May 28 – Aug. 3, 2024

Program Information: https://water.wisc.edu/wateruw-madison-undergraduate-research/

Application: https://srop-uwmadison.smapply.io/

Deadline Feb 15

Studies show that members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for positions if they do not feel they meet 100% of the qualifications. If you meet some, but not all, of the qualifications, please still apply - you may be just what we’re looking for!

Lat week we hosted our first Winter Day Camp for the season, see all the fun the kids had with us on January 27th!

The date of our 2nd Winter Day camp for youth in K-6th grade is February 24rd, there's still time to sign up!

-Spring Break Day Camp March 25-29 for youth in 1st-6th grade.

-Outdoor Archery club on Saturdays in April for ages 8-Adult.

Spend time at Upham Woods canoeing, exploring Blackhawk Island, and making new friends. Registrations will open on March 1st!

Who: Any youth entering 4th-8th grade for the 2024-2025 school year.

When: July 7-10, 2024

View last year’s schedule here! This year’s schedule will have some changes to make camp exciting for returning youth but many camp favorites like swimming and water carnival will remain the same!

Who: Any youth entering 8th-10th grade for the 2024-2025 school year.

When: August 3-6, 2024

Outpost Camp is an exciting camp experience where youth with spend time canoeing and camping. Camp will start at Upham Woods as everyone learns the basics of camping and canoeing before heading out to paddle the Wisconsin river and spend the next few nights camping on Blackhawk Island. More details coming soon.

Nature's Navigators

Hosted in partnership with the Center for Climatic Research of the Nelson Institute; Nature's Navigators STEM Camp is open to autistic youth in grades 6–12, Nature’s Navigators embraces neurodivergence and the associated unique thinking and learning of autistic youth through flexible teaching strategies.

Attendees will participate in hands-on outdoor and indoor activities, such as learning to fly a drone, steering a remote-controlled TerraRover car, meeting live animals, collecting soil and water samples, and hiking through beautiful landscapes. This year’s camp will be held at Upham Woods, which is located along the famous Dells (Dalles) of the Wisconsin River, two miles northwest of Wisconsin Dells. Upham Woods consists of 320 acres of land on the banks of the Wisconsin River, including a 210-acre island called Blackhawk Island, which offers an excellent “river classroom” to study both the natural and cultural history of Wisconsin.

Nature’s Navigators is funded in part by a Wisconsin Idea Collaboration Grant. Please view the website for updates by early spring. 

Youth Counselors

Note: We will only be accepting 6 counselors and in 2023 we had 28 applicants. Please thoughtfully complete the application to give yourself the best chance possible. If you are unable to complete the Google form, please reach out to Rachael (rachael.lewandowskisarette@wisc.edu or 608-890-1137) to find alternative ways to submit your application.  Deadline to apply: Friday, Feb 23 at 4 pm.

Counselor Requirements:

Must be entering 9th-12th grade during the 24-25 school year

Available for an in-person Camp Counselor Training on April 20th from 10am-7pm

Willing to complete a 2-hour online course

Ability to be a positive role model and support others at camp

Selection for 2024 Camp Counselors will be based upon:

Quality of application: https://forms.gle/qE8avPrJmHSBzfg47

Quality of a virtual interview. Interview timeslots will be sent out once the application closes but will include a mixture of evenings and weekends.

Deadline to apply: Friday, Feb 23 at 4 pm.

Adult Chaperones for Youth Camp and Outpost

Who: Anyone over the age of 18 who wants to facilitate a safe, inclusive camp experience.

Must be able to: Pass a background check, agree to camp policies, complete required UW-Madison trainings and attend a virtual training session the week before camp.

There is a need for specialized chaperones such as first aid coordinator (requires certifications), dining hall coordinator etc.

How: Application is now open. Involves an interview with a Program Coordinator Rachael. No experience is necessary. Apply Here: https://forms.gle/gmnhpHpL8zu7ZBgP8

Please keep in mind that we have the following community resources available at Upham Woods!

Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW) and Upham Woods are working together on “Outdoors Access 4 All!” ™ We are proud to promote access, inclusion, equity, and healthy living within our programs. As a partner, we work with AAW to increase access to the outdoors by planning inclusive, accessible events and being a host location for their all-terrain outdoor wheelchair (OWC) to use on-site at our location and off-site in the community. 

Learn More!

We are officially a CWD sample site through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This box is located in our overflow parking lot and is available 24/7 to drop off your samples.

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.