OutWiGo Green

Date and Time

Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

OutWiGo Green - Save the Date Poster [PDF]

Event Overview

Join Wisconsin State Park staff and friends for a day of adventure, learning and celebrating in the outdoors. OutWiGo Green is a unique outdoor recreation and conservation event in Wisconsin's beautiful Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit. From group hikes, bike rides, paddling, rock climbing, nature crafts and more, this day of fun is fit for OutWiGo-Getters of all ages, experience levels and abilities. Bring friends and family, or fly solo.

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Event Details

Event Fee

Event Fee

Admission to the event is $5 for adults ages 18 and older. Participants under 18 are admitted at no cost.

A vehicle admission sticker is required on all vehicles in the state forest. Daily or annual stickers can be purchased. We encourage buying an annual sticker in advance. For more information about stickers and rates, see vehicle admission stickers.

Some activities require pre-registration and may charge a fee.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase from local food trucks.

Activities

Activities

Activities, clinics and demonstrations include:

• 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles
• ATV rides
• Adaptive Sports
• Archery
• Astronomy
• Backpacking
• Bicycling
• Birdwatching
• Boat Safety
• Camping with tents, hammocks
• Children’s Activities
• Dog trialing
• Fire building
• Fishing
• Forest bathing
• Geocaching
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Insect collection
• Kayaking
• Knot Tying
• Mountain Biking
• Music
• Nature Crafts
• Nature Photography
• Off-highway motorcycles
• Orienteering
• Rock climbing
• Stream Ecology
• Stand-up Paddleboarding
• Trail Running
• Trout fishing
• Wilderness First Aid

Event Locations

Event Locations

OutWiGo Green will be held at three primary locations within the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit. Attendees are encouraged to start at the Ottawa Lake Recreation Area, but you may stop at any of these three locations and take a free shuttle to the other areas:

Ottawa Lake Recreation Area
Physical Address: S59 W36630, County Rd ZZ, Dousman, WI 53118.

Scuppernong Trailhead
About 1 mile east of Ottawa Lake Recreation Area. Physical Address: S58 W35820 County ZZ, Dousman, WI 53118.

Ottawa Field Trial Grounds
About 1 mile north of Ottawa Lake Recreation Area on Hwy. 67. 

Schedule

Schedule

Events kick off at 10 a.m. A full schedule of activities, speakers and events is coming soon!

Event Maps

Event Maps

Event maps are coming soon!

Accessibility

Accessibility

This event is open to visitors of all abilities. Universally accessible activities and options will be provided throughout the day. Please see below. There is accessible parking at all event locations and a free accessible shuttle will be providing transportation between event locations. Manual wheelchairs will be provided for free use at the Ottawa Lake Recreation Area.

Visitors are welcome and encouraged to bring their mobility equipment. The DNR has several partners that provide outdoor mobility equipment, like outdoor track chairs, for free use. Check out our External Partner webpage for partner information and how to reserve your equipment.

Ottawa Lake Recreation Area
Physical Address: S59 W36630, County Rd ZZ, Dousman, WI 53118.

• Ottawa Lake Recreation Area has a paved trail that connects the main features, including the campground, amphitheater, beach, fishing pier and boat launch. Manual wheelchairs will be provided for free use at Shelter B.
• Wisconsin Bike Fed’s Cycling Without Age program [exit DNR] brings the amazing feeling of riding a bicycle to those who are not able to pedal on their own. Trishaw rides, lasting approximately 15 minutes, will be offered at 11 a.m., Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Visit the Bike Fed tent to sign up for a ride. Two people (not to exceed 400 lbs.) can ride together. Trishaws are three-wheeled, pedal-powered bikes that are operated by trained Cycling Without Age pilots.
• There will be drop-in fishing clinics at the accessible Ottawa Lake fishing pier from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• An adaptive kayak and transfer bench will be available for use at the Ottawa Lake boat launch. The kayak features outriggers near the back of the kayak for increased water stability, a raised back with side supports and hand braces.
• The Arc Dane County [exit DNR] is providing a free “Fishing with Bob” casting clinic.
• Stationary bird watching at the campground’s accessible cabin campsite is from 10 a.m. to Noon, led by Upham Woods Learning Center with birding tools like binoculars (including a wheelchair mount for the binoculars) and iPads so that visitors can learn about birds by ear or by sight.
• The campground’s accessible cabin will be open to tour.
• Upham Woods and a DNR wildlife biologist will hold an accessible birding hike at 1:30 p.m. at the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail.
• A limited supply of free sensory kits will be available to check out from the Welcome Center at Shelter B.
• Portions of the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail are available for universal hikes, with a crushed limestone surface. The trailhead is across the road from Ottawa Lake Recreation Area.

Scuppernong Trailhead
About 1 mile east of Ottawa Lake Recreation Area. Physical Address: S58 W35820 County ZZ, Dousman, WI 53118.

