Wisconsin Land Trust Days
Wisconsin Land Trust Days is an annual celebration of land trusts with events in July, August, and September!
Land trusts host a range of fun outdoor events during Land Trust Days.
Here is just a snapshot of what you can do this summer:
- Hike Wisconsin’s prairies, forests, and bluffs
- Cycle through beautiful countryside
- Help build part of the historic Ice Age National Scenic Trail
- Learn about cave and bat ecology
- Search for plants and pollinators
- Capture nature with your camera or sketchbook
- Forage for mushrooms
- Soothe your soul with forest bathing and outdoor yoga
- Collect native prairie seeds
- Hop on a boat cruise for conservation, and more
Find a full list of events below.
Get a printed copy of the Land Trust Days event calendar
Get an overview of the 45 events that are part of 2024 Land Trust Days.
We hope you get a chance to visit this year’s Land Trust Days Featured Destination: The Driftless Trail. This ongoing project of Driftless Area Land Conservancy aims to connect three state parks in Iowa County through a 50-mile hiking loop. Find more details, maps, and guides here.
Before you explore, get your Wisconsin Nature Guide
The nature guide will help you identify many common plants, animals, and other wildlife as you explore Wisconsin’s natural places. We’ll send you a copy of the guide in the mail at no cost when you complete this form.
Gathering Waters creates tools like this to help you enjoy natural places. As a nonprofit environmental organization, we help people like you learn more about how to protect and enjoy Wisconsin’s land, water, and wildlife.
YETI Prize Drawing
Did you attend a Land Trust Days event? Have you visited a land trust property recently?
We want to hear about your experience!
Every year, Gathering Waters gives out YETI prizes through a random drawing for people who participate in Wisconsin Land Trust Days.
To enter the drawing, all you have to do is attend an event or visit a protected property, then fill out this form to tell us about your experience.
Five prizes are awarded, including a grand prize of a YETI cooler and four YETI tumblers.
Entries are accepted through September 30. Drawing winners will be selected in early October and notified by email.
Special thanks to these 2024 Wisconsin Land Trust Days sponsors!
If you or your organization would like to partner with Gathering Waters to promote Wisconsin Land Trust Days or join our advocacy efforts, please reach out to Creal Zearing, Director of Philanthropy, at (608) 251-9131 ext. 18 or creal@gatheringwaters.org.
Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony & Celebration
Schmeeckle Reserve Pankowski: Amphitheater 2419 North Point Dr, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United StatesCelebrate 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Dr. Bob Freckmann with Gathering Waters and North Central Conservancy Trust.
Butterfly Discovery Event
Beaver Creek Reserve S1 County Road K, Fall Creek, WI, United StatesExplore the beautiful world of butterflies with Landmark Conservancy guided by Beaver Creek Reserve naturalists Jim Schwiebert and Megan Giefer!
Cocktails for Conservation Cruise
Port Washington Harbor Dock 106 Lake St, Port Washington, WI, United StatesJoin the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust and the River Revitalization Foundation for a cruise on Lake Michigan.
Photography Day
Helen Rohner Children’s Fishing Park 159 Elkhorn Road, Williams Bay, WI, United StatesHone your photography skills with a free nature photography class offered by Geneva Lake Conservancy.
Buck Moon Rise Celebration
Peterson Island Woods Preserve Oak Park Rd, Elkhorn, Wisconsin, United StatesExperience the full moon rise with Kettle Moraine Land Trust around a campfire with story selections from the Matheson Memorial Library.
Summer Celebration
Yerkes Observatory 373 W Geneva St, Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United StatesHear from author and special guest speaker Doug Tallamy at Geneva Lake Conservancy's Summer Celebration.
Summer Gathering
To Be Determined WI, United StatesEnjoy prairies and savannas with three days of hikes, learning and socializing with the Prairie Enthusiasts.
River Revitalization Foundation 30 Year Celebration
Indeed Brewing Co. 530 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesCelebrate the River Revitalization Foundation's 30th year at Indeed Brewing Co.
