Friends a new chapter in Reserve’s rich history By Bill Berry Friends Board President “Someday this area will serve as an island of green in the city of Stevens Point.” Those words were spoken by Fred Schmeeckle, the namesake of the natural area so many of us love. Our Friends of Schmeeckle organization seeks to honor those words. We’ve been at that task for almost two years, thanks to folks like you. Many of you became founding members by joining the Friends in 2014. Those who joined in the first half of 2014 recently received renewal News from the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Summer 2015 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54481 • 715-346-4992 • www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle Bill Berry See Berry, Page 3 A cunning fox auditioned for a part in the “Schmeeckle Underground” play in the campfire program at the spring 2015 Candlelight Hike Festival. This fall’s Candlelight Hike will be Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. This fall’s Candlelight Hike Festival will explore the ways that encountering wildlife in the city can spark feelings of awe, annoyance, or fright, reminding us that we are never far from nature. The Candlelight Hike will be Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. It is sponsored by the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve. Walk a half-mile or one-mile trail lit by torches through the autumn woods and along the lake. The campfire program, “City Critters,” will be presented at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the campfire ring. Meet Schmeeckle’s white-tailed deer, foxes, and bats, among other characters. It’s a fun program for the entire family. Arrive early for a good seat. The program is presented by students in the environmental ‘City critters’ expected at fall Candlelight Hike Festival See Hike, Page 2
Transcript
’Round the Reserve
Friends a new chapter in Reserve’s rich history By Bill Berry
Friends Board President
“Someday this area will serve as an island of green in the city of Stevens Point.” Those words were spoken by Fred Schmeeckle, the namesake of the natural area so many of us love. Our Friends of Schmeeckle organization seeks to honor those words. We’ve been at that task for almost two years, thanks to folks like you. Many of you became founding members by joining the Friends in 2014. Those who joined in the first half of 2014 recently received renewal
News from the Friends of Schmeeckle ReserveSummer 2015
2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54481 • 715-346-4992 • www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle
Bill Berry
See Berry, Page 3
A cunning fox auditioned for a part in the “Schmeeckle Underground” play in the campfire program at the spring 2015 Candlelight Hike Festival. This fall’s Candlelight Hike will be Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m.
This fall’s Candlelight Hike Festival will explore the ways that encountering wildlife in the city can spark feelings of awe, annoyance, or fright, reminding us that we are never far from nature. The Candlelight Hike will be Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. It is sponsored by the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve. Walk a half-mile or one-mile trail lit by torches through the autumn woods and along the
lake. The campfire program, “City Critters,” will be presented at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the campfire ring. Meet Schmeeckle’s white-tailed deer, foxes, and bats, among other characters. It’s a fun program for the entire family. Arrive early for a good seat. The program is presented by students in the environmental
‘City critters’ expected at fall Candlelight Hike Festival
See Hike, Page 2
’Round the Reserve 2
New Members: Thank you to the following members who have joined the Friends since March 31, 2015. The Friends is now made up of 119 member-households. Thank you for your support!
Jane WisinskiAllison WisinskiJill Trochlell Ziehr
Renewing Members: Thank you to the following members who have renewed their Friends membership for 2015-16.
Bill Berry and Nick SchultzSamantha and David Birkenkamp Nancy Bozek Jim and Sunshine Buchholz and WaldenJohn and Mari Buzza Barbara Dixson and Alan SmithRichard and Janice Doxtator
Glen and Kristi Drapes and Dani and AliSally Ellingboe Alan and Marge Engebretson Megan and Troy Espe Annie Fabina Nisha Fernando Josh and Amber Garbe Nicole Garrity Mike and Bev Gross Chris and Gretchen Hamp and HenrykAlan Haney Jan and Kathy Hermann Dave Hillier June and Gene Johnson John and Dori Jury John and Patricia Kedrowski Brenda Lackey and Cathy SchederKendra Liddicoat and Brian Barringer
Rick and Ann Lindner Jerry Lineberger Dan and Donna Marx Dieter Marx Eric Marx Merle McAuley Don and Tina Peters Judy and Jean Ratkowski James Rogers Jane Rogers Chris Schmelling Tom and Lynda Schrader Bev Scott Dan and Tina Sivek Dan Stephens Guy and Mary Stewart Timothy Taschwer Chris and Kaila Thompson Richard and Lois Wetzel Vern and Mary Winker
Welcome Your New and Renewing Friends!
