October, 2026

Photo Credit: Heather Schindel 

Physical activity does more than benefit our physical health. In this UW–Madison article, kinesiology researcher Jacob Meyer discusses how exercise may help reduce symptoms of depression and even strengthen the effectiveness of mental health treatment. His research explores the connection between movement and emotional well-being, highlighting the growing role of physical activity in mental health care.

Your mental and physical health are deeply connected. Learn how to care for both in NAMI Hearts + Minds! NAMI Hearts+Minds is a free, 5-week wellness class for adults living with mental health conditions or their family members. It focuses on how lifestyle, habits, and overall health can support your mental health journey.

Small changes can make a big difference

Registration is required and space is limited. 

Riverview Community Center; 15152 Island Lake Rd Mountain, WI 54149

Questions? Contact connect@naminorthbay.org

What do you do when someone you care about just isn’t themselves?

Maybe a friend, neighbor, family member or coworker is struggling. You notice something is off, but you’re not sure what to say or how to help.

COMET™ is a 2-hour virtual training designed to help everyday people feel more prepared to support someone who may be experiencing emotional distress, especially before a crisis occurs.

During the training, you’ll learn how to:

• Start a conversation that could be difficult or emotional

• Be present and supportive without feeling like you have to “fix it”

• End the conversation in a helpful way by offering resources, follow-up or next steps

You don’t have to be a mental health professional to make a difference. Sometimes, simply knowing how to start the conversation can be a really important first step.

Friday, October 23, 2026

1:00–3:00 p.m.

Virtually via Zoom

Brought to you by Katie Daul and Sarah Schindel, Oconto County Extension Educators.

Let’s make sure our friends, families and neighbors know they don’t have to face hard things alone.

Caregiver Conference: Support, Resources & Community

Join local organizations for a free Caregiver Conference focused on support, education, and resources for caregivers. Learn about care planning, find encouragement, and connect with others.

📅 Monday, November 16, 2026
🕘 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (registration begins at 9:30 a.m.)
📍 Hillside Assembly of God, 5890 WI-22, Gillett, WI 54124

Morning sessions include:

Advanced Care Planning with Unity Hospice

Caregiver’s Compass: Savoring the Joy in Everyday Moments with Katie Daul, UW–Madison Extension Oconto County

Afternoon: Q&A panel featuring local hospice, caregiving, funeral service, and community representatives.

☕ Light breakfast, refreshments, and lunch provided. Door prize drawing!

Registration is required by November 9, 2026.

Questions or phone registration: Elizabeth Ausloos, ADRC Dementia Care Specialist, at 715-526-4712.

No cost to attend. Please register early!

Take control of the future and give your loved ones peace of mind with Planning AHEAD: For the End of This Life. This FREE 7-week virtual program guides you through essential end-of-life choices so your family won't have to navigate difficult decisions alone.

Program Details:

Dates: Tuesdays, November 3 – December 15, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Cost: FREE (includes class and workbook)

Topics Covered:

Getting Started

Handling Financial Changes

Advance Medical and Legal Directives

Estate Planning

Choices in End-of-Life Care

Final Wishes

Understanding Grief

Have questions? Contact Katie Daul at katie.daul@wisc.edu or call 920-834-6848.

October is Cyber Security Month! Join us for Digital Learning Days to build your tech confidence, protect your information, and learn essential online skills. Bring your own devices!

Event Details:

Where: Gillett Community Center (204 E. Main St., Gillett)

Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Cost: Free (Registration appreciated)

Session Schedule:

Computer Basics: Monday, Oct. 26

Net Etiquette: Tuesday, Oct. 27

Frauds and Scams: Wednesday, Oct. 28

Intro to Email: Thursday, Oct. 29

Connecting to Government Resources: Monday, Nov. 2

Social Media Savvy: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Buy and Sell Online: Wednesday, Nov. 4

Zoom for Participants: Thursday, Nov. 5

For more info or assistance registering, call Oconto County Extension at 920-834-6848 or email Katie.Daul@wisc.edu.

The 2026–2027 4-H Year is Officially OPEN for Enrollment!

Enroll online through 4HOnline:

https://4honline.com/#/landing 

Questions about enrollment? Contact:

aimee.elkins@wisc.edu

Get ready for a year filled with hands-on learning, new experiences, friendships, leadership opportunities, community service, and FUN. We can't wait to see what you'll accomplish this year!

Find Your Spark. Grow Your Skills. Make Your Mark.

A new 4-H year means new opportunities to learn, lead, serve, explore, and grow!

Whether you're excited to dive deeper into your favorite projects, try something brand new, build leadership skills, make lifelong friends, or discover a new passion, 4-H has something for everyone!

Returning Members:

It's time to re-enroll! Log in using your existing family account information and complete your enrollment for the new 4-H year.

New Families:

We would love to welcome you to the Oconto County 4-H family! Create a new account and begin your 4-H journey today!

Want to get involved and volunteer with us???
We are having a volunteer meeting October 23rd!
You can attend in person or virtually.
Location: Zoom or Bond Center Room 201 1201 (1201 Park Ave, Oconto WI).
Time: 11am-12pm
Register using this link or email connect@naminorthbay.org

Oconto High School invites our community to join us for a powerful evening with Carson Molle, a suicide attempt survivor and mental health advocate, along with his mom, Amber.

Carson will share his story and perspective on mental health, offering an important message of hope, awareness, and the importance of speaking up and seeking support.

Wednesday, October 21

6:00 p.m.