Family Education Day
White River County Park 6503 Sheridan Springs Road, Lake Geneva, WI, United StatesEnjoy a raptor presentation with Geneva Lake Conservancy at this family-friendly event.
Goose Pond Prairies
Goose Pond Sanctuary W7503 Kampen Road, Arlington, WI, United StatesJoin Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance for this mostly sitting tour of Goose Pond Sanctuary's restored mesic prairies.
Tower Nibiiwan Conservation Area Bog Hike
Tower Nibiiwan Conservation Area Sugar Camp, WI, United StatesExplore bogs at Tower Nibiiwan Conservation Area with Northwoods Land Trust.
16th Annual Ride to the Barns
Camp Quad 6886 County Road Q (Hwy Q & Hwy 83), Hartford, WI, United StatesRide your bike with Tall Pines Conservancy during the 2024 Ride to the Barns, a benefit for farmland conservation in Lake Country.
Ice Age Trail Crew Trailbuilding: Plover River Segment, Marathon County
Plover River Segment Aniwa, WI, United StatesHelp build puncheon, solidify tread with granite boulders, and maintain the existing tread with the Ice Age Trail Alliance in Marathon County.
Summer in the Sanctuary
Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center 8166 State Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor, WI, United StatesExplore the Ridges Nature Center and Hidden Brook Boardwalk with nature-themed stations during this family-friendly summer event.
Pollinator Walk at Willow Creek Preserve
Willow Creek Preserve New Jersey Ave, Sheboygan, WI, United StatesLearn about the importance of pollinator diversity and prairie plants through this hike with the Glacial Lakes Conservancy.
Tour of Baird Creek Watershed Properties: The Birds, Bees & Butterflies
Baird Creek Greenway (Lower Parking Lot) 324 Baird Creek Rd/Danz Ave, Green Bay, WI, United StatesTour two restored properties boasting native prairie with the Baird Creek Preservation Foundation.
Gardens & Gazing Event
Villa St. Joseph W2658 WI-33, La Crosse, WI, United StatesTake in the beauty with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy of the La Crosse area blufflands on this ridgetop hike, followed by a garden tour and stargazing.
Cave of the Mounds Tour
Cave of the Mounds 2975 Cave of the Mounds Rd, Blue Mounds, WI, United StatesExplore Cave of the Mounds with the Groundswell Conservancy on a free tour. Before touring the cave, learn how conservation plays a role in protecting this special place.
Summer Moon Rise Celebration and Campfire
Price Park Conservancy N6418 Hodunk Rd, Elkhorn, WI, United StatesCelebrate the rise of the Sturgeon Moon with a campfire and story selections from the Matheson Memorial Library hosted by the Kettle Moraine Land Trust.
Trailtessa: Be CREATIVE – Bee Pollinator Helper
Milton Public Library & Story Gardens 430 E High St, Milton, United StatesIgnite your artistic abilities to support pollinators with the Ice Age Trail Alliance. Create clay decorative stones and paint a large-scale mural celebrating bees.
Small Nature Photo Contest Reception
Green Grocer 24 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay, WI, United StatesCelebrate the winners of Geneva Lake Conservancy's photo contest at a reception at Green Grocer. Refreshments provided.
Natural Resources Foundation Field Trip at Anglin Family Nature Preserve
Anglin Family Nature Preserve Lake Ivanhoe, WI, United StatesOn this Natural Resources Foundation field trip with Geneva Lake Conservancy, enjoy a history hike to view the Anglin Family Nature Preserve.
Mane Event
Neubauer Farm 5551 Short Road, Racine, WI, United StatesSearch for scavenger hunt items on horseback. Ride your horse on marked trails through Caledonia Conservancy's private lands. Take a picture of items you find for raffle tickets.
Forest Bathing at Gooseville Creek Preserve Conservation
Gooseville Creek Preserve Gooseville, Wisconsin, United StatesTake your appreciation for nature to a new level by learning the wonders of forest bathing during a hike hosted by the Glacial Lakes Conservancy.
Interpretive Geology Hike in Northeastern Marathon County
Dells of the Eau Claire County Park 235890 County Road Y, Aniwa, WI, United StatesLearn about the glacial and geologic forces that shaped Marathon County during interpretive hikes with North Central Conservancy Trust.
