DNR Parks And Recreation News
What’s Happening In Wisconsin's State Parks,
Forests, Trails And Recreation Areas
 Be a good steward of our state's parks and natural areas. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Be A Good Steward: Leave Our Parks Better
Than You Found Them
As people who enjoy the outdoors, it's important that we understand our impact on the wilderness and natural areas we visit. With great recreation opportunities come great responsibility!
Following a few best practices can make it easy to maintain and reduce your impact on our natural areas, leaving our parks even nicer than before you arrived.
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Pack out what you pack in. Keep trash and other belongings on your person and dispose of waste appropriately. See litter from someone else? Pocket it and pack it out!
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Stay on designated trails and consider the conditions. If the trail looks muddy, opt for paved or gravel-lined trail options instead. Paved campground roads are also a good alternative. If you must go through a wet or muddy section of trail, hike directly through the middle. This prevents trail widening and vegetation damage. Early morning hiking while temperatures are low and mud is frozen can prevent further erosion.
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Observe wildlife from a distance. Please do not feed or approach any animals you encounter.
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Leave natural items at the property. It can be tempting to take home the prettiest flowers or smoothest rocks, but please leave natural items behind at the end of the day.
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Be mindful of noise. Showing consideration for the natural area, wildlife and other recreators goes a long way. If hiking solo or with a group, think about keeping your voice and music volumes low.
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Share this information. Educate others new to outdoor recreation or recreational practices and lead by example.
Put these practices in action at a park near you with the DNR's Find a Park webpage.
Outdoor News And Announcements
 Scenic view of the forest below at Roche-A-Cri State Park. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Forest Appreciation Week
The DNR is proud to join communities, organizations and individuals throughout the state in celebrating trees and forests during Forest Appreciation Week, which runs from Earth Day (April 22) to Arbor Day (April 26).
Forest Appreciation Week is a time to reflect on the importance of urban and rural forests.
The 17 million acres of forests that cover nearly half of Wisconsin and the millions of urban trees provide many benefits, including:
- Safeguarding water resources
- Creating homes and food for wildlife
- Supporting the forest industry
- Offering a myriad of outdoor recreation opportunities
- Reducing energy consumption and soil erosion
- Providing natural beauty for stress relief
- Supporting human health
- Providing shade
- Mitigating impacts of the changing climate by trapping and storing carbon dioxide
In 2021, the State of Wisconsin made a tree planting and forest conservation pledge focusing on the stewardship of forests and trees in both rural and urban areas, addressing the equitable distribution of the urban tree canopy and committing to protecting forest lands from development.
Upcoming Events
Work & Play Day
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Buckhorn State Park
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Join our park cleanup day with projects, including litter pickup, raking picnic areas and campsites, firewood, tree planting, cleaning the accessible cabin and more.
Volunteers should wear work shoes/boots, long pants and gloves. Please bring shovels, rakes and leaf blowers if you have them.
Individuals and groups are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Meet at the Park Office for assignments. Refreshments will be provided at noon.
Park admission is free for those volunteering. Pre-registration is not required for individuals. Large groups can contact us before April 12 to make sure we’re ready for their help.
Work Play Earth Day - Annual Spring Cleanup
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Havenwoods State Forest
9 a.m. – noon
Join the Friends of Havenwoods, DNR staff and Milwaukee Riverkeeper for our 29th annual spring cleanup! Havenwoods State Forest is one of over 90 locations across the Milwaukee River Basin that will be activated by thousands of volunteers to protect the health of our waterways through litter cleanup. Milwaukee Riverkeeper provides the gloves, trash bags and amazing FREE T-SHIRTS.
YOU provide the people power to pick up the trash that finds its way into our beautiful river system. Together, we can help restore our waterways.
Please register on the Milwaukee Riverkeeper website beforehand to complete the volunteer waiver and make sure we have adequate supplies at each of the sites.
Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and dress for the weather. If you have a pair of work gloves to use, great! If not, we’ll have some to borrow for the day. Please bring your own water bottle (water bottle filling stations are available in the nature center).
Work Play Earth Day - Earth Day Clean Up With Milwaukee Riverkeeper
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Lakeshore State Park
9 a.m. – noon
Meet at the Lakeshore’s north entrance, just in front of Discovery World, and help pick litter to make the park look beautiful for summer!
Register through Milwaukee Riverkeeper or simply show up.
Trash bags are provided.
Dress for the weather and bring gloves, if desired.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit
9 a.m. – noon
Join the park staff and the Friends of Pike Lake as we wake up the park from the sleepy winter months. Tree planting, litter cleanup, and brush removal from the picnic areas are the main activities of the day, so make sure to wear sturdy shoes!
Large groups please RSVP by calling 262-670-3400.
Love this newsletter? Forward it to a friend! Help your friends and family stay up-to-date with news, highlights and events from the Wisconsin State Park System with our weekly OutWiGo Newsletter. To sign-up for weekly newsletters, visit the OutWiGo webpage.
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