Gathering Waters is excited to welcome participants to Knowles-Nelson Lobby Day and the 2025 Wisconsin Land Trust Conference in Madison from Wednesday, March 12 to Friday, March 14, 2025.
In this blog, we share our tips to help you prepare for this event. Read on for details about when and where we are convening, what to bring, and more!
Event Overview
The three-day event begins with Lobby Day on Wednesday, March 12. Please arrive for check-in at 9:30 so we can start promptly at 10:15 am. Spend the morning hearing from speakers and prepping for meetings with legislators in the afternoon. Return after your meetings for happy hour and hors d’oeuvres from 4-6 pm.
The conference starts at 8 am Thursday morning. Join Gathering Waters and your peers for breakfast at one of many local restaurants. Conference sessions start at 10 am. In the afternoon, the group will go on a field trip to the Black Earth Creek Valley where Groundswell Conservancy, the Ice Age Trail Alliance, and others are hard at work on many conservation projects. Return around 6 pm for happy hour followed by dinner.
Stick around on Friday for the popular Anatomy of a Land Trust Deal session and a brand new Storytelling Workshop. Start the day off with breakfast at 8:30 am, followed by sessions at 9:45 am. The conference will conclude by 11:15 and we’ll send you on the way with snacks.
View a detailed agenda here.
Venue and Parking
Lobby Day and the conference will be held at the Wisconsin Masonic Center located at 301 Wisconsin Ave. in Madison, which is a short walk from the Wisconsin State Capitol and the Madison Concourse Hotel at 1 W Dayton St.
If you are staying at the Concourse Hotel, parking is available in their ramp for $18/night. The Masonic Center is two blocks away, within easy walking distance of the Concourse.
If you are coming straight to the Masonic Center from home or work, there are numerous parking ramps and lots nearby. View a list of nearby parking here.
If you have trouble finding parking the day-of, you can call Lily Butler at 541-600-0662 for assistance.
Check-in and Agenda
When arriving at the Masonic Center, enter on Wisconsin Avenue for check-in. Please give yourself enough time to arrive at the Masonic Center and get checked in so we can keep things on schedule.
Gathering Waters staff will be available to check you in for Lobby Day or the conference at the following times:
- Lobby Day check-in is at 9:30 am on Wednesday, March 12. We will also get you checked in for the conference at this time if you’re attending both.
- Check-in for conference-only participants starts at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, March 12.
- For those arriving the morning of Thursday, March 13, conference check-in opens at 7:30 am.
Please let us know if you plan to arrive outside of our check-in times so we can be available to assist you.
Field Trip
Buses will transport conference attendees for the field trip on Thursday afternoon. We will leave promptly at 2 pm to tour protected properties in the Black Earth Creek Valley. Weather and time permitting, we will take short hikes at each of the stops.
Snacks will be provided. Please bring your own water bottle and wear weather appropriate clothes and footwear.
Conference Meals
We aim to keep you energized throughout the conference with delicious meals and snacks! A list of included meals is below:
Wednesday, March 12
- Light breakfast of coffee, pastries, and fruit
- Lunch
- Happy hour and hors d’oeuvres
Thursday, March 13
- Lunch
- Happy hour and dinner
Friday, March 14
- Light breakfast of coffee, pastries, and fruit
- Snacks before you depart for home
Meals will be served buffet-style for lunch on Wednesday, as well as lunch and dinner on Thursday.
Food will accommodate all dietary needs noted during registration, and will include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free selections.
Conference Sponsors
The Wisconsin Land Trust Conference and Knowles-Nelson Lobby Day are made possible in part by the generosity of our sponsors.
Thank you to the following organizations for their support.
If you have any questions, please contact Lily Butler at lily@gatheringwaters.org or 608-251-9131 x20 (office) or 541-600-0662 (cell). We’re looking forward to connecting with you!