Autumn Gathering
Colman Woods W4486 N Lake Shore Dr, Williams Bay, WI, United StatesJoin this autumn gathering hosted by the Geneva Lake Conservancy to hear from special guest speaker, author Dan Egan.
Mushroom Foray
To Be Determined WI, United StatesExplore the fascinating world of fungi with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy as knowledgeable mycologists guide participants on a hike through a wooded property.
Nature Journaling at Hunner Preserve
Hunner Preserve Denmark, WI, United StatesImprove your appreciation of different species through field sketching with Glacial Lakes Conservancy.
Ice Age Trail Crew Trailbuilding: Greenbush Segment, Sheboygan County
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit Campbellsport, WI, United StatesCraft brand-new tread and create a new route for the Ice Age Trail Alliance just south of Hwy 23, moving it from a paved multi-use trail to a beautiful landscape of deep kettles and big trees.
Oak Savanna Restoration Step-by-Step
Wild Oaks Preserve 277 Brunson Rd, Belleville, WI, United StatesHike and learn at an oak savanna restoration in progress at Wild Oaks Preserve, a collaborative project of Driftless Area Land Conservancy and BadgerLand Foundation.
Prairie Tour at Seno K/RLT
Seno K/RLT Conservancy 3606 Dyer Lake Road, Burlington, WI, United StatesStroll through the Seno Woodland Center’s prairie restoration to learn about prairie ecology and efforts to preserve this incredible habitat.
Harvest Moon Celebration
Beulah Bluff Preserve N9026 Bakavi Way, East Troy, WI, United StatesCelebrate the rise of the Harvest Moon with the Kettle Moraine Land Trust where there will be a campfire and story selections from the Matheson Memorial Library.
Annual Harvest Dinner & Anniversary Celebration
Bukolt Lodge 100 Bukolt Avenue, Stevens Point, WI, United StatesEnjoy an evening of celebration of the North Central Conservancy Trust's 30th anniversary and conservation success in Central Wisconsin with live music, local food, silent auction, drinks, and friends.
Nature Hike at Sidney Woodland Preserve
Sidney Woodland Preserve N. Dexter Ave. & N. Sidney Pl., Glendale, WI, United StatesJoin the Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy on a guided tour of this little gem of a preserve that is a haven for plant communities.
Treasures of Oz Eco-Tour
Virmond County Park 10606 N Lake Shore Dr, Mequon, WI, United StatesExplore unique sites with docents and learn about natural features like a floating staircase to Lake Michigan and local history with the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust.
Fall Leaf Art at Natureland Park
Natureland Park W8338 Territorial Road, Whitewater, WI, United StatesLet the autumn season inspire you. Join the Kettle Moraine Land Trust to make leaf art, pressed leaf collages, leaf rubbings, and leaf pounding prints.
Fall Prairies at Faville Grove
Faville Grove Sanctuary W7480 Prairie Lane, Lake Mills, WI, United StatesImmerse yourself in the textures, colors, sounds, and smells of fall at Faville Grove with the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.
Armchair Conservation: Collecting and Processing Native Plant Seed
Online Virtual EventTune into this virtual program hosted by the Kettle Moraine Land Trust to learn about the process of collecting native plant seeds.
Prairie Seed Collection at Price Park
Price Park Conservancy N6418 Hodunk Rd, Elkhorn, WI, United StatesVolunteer with Kettle Moraine Land Trust to collect native plant seeds and support habitat restoration efforts at the conservancy.
Hackmatack Seed Picking
Hackmatack Turner Tract Preserve N541 County Highway H, Genoa City, WI, United StatesJoin Geneva Lake Conservancy and Kettle Moraine Land Trust volunteers to collect seeds at the Hackmatack Turner Tract.
Hike the Heights at Minocqua Winter Park
Minocqua Winter Park 7588 Squirrel Hill Road, Minocqua, WI, United StatesHike with the Northwoods Land Trust to visit the two highest points at the popular winter recreation facility and view the beginning of fall colors.