education and interpretation practicum course. Other events all evening will include Discovery Stations featuring hands-on activities, craft and snack stations, and free door prizes. The event is free; donations of $2 per person or $5 per family are appreciated. All donations go to the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve to support future programs. More than 1,200 community members explored “Schmeeckle Underground” at the spring 2015 Candlelight Hike. Attendees generously donated more than $1,200 to the Friends. To see a video of the campfire program, visit http:// bit.ly/1OCxHz4
Hike, From Page 1Donations Sought for Candlelight Hike Festival
Schmeeckle Reserve is seeking donations to help continue the success of the Candlelight Hike Festival. We invite individuals, organizations, and companies to donate or sponsor the following components:
• Pumpkins for the trails
• 50 to 100 tiki torches for lighting the trails
• Craft supplies for children’s craft stations related to the “Urban Wildlife at Schmeeckle” theme
• Materials for interactive Discovery Stations related to the event theme
• Healthy snacks related to the theme that are available free to event attendees
• Refreshments and food for the 50 student staff and volunteers who help run the event
All donors will be recognized in event publicity and on a banner displayed at the Hike.
To offer donations or sponsorships, contact Melissa Alexander, Schmeeckle graduate assistant, at [email protected] or 715-346-4992.
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notices so we can continue our work together. Sincere thanks to those of you who have renewed. We aim to build upon your commitment, and we are always open to your suggestions. What have we been up to? We have held work days, hosted educational programs, sponsored a Writing, Art, and Photography contest that is now in its second year, assisted at the wildly popular spring and fall Candlelight Hike Festivals, and reached out to the central Wisconsin community to tell the story of the Reserve. Future activities include helping to update and enhance the Trail of Reflections, one of the Reserve’s centerpieces. The Reserve serves many purposes. It is managed to protect and restore natural communities of central Wisconsin. It is an important outdoor classroom for learning. As many of you know, it provides year-round outdoor recreation opportunities. And because of its distinctive geology, it is also a natural barrier against flooding in the community. If you want to learn more about the Reserve’s fascinating history, including the work of its namesake Fred Schmeeckle, a pioneering professor of natural resources at UW-Stevens Point, check out the history section of the Reserve’s website at www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle. The Friends of Schmeeckle is a new chapter in this rich history. With your help, we’ll make it a great one.
Berry, From Page 1
Have your visits to Schmeeckle Reserve inspired you to take photographs, create art, or write about the natural area? You are invited to submit your work for the second annual Writing, Art, and Photo Contest. The Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve is hosting this contest to raise awareness of the Reserve and the Friends group, which supports the natural area. Entries are due Nov. 1. Contest submissions will be posted on the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve website. First- and second-place winners in each category will be honored in a ceremony at a Friends board meeting. First-place winners also will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Browse Shop, a gift shop in the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center that features natural and cultural gifts. Submissions must be accompanied by a 75-100 word statement describing how the entry was inspired by time spent in Schmeeckle Reserve. All ages are welcome to participate. For the entry guidelines and submission form, visit http://bit.ly/1xqVPdQ or call Megan Espe at Schmeeckle Reserve at 715-346-4992.
Writing, Art, and Photo Contest entries due Nov. 1
The Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve second annual Member Meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the visitor center. Social time with refreshments begins at 5 p.m., with the meeting to follow at 6 p.m. A guest speaker will present at 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more details.
Annual Member Meeting set for Sept. 29 Also, annual member meetings are when board and officer elections are held. If you are interested in serving as a board member for the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve, please contact Friends liaison Megan Espe at [email protected] or 715-346-4992, or current board president Bill Berry at [email protected] or 715-341-9119.