OHS Auditorium - 1717 Superior Ave., Oconto

We encourage families and community members to join us for this meaningful presentation

Men's Mental Health Event
Healthy Oconto County Coalition

Let’s be real—life gets heavy. Work, family, expectations, and dealing with difficult people can wear you down fast. Most guys just push through it. This event is about giving you better ways to handle it.

Join us for a practical, no-fluff night with Dr. Michael Weber, a nationally recognized speaker with 40+ years of experience. He’ll break down how to deal with negative people, communicate without escalating conflict, and keep yourself from getting pulled into the negativity.

What to expect:
• Straightforward, useful strategies you can actually use
• A solid meal (family-style dinner included)
• A relaxed setting—no pressure, just real conversation
• Chances to win some great raffle prizes (YETI cooler, grill/smoker, gift cards, and more)

Event Details:
Thursday, October 22, 2026
5:00–8:00 PM (Dinner served at 5:30)
Romy’s Holiday Inn
9600 Hwy G, Suring, WI

Cost: $25 (includes dinner + program)

You must be present to win raffle prizes.

If cost is a barrier, reach out—we have sponsorships available to help cover registration.

Questions or need help registering:
Brenda Rehberg
(920) 835-1101
Brenda.Rehberg@emplifyhealth.org

Register: 

Financial Education Opportunities | October–December 2026

The UW–Madison Division of Extension is offering free financial education classes and resources to help individuals and families build financial confidence and reach their goals.

Rent Smart
Learn about rental applications, communicating with landlords, rental agreements, and finding housing.

October 10, 17, 24 | 9:00–11:30 a.m. | Virtual

November 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18 | 7:00–8:00 p.m.

December 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17 | 1:00–2:00 p.m.

Sign up: https://go.wisc.edu/j1a94q

Encouraging Financial Conversations
A free six-session course for social workers, case managers, and others who support clients with financial goals, budgeting, saving, and debt.

October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 3, 11 | 10:00–11:00 a.m.

Sign up: https://go.wisc.edu/tln06k

Financial Coaching
Free, confidential, non-biased financial coaching to help you create a spending plan and work toward your financial goals. One-on-one appointments are available.

Connect with a local educator: https://go.wisc.edu/gn959u

Money Matters Live
Free monthly virtual sessions on timely financial topics. Attend at 10:00 a.m. or 6:30 p.m.

October 6: Friends, Family, and Finances

November 3: Smart Money Moves for the Holidays

December 1: Financial Goal Setting

Sign up: https://go.wisc.edu/138042

View all classes and find more opportunities:
https://finances.extension.wisc.edu/classcalendar/

Learn whose treaty lands and which nations are located closest to your home with this interactive map from PBS Wisconsin Education. ⁠
⁠
Then, explore booklists, interactive games, videos and more for learning about Wisconsin First Nations at https://wisconsinfirstnations.org/. 

Build strength and boost your well-being with Strong Bodies this autumn!

StrongBodies is an evidence-based strength training program designed for aging adults to help improve muscle mass, bone density, energy levels, and overall wellness. Great for beginners and adults of all ages and fitness levels!

📌 Program Details:

Dates: October 6 – December 17, 2026

When: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Where: Virtual via Zoom

🔗 Register online today: https://forms.gle/2GZPvQBJQyF585f29

For questions, reach out to strongbodies@extension.wisc.edu or visit https://health.extension.wisc.edu/strongbodies/ to learn more!

2026 Topics Include:

• Tax-Filing Basics

• Budgeting & Spending Plans

• Credit Reports

• Getting Out of Debt

• Saving Basics

• Fraud & Scam Prevention

• Money Habits & Holiday Spending

…and more!

Join the Extension Horticulture Program throughout 2026 for an opportunity to connect with plant health experts from the UW-Madison Division of Extension. Each session, held monthly on Wednesdays, offers a chance to ask questions about trees and shrubs, homegrown fruits and vegetables, indoor plants, ornamental landscapes, lawns, and more.

Whether it’s about plant problems, diseases, pesky insects, or the selection and general care of plants in and around your home, our panel of seasoned experts will provide you with insightful answers.

The goal of these sessions is to connect how sustainable gardening practices positively impact landscapes and ecosystems, cultivate your knowledge of horticulture practices that improve biodiversity in landscapes, increase your understanding of climate change in horticulture, and promote adaptive strategies and the adoption of resilient gardening practices.

These online sessions are free but registration is required for each session that you would like to attend. Upon registration you will receive an email confirmation with the link for joining the session.

Do you have questions about your garden, lawn, trees, or plants? The Horticulture Help Desk is here to help!

Join us for Help Desk Hours every Monday and Thursday from 1:00–3:00 PM, where you’ll have real-time access to a horticulture professional ready to assist with your gardening questions.

Choose a 15- or 30-minute session during available times:

Mondays & Thursdays: 1:00–3:00 PM

Fridays: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (as needed)

Appointments can be held via Zoom or phone, making it easy and convenient to get expert advice from wherever you are.

🌿 Book your appointment today: go.wisc.edu/HortHelpDesk

Whether you're troubleshooting plant issues, planning your garden, or looking for expert advice, we’re here to support your growing success!

Have a yard or garden question but can’t make it to Help Desk hours? We’ve got you covered!

Submit your question anytime using our online form—available 24/7. Whether it’s about plants, lawns, trees, or garden pests, our horticulture experts are ready to help.

👉 Submit your question here: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/ask-a-gardening-question/