Lands_Content Page_Sandhill outdoor skills calendar

Sandhill outdoor skills calendar

The Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center provides a variety of educational activities in the wide and wild world of wildlife recreation. Wildlife staff, volunteers and guest instructors conduct various workshops each year, primarily on weekends. Workshops use an indoor classroom center and the outdoor world of the Sandhill Wildlife Area. Workshops introduce participants to the appropriate use of outdoor equipment, develop skills to feel more competent outdoors and introduce participants to others who share similar interests. A shooting range, trails and opportunities for supervised hunting and trapping experiences enhance the outdoor skills programs. These workshops and clinics are designed to be hands-on learning experiences to improve participants' knowledge, skills and experience levels.

Upcoming Workshops

  • Feb. 7, 2026: Timber Wolf Information Network (TWIN) Wolf Ecology Workshop
  • Feb. 8, 2026: Timber Wolf Information Network (TWIN) Winter Tracking Clinic
  • Feb. 28, 2026: Candlelight Hike hosted by Friends of Sandhill
    • 5:30pm to 8:00pm. Campfire and storytelling will start at 7:00pm.
    • $10 registration fee at the door. No pre-registration required.
    • If there is enough snow, feel free to bring snowshoes and then warm up in the Outdoor Skills Center with free hot cocoa, hot cider, hot tea, and various sweets.
    • Please contact Vicki Palen at vpalen@tds.net or (715) 652-3131 if you have questions.   
  • May 9, 2026: Friends of Sandhill Open House - Bison!
    • 10:00am to 3:00pm. No pre-registration required.
    • Join the Friends of Sandhill to learn about Bison! There will be kids activities, wagon tours, informational sessions on bison.
    • Please contact Vicki Palen at vpalen@tds.net or (715) 652-3131 if you have questions.   
  • May 16th, 2026: Outdoor Cooking Workshop with Laura Huber hosted by the Friends of Sandhill
  • May 23, 2026: Introduction to Dragonflies, Hosted by the Friends of Sandhill
    • Join the Friends of Sandhill from 9:30am to 2:00pm for a day of learning about dragonflies, where and how they live, followed by a field trip looking for the rare ringed boghaunter. The workshop starts at 9:30 a.m. and will last until 2:00 p.m. Please bring your own lunch and water, along with field-appropriate clothing.
    • This workshop is Free. To register, please email registration@widragonflysociety.org.
    • Backup/rain date will be Sunday, May 24.
  • June 6th, 2026: Walking Stick Workshops hosted by Friends of Sandhill
    8:30am to 12:00pm.
    • Pre-registrations and $7 fee required by May 29th.
    • Please join us to craft your own walking stick from prepared birch. You will learn how to paint, wood burn, draw, and past cut-outs and feathers.
    • To register, please contact Vicki Palen at vpalen@tds.net or (715) 652-3131  
  • August 1st, 2026: Buzzing about Bees with Jennifer Lazewski, hosted by the Friends of Sandhill
  • September 26th: Deer Butchering Workshop, hosted by the Friends of Sandhill
  • October 31st, 2026: Sandhill Crane Watch hosted by the Friends of Sandhill
    • 3:00pm until dusk. Pre-registration required by October 24th. This event is FREE for Friends of Sandhill members. $15 fee for non-members.
    • Join the Friends of Sandhill for a guided event to watch sandhill cranes return to the roost in Gallagher Marsh.
    • To register, please contact Vicki Palen at vpalen@tds.net or (715) 652-3131  
  • Dec. 5, 2026: Holiday Ornaments from Nature, Hosted by the Friends of Sandhill
    • 9:30am to 12:00pm. Pre-registration required by November 27th with $10 fee.
    • Give free expression to your creative side by making Christmas Tree Ornaments from acorns, pine cones, milkweed pods, etc.  Children are welcome with a parent. You may want the convenience of bringing your own scissors and glue gun, but materials are supplied.
    • 9:30 a.m. to Noon at the Outdoor Skills Center (1715 County HWY X, Babcock, WI)
    • To register, please contact Clara Kubisiak at cjkubisiak@yahoo.com or (715) 423-4876.

Note: Check back often, as new workshop and event information will be added throughout the year.

Workshop Registration

The Sandhill Wildlife Area is open to the public year-round. Individuals and groups are welcome to register for any of our workshops on a first-come, first-served basis.

Nominal fees are charged per participant for most Outdoor Skills Center workshops and tours to cover the costs of educational materials, meals and special equipment. Checks should be made out to the "DNR Skills Center". Registration is based on receipt of an application and fees. We do not currently accept credit/debit cards or cash.

Those registering for workshops will receive a confirmation when the application is processed, and a reminder about the upcoming event about one week before the event.

To register for a program, you must complete both forms below and include a check for the program's total cost. Most programs now have an online registration form linked below under each workshop. If you prefer to register this way, you will need to fill out an online registration form for each member of your party. This online registration serves as both your registration application and your photo release. However, you must still send a check via mail or in-person delivery. Please include a check for the program's total cost, including everyone in your party. You or your party may only register for one program per application. Please fill out an additional application for each program if you desire to attend. Online registration forms will close when the program is at its maximum capacity. Please call our office at (715) 884-2437 if you have any questions.

Required Forms

If you are not registering online, please fill out the required forms below:

Please mail both completed forms (if not registering online) along with a check to:

Workshop Registration
Sandhill Wildlife Area
PO Box 156
Babcock, WI 54413

For more information, please call our office at (715) 884-2437.

Note: Many current browsers do not open PDF files automatically. If you experience trouble opening or filling out a PDF form, visit the DNR PDF help for instructions on how to open PDF files successfully.

2025 Learn to Hunt Deer Program

The application period for this program has closed. Please check back in June 2026 for the next offering of this workshop.

2025 Public Firearm Deer Hunt

The application period for this program has closed. Successful applicants have been notified.

2025 Trapping Season

The application period for this program has closed. Successful applicants have been notified.