’Round the Reserve 4
Summer in Schmeeckle
Y S S X A G T T T N A E C Z M
E G M D E D J Z G F L C A O S
S U V W O L Q O L C X E S F R
B U T T E R F L I E S Q G E E
Z H G G Y B N C F C U G N O W
V D X N N E E R S I S M I D O
K D N H E I O E T N N F H N L
U U O R Z G K O S A W V S W F
S T G X S Y L I C D A W I Z U
P R A I R I E L B F F O F P Q
BEES BIKING BUTTERFLIES
FAWNS FISHING FLOWERS
FROGS GREEN HOT
MOSQUITO PRAIRIE SUNNY
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How to Join
Online: www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle Click on “Friends of Schmeeckle” and then “Join the Friends”
Mail this form and a check made payable to Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve to:
Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve2419 North Point Drive Stevens Point WI 54481
Walk-in: Sign up at the visitor center
Call: Schmeeckle Reserve, 715-346-4992
Member Names: ____________________________________________________
Join the Friends of Schmeeckle ReserveFriends ofSchmeeckle Reserve
This is a gift membership.
Gift donor’s name, phone, and email:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Annual Membership Level
Student — $10 (Any grade level)
Seeker — $25 (Individual)
Trekker — $50 (Family/Household)
Adventurer — $100
Trailblazer — $250
Explorer — $500
Other amount: $_______
Contributions to the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Inc. are tax-exempt. Makes a great gift!
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Summer in SchmeeckleWord Searchbeesbikingbutterfliesfawnsfishingflowers
frogsgreenhotmosquitoprairiesunny
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By Paul McGinley
Professor of Water Resources and UW-Extension Water Quality Specialist
How much do wetlands slow the movement of water? That is an important question, because when stormwater flows more slowly through a wetland, downstream flooding can be reduced and pollutant removal can be improved. We hope a research study in Schmeeckle Reserve will help us better understand how wetlands provide this important function. I am leading students in the UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources in studying wetland hydraulics for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Students use the Moses Creek area restoration as they develop methods to explore flood wave movement through wetlands. Our early studies suggested
that the Moses Creek wetland would be a great location to monitor and test some of the ideas we developed studying wetlands near Lake Superior. Although the students have been studying the Moses Creek wetland for only several months,
they have been able to follow several storms through the wetland using equipment that tracks water levels at different locations. My students and I plan to continue monitoring the wetland into the fall. For more information, contact Paul McGinley at [email protected] or 715-346-4501.
UW-Stevens Point students study what happens with water flow after storms move through the Moses Creek Wetland.
Exploring how water flows through Moses Creek
ReseaRch Update
Friends of Schmeeckle board member Jerry Lineberger shared the story of the Friends with the Rotary Club of Stevens Point at the group’s July 15 meeting.
Do you belong to a community organization that hosts guest speakers? The Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve is reaching out to civic and community clubs to share more information about the Reserve and the work of the Friends. A board representative and Schmeeckle staff member are available to serve as guest speakers. To learn more, please contact Megan Espe, the Friends’ liaison and Schmeeckle Reserve outreach coordinator, at [email protected] or 715-346-4992.
Friends reaching out to community organizations
’Round the Reserve
By Carly Swatek
A drizzly late-spring morning brought a young man and his mother indoors to discover a few of the novelty pieces displayed in the Schmeeckle Reserve Browse Shop. He was interested in field guides, while his mother looked at community happenings in the brochure rack. A conversation was sparked while I was staffing the front desk, and I discovered they were on a scouting visit to consider whether the young man will attend UW-Stevens Point in the fall. We exchanged stories and soon the mother-son duo became entranced with all that Schmeeckle Reserve had to offer, not only for
Carly Swatek
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Reserve a gateway to the community
Former Schmeeckle Reserve graduate assistant Carly Swatek, who graduated in May, took many photos of the Reserve, including this early summer shot of Lake Joanis.
the student body but also the community at large. I was fortunate to spend the past two years as a graduate assistant at Schmeeckle Reserve, both observing wildlife and interacting with students, staff, Friends members, and visitors. Over this time, I spent many moments reflecting on what I love most about the Reserve, only to conclude that I love that Schmeeckle Reserve creates a gateway for a diverse set of people to make connections with each other and with the land in Stevens Point.
Later that afternoon, