State Natural Areas Volunteer Program
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.
With everything going on in the world it’s nice to take a break from it all for a couple of hours and breathe in the fresh air. I’m so glad I started volunteering because I’ve met some incredibly inspiring people who know a lot about rare and indigenous plants. I recently became certified for chainsaw use on DNR lands and have been enjoying practicing my new skills.
Date | Site | Time | County | Activity | Meeting location | RSVP required? | Contact | Additional info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1/19 | Kohler Park Dunes | 9-11am | Sheboygan | Brush | Google map | Yes | Mollie Mechenich 920-980-9054 | For RSVP, please email your phone number so you can receive text alerts if there is a cancellation. |
1/19 | Muralt Bluff Prairie (Stauffacher Unit) | 9-noon | Green | Brush | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 | |
1/21 | Chiwaukee Prairie | 10-1pm | Kenosha | Brush | See webpage | No | See webpage | Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month. |
1/21 | York Prairie | 9-noon | Green | Brush | Google map | No | Shannon Roznoski 608-334-6920 | Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month. |
1/21 | Scuppernong Springs | 9-noon | Waukesha | Brush | Google map | No | Walter Mirk 608-391-1921 | Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month in the Southern Kettle Moraine area. |
1/25 | Gotham Pine Barrens | 10-1pm | Richland | Fire Break Prep | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 | |
1/26 | Bluff Creek | Noon-3pm | Walworth | Brush | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 | |
1/28 | Sugar River Wetlands | 9-noon | Dane | Brush | Google map | Yes | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 | Typically occurring on the 4th Saturday of the month. |
1/31 | Woodman Lake | 10-1pm | Grant | Brush | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 | |
2/1 | Arena Pine Barrens | 9-noon | Iowa | Pine | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 | |
2/3 | Waubesa Wetlands | 1-4pm | Dane | Brush | Google map | Preferred | Alex Wenthe 608-282-5403 | Occur on the 1st Friday of the month. |
2/4 | Kohler Park Dunes | Canceled | Sheboygan | Brush | Google map | Yes | Mollie Mechenich 920-980-9054 | For RSVP, please email your phone number so you can receive text alerts if there is a cancellation. |
2/9 | Maiden rock Bluff | 9-noon | Pepin | Brush | Google map | Yes | Dean Edlin 608-792-3054 | Occur on the 2nd Thursday of the month. |
2/10 | Ridgeway Pine Relict | 9-noon | Iowa | Brush | Google map | No | Bob Scheidegger 608-319-2083 | Occur on the 2nd Friday of the month. |
2/11 | Blue River Sand Barrens | 9-noon | Grant | Brush | Google map | Preferred | Brian McGraw 608-778-2260 | Occur on the 2nd Saturday of the month. |
2/11 | Bluff Creek | 9-noon | Walworth | Brush | Google map | Preferred | Ginny Coburn 262-441-0393 | Occur on the 2nd Saturday of the month in locations nearby. |
2/16 | Kohler Park Dunes | 9-11am | Sheboygan | Brush | Google map | Yes | Mollie Mechenich 920-980-9054 | For RSVP, please email your phone number so you can receive text alerts if there is a cancellation. |
2/18 | Chiwaukee Prairie | 10-1pm | Kenosha | Brush | See webpage | No | See webpage | Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month. |
2/18 | Rocky Run Oak Savanna | 9-noon | Columbia | Brush | Google map | Preferred | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 | Please note this is only an access point during workdays and is not public access. |
2/18 | Scuppernong Springs | 9-noon | Waukesha | Brush | Google map | No | Walter Mirk 608-391-1921 | Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month in the Southern Kettle Moraine area. |
2/18 | York Prairie | 9-noon | Green | Brush | Google map | No | Shannon Roznoski 608-334-6920 | Occur on the 3rd Saturday of the month. |
2/22 | Lower Chippewa River | 9-noon | Dunn | Brush Removal | Google map | Yes | Dean Edlin 608-792-3054 | |
2/25 | Sugar River Wetlands | 9-noon | Dane | Brush | Google map | Yes | Jared Urban 608-228-4349 | Typically occurring on the 4th Saturday 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