DNR Parks And Recreation News
What’s Happening In Wisconsin's State Parks,
Trails, Forests And Recreation Areas
 Volunteers help with many aspects of trail maintenance. Help get the trails ready for this summer! / Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
With spring in full swing, April is the perfect month to celebrate the earth and all those who volunteer to help make Wisconsin state properties pristine. Throughout April, there are several ways you can give back to our state parks, forests, trails, recreation areas and State Natural Areas, including our volunteer event, Work*Play*Earth Day.
Work*Play*Earth Day is our annual Earth Day service plus recreation day, with activities and events falling on or around Earth Day, April 22. Volunteer workdays are posted online at the DNR events calendar and on the State Natural Areas webpage.
Work*Play*Earth Day is great for kids, families and groups. If your workplace, service organization or club is looking to give back, reach out to a state park, forest, trail or recreation area or a Friends group, or sign up for an existing event. This time of the year, as the snow melts across the state, we start to see all the rubbish that's been buried and debris that has blown down across trails and campsites. Many hands make light work!
While you're signing up to volunteer for an Earth Day-related event, don't just stop at one day! Take a minute to become a state park system volunteer. We have several volunteering activities available throughout the busy summer season, including campground hosts, naturalists and trail maintenance workers. Volunteers provide integral assistance to our state park system.
If you can't make it to a Work*Play*Earth Day event, the next time you're out at your favorite park property, bring along an extra garbage bag and do your own litter pick-up, consider carpooling to park properties, participate in a tree planting, compost your organic waste, and remember to always "pack in, pack out" any trash you create while at the state park properties.
Protect Yourself From Tick Bites
Tick season is here. Deer ticks are common in Wisconsin and live in wooded areas and brushy or grassy areas adjacent to woods. The insect can be as small as a poppy seed but carry and spread major illnesses, such as Lyme disease.
Learn more about what to do if you find a tick in your body and what Lyme disease symptoms to be aware of by visiting the Fight the Bite webpage.
You can limit your chance of contracting Lyme disease and other illnesses spread by ticks by following these tips:
- Cover as much of your body as possible; ideally, wear long sleeves and pants, and tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks.
- Walk in the center of trails where grass and vegetation are mowed.
- Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot and remove quickly.
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent when you head outdoors. You can also treat your clothes in advance with permethrin.
- Throw your clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes on high heat when you arrive home after recreating.
- Always check yourself, children and pets for ticks, especially behind the knees, under armpits, around the hairline and ears, and at the waist.
Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
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 Leave a car at one end of the river and put in at the other end for your overnight trip on the Wisconsin River, or work with a local outfitter to coordiate transportation. Have fun exploring our state's namesake river! / Photo credit: Nate Fayram
The Lower Wisconsin is the longest free-flowing stretch of river in the Midwest. This 45,000-acre property extends along 92 miles of the river from Prairie du Sac to the confluence with the Mississippi River. The abundant sandbars and islands are popular destinations for boat-in campers. This summer, consider a "close-to-home" canoe-camping trip and head out on the Lower Wisconsin River! Start planning your adventure on the river today.
Designated in 1989, the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is a paradise for boaters, anglers and wildlife watchers. The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway contains fantastically diverse resources with a wide variety of historical and archeological sites, wildlife, fisheries and scenic beauty found nowhere else. Many people enjoy their first trip so much that they return again and again.
Two-thirds of river users can be found on the stretch of river between Prairie Du Sac and Spring Green. Those looking for a more private experience will enjoy the middle section from Spring Green to Boscobel. For the user wishing solitude, the stretch below Boscobel is the most secluded.
Camping is allowed on state owned islands and sandbars except for a two-mile stretch from Ferry Bluff downstream to Grape Island. Campers must access their campsite by boat or canoe and are allowed to camp for a maximum of three nights at one location.
Canoes are the most popular method of transportation and may be rented from local liveries. Fishing and recreational boating are also popular, so please be courteous, load and unload quickly at the boat landings, and let everyone enjoy the river!
Please take note: the Wisconsin River can be deceiving. The current is often strong enough to knock a person off-balance, and sandbars are constantly moving or conceal deep holes in the river bottom. Poison ivy is common on river islands, and on a hot day without proper protection, the sun can be damaging. Before heading out on your river exploration, be sure to read up on what to expect and be prepared while on the water.
The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway runs from Prairie du Sac to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Three contact stations are available along the route, Blackhawk Ridge/Wisconsin Heights, the Sauk County Canoe Landing and Prairie du Bay. Please note the Highway 130 bridge replacement project that may impact your trip this summer. Learn more about the Lower Wisconsin on the DNR's webpage.
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Gardening & Farming In The City
Havenwoods State Forest
Saturday, April 8
1 - 2 p.m.
A celebration of urban agriculture! Hear about local environmentalist Will Allen, learn about worms and composting and decorate your own plant pot to get your garden started.
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Seth Peterson Cottage Tours
Mirror Lake State Park
Sunday, April 9
1 - 4 p.m.
The 1958 Seth Peterson Cottage is Frank Lloyd Wright’s last Wisconsin building. Come and join the Seth Peterson Conservancy Group for a tour of this hidden gem located within Mirror Lake State Park.
Learn about the history of the cottage and the efforts made to restore it for all to enjoy. Get a look at the architectural masterpiece that very few have seen and gain an appreciation for the way Frank Lloyd Wright was able to work the building into the surrounding landscape.
The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Seth Peterson Cottage is open for tours the second Sunday of each month from 1–4 p.m., with the last tour beginning at 3:30 p.m. Reservations are not required. The admission fee is $5.00 for adults. Children 12 and under and Seth Peterson Conservancy members are free.
Find more nature programs and DNR events.
Photo: Wisconsin DNR
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Work For Wisconsin State Parks
You can join our great crew this summer at Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas! Applications are still being accepted for summer seasonal positions.
Pay, hours and more information are available online. Applications are only accepted online. Search by agency, Dept. of Natural Resources.
You may also contact a property directly for more information.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
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What will you do to honor Earth Month this April?
Share your photos on Instagram and Facebook and tag us with #OutWiGo!
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