State Natural Areas Volunteer Program
- Workdays are limited to the number of participants that can be socially distanced (e.g., space to be 6 ft apart) on a site or property.
- If you are not fully vaccinated, wear a mask if unable to social distance from others at the site.
- Please clean and disinfect tools and equipment when sharing.
If you have any questions, please call DNR Volunteer Coordinator Jared Urban at 608-228-4349.
Help us care for some of our state's most pristine public lands, State Natural Areas (SNA). Encourage native plants and animals to thrive by cutting brush, controlling invasive species, collecting seeds, monitoring rare species, and preparing fire breaks. Show up for a day or become a steward responsible for all volunteer activities at an SNA. Any level of participation is encouraged and no experience is necessary to start volunteering.
Learn more
- Browse the Volunteer Handbook for information on the program
- Read stories about our work in our 2021 annual report or the 2020 report
- Find training opportunities for first aid, chainsaw safety, and more
- Or secure volunteer gear
- Discover additional DNR volunteering opportunities
Join us at a workday
Workdays are one of the main ways volunteers accomplish tasks. They occur throughout the year at different SNAs. They are a great way to get some exercise, have fun, learn something new and see if you’ve got what it takes to enjoy restoration. Come join us for a workday to see for yourself. You can also learn about individual volunteer opportunities.
I work in an industrial setting that does not inspire and reward me in the way these volunteer opportunities do. I get to learn things that I can apply to my land. I've enjoyed meeting people who share my enthusiasm for the restoration of our land. I've also been shown some prairie remnants in our SNAs that I never would have realized were still in existence. It's like finding treasure for me.
| Date | Site | Time | County | Activity | Meeting location | RSVP required? | Contact | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/30 | Kettle Moraine Oak Opening | 9-noon | Jefferson | Brush, Seeds | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 |
|
| July (TBD) | Quincy Bluff and Wetlands | TBD | Adams | Lupine Seed | Google map | Preferred | TBD | |
| 7/1 | Waubesa Wetlands | 1-4pm | Dane | Weeds | Google map | Preferred | Alex Wenthe 608-282-5403 |
Occur on the 1st Friday of the month. |
| 7/7 | Kohler Park Dunes | 9-11 | Sheboygan | Weeds | Sanderling Nature Center | Yes | Mollie Mechenich 920-980-9054 |
For RSVP, please email your phone number so you can receive text alerts if there is a cancellation. |
| 7/8 | Ridgeway Pine Relict | 9-noon | Iowa | Weeds | Google map | No | Mary Kay Baum 608-935-583 |
Occur on the 2nd Friday of the month. |
| 7/9 | Bluff Creek | 9-noon | Waukesha | Weeds and Seeds | Google map | Preferred | Ginny Coburn 262-441-0393 |
Occur on the 2nd Saturday of the month. |
| 7/13 | Rock River Prairie | 9-noon | Rock | Seeds | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 |
|
| 7/14 | Maiden Rock Bluff | 9-noon | Pepin | Seeds | Google map | Yes | Dean Edlin 608-792-3054 |
Occur on the 2nd Thursday of the month. |
| 7/16 | Blue River Sand Barrens | 9-noon | Grant | Weeds and Brush | Google map | Preferred | Brian McGraw 608-778-2260 | Occur on the 2nd Saturday of the month. |
| 7/16 | Chiwaukee Prairie | 10-1pm | Kenosha | Weeds | See webpage | No | See webpage | Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month. |
| 7/16 | York Prairie | 9-noon | Green | Weeds and Seeds | Google map | No | Heidi Hankley 608-438-3911 |
Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month. |
| 7/21 | Kohler Park Dunes | 9-11 | Sheboygan | Knapweed | Sanderling Nature Center | Yes | Mollie Mechenich 920-980-9054 |
For RSVP, please email your phone number so you can receive text alerts if there is a cancellation. |
| 7/23 | Sugar River Wetlands | 9-noon | Dane | Weeds and Seeds | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 |
Occur on the 4th Saturday of the month. |
| 7/28 | Kettle Moraine Oak Opening | 9-noon | Jefferson | Brush, Seeds | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 |
|
| 8/4 | Kohler Park Dunes | 9-11 | Sheboygan | Knapweed | Sanderling Nature Center | Yes | Mollie Mechenich 920-980-9054 |
For RSVP, please email your phone number so you can receive text alerts if there is a cancellation. |
| 8/5 | Waubesa Wetlands | 1-4pm | Dane | Brush, Seeds | Google map | Preferred | Alex Wenthe 608-282-5403 |
Occur on the 1st Friday of the month. |
| 8/8 | Yellowstone Lake State Park | 9-noon | Lafayette | Seeds | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 |
|
| 8/10 | Kessler Railroad Prairie | 9-noon | Rock | Seeds | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 |
|
| 8/11 | Maiden Rock Bluff | 9-noon | Pepin | Seeds | Google map | Yes | Dean Edlin 608-792-3054 |
Occur on the 2nd Thursday of the month. |
| 8/12 | Ridgeway Pine Relict | 9-noon | Iowa | Seeds | Google map | No | Mary Kay Baum 608-935-5834 |
Occur on the 2nd Friday of the month. |
| 8/13 | Blue River Sand Barrens | 9-noon | Grant | Weeds and Brush | Google map | Preferred | Brian McGraw 608-778-2260 | Occur on the 2nd Saturday of the month. |
| 8/18 | Kohler Park Dunes | 9-11 | Sheboygan | Weeds | Sanderling Nature Center | Yes | Mollie Mechenich 920-980-9054 |
For RSVP, please email your phone number so you can receive text alerts if there is a cancellation. |
| 8/20 | Chiwaukee Prairie | 10-1pm | Kenosha | Weeds | See webpage | No | See webpage | Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month. |
| 8/20 | York Prairie | 9-noon | Green | Seeds | Google map | No | Heidi Hankley 608-438-3911 |
Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month. |
| 8/25 | Bluff Creek | 9-noon | Walworth | Brush, Seeds | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 |
Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month. |
| 8/27 | Sugar River Wetlands | 9-noon | Dane | Seeds | Google map | Yes | Wade Moder 608-437-7707 |
Occur on the 4th Saturdays of the month. |
Receive email updates on upcoming workdays
We have divided the state into volunteer regions. Receive email updates on upcoming volunteer workdays in the region. Sign up for as many regions as you'd like.
Upper Lake Michigan | Email sign-up
Southeast | Email sign-up
Southwest | Email sign-up
West Central | Email sign-up
Northwest | Email sign-up
Driftless | Email sign-up
Central Sands | Email sign-up
North Central | Email sign-up