• An outdoor track wheelchair will be available for use by Access Ability Wisconsin. This free outdoor track wheelchair will make the trails at Scuppernong accessible.
• Two off-road TerrainHopper mobility vehicles provided by United Cerebral Palsy of West Central Wisconsin (UCP of WCW) can be used for a hike. Free use of TerrainHopper mobility vehicles will make the trails at Scuppernong accessible.
• A 1-mile guided adaptive hike is scheduled at 2:30 p.m.
• The Scuppernong Trails vary in difficulty and several hike options and loops are planned for the event. The trails have a dirt and native surface, but portions are relatively flat and may be suitable for use depending on individual abilities.
• "Explore Nature's Good Company with Your Senses and Grow Your Awe" is a 30-minute accessible session led by Driftless Curiosity, Nature’s Good Company and Unlimited Boundaries. This program will demonstrate how nature has a relationship with all humans. Join this fully-accessible nature immersion and see how it doesn't take a wilderness area for us to deeply connect with what is beautifully wild within and around us. This session will have seating and paved or crushed gravel, level trails. This session will show many ways to engage with nature, so if one doesn't work for you, the next one will!

Weather

Weather

This event is planned to take place rain or shine, however, if rain creates unsafe or washout trail conditions, this event will be moved to Saturday, May 20, 2023. Notifications will be made 24 hours in advance through the Facebook event page, DNR’s Facebook page, and the OutWiGo Newsletter.  

Volunteering

Volunteering

Volunteers are needed for this event! Check back for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions - Know Before you Go

What should I bring? We recommend getting a sturdy pair of shoes, a hat and sunscreen, a bag for any goodies from our vendors, and otherwise, just a positive attitude! We encourage "being green" for this event. You can help by bringing a reusable water bottle and your utensils. Maps, schedules and event information are accessible using QR codes. We will not have paper handouts available. 

Kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, standup paddleboards and life jackets will be available for free use this day, but you may also bring your own! We will provide mountain bikes and helmets of varying sizes for the mountain biking skills course. You may also bring your own mountain bike and helmet to ride the trails at the John Muir Trail System.

We will provide bows and arrows for the archery activity, please do not bring your archery equipment.

What should I wear? We recommend wearing clothes you are comfortable being active in! A sturdy pair of shoes is key for hiking and bicycling. If the weather is cool, consider dressing in layers. A hat and sunglasses will help you stay comfortable if the weather is sunny. If you're participating in mountain biking or trail running, you may work up a sweat; consider bringing a change of clothes with you. 

What is the ideal age range? All ages are invited! There are activities and events for children, adults and seniors.

Who's invited? Everyone! There are activities for all ages and abilities. Many of the activities will have universal accessibility options.

Are pets allowed? For the safety and comfort of all attendees, please leave your furry family members at home. Pets are not permitted at several event locations.

Do I need a car? Once you are at one of the event locations (Ottawa Lake Recreation Area, Scuppernong Trails or the Dog Trialing Field Grounds), take a free shuttle from location to location.

Is there food? Yes, local food trucks will be available to purchase food. Water fountains are available.

Is there Wi-Fi available? There is no Wi-Fi network available. Cell phone service is available in several locations, but there are some drop zones in forest areas. Please review the schedule and maps beforehand. We suggest taking a photograph of the schedule to have on your phone. We will not have printed copies of the schedule or maps available. If you have questions, please see the event staff or volunteers.

Can I follow along on social media? Definitely! Use #OutWiGoGreen to share pictures and have fun! Join the Facebook event group in the weeks leading up to OutWiGo Green as additional details and partners are announced.

Partners

Partners

Here are some partners you can expect to see at OutWiGo Green!

• Access Ability Wisconsin
• Badger Orienteering Club
• Badger Trails, Inc.
• Bong Naturalist Association
• Wisconsin DNR:
  • Air Management Program
  • Aquatic Invasive Species program
  • Office of Communications
  • Disabilities Advisory Council
  • Fisheries Program
  • Forestry Division
  • Green Tier
  • MacKenzie Center
  • Natural Heritage Conservation
  • Snapshot Wisconsin
  • Water Resources
  • Wildlife Biology
  • Wildlife Management
  • Wisconsin State Park System
• Driftless Curiosity
• Friends of Hank Aaron State Trail
• Friends of Havenwoods State Forest
• Friends of Lakeshore State Park
• Friends of Wisconsin State Parks
• Girl Scouts
• Hike it Baby Southeast Wisconsin
• Ice Age Trail Alliance 
• Insect Ambassadors
• Kettle Moraine Horse Trail Association
• Kettle Moraine Natural History Association
• MKE Urban Trail Connectors
• Master Naturalists
• Milwaukee Astronomical Society
• Milwaukee Recreation
• National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA)/GRiT (Girls Riding Together)
• National Park Service
• Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
• Off-Highway Motorcycle Association
• Office of Outdoor Recreation
• Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited
• Southern Kettles Off-Road Riders
• The Arc Dane County
• Trail Sisters
• Travel Wisconsin
• Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center
• Wisconsin ATV Association
• Wisconsin Bike Fed
• Wisconsin Coalition of Four-Wheel Drives
• Wisconsin Geocaching Association
• Wisconsin Horse Council
• Wisconsin Public Radio
• Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
• Zoological Society of Milwaukee
• ...and Local bike and gear shops, climbing gyms and guides, food trucks, photographers, and recreation, therapeutic and accessibility practitioners

More Information

Stay tuned as more events and partners get added to this event! A full agenda and pre-registration details will be available in March.