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.

—Travis, SNA volunteer

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.

Expect to do some walking off-trail, do some physical activity, and wear clothes that can be beaten up. Good items to bring are drinking water, gloves, safety glasses, sunscreen, and bug spray in summer/fall. We’ll typically have enough tools for you to use. Although different sites have different approaches to cancellation a decision is made by at least two hours before the day. You can RSVP to get updates or ask the contact person about the status 2 hours before: moderate to heavy rain, snow/ice storms, extreme cold, or extreme heat.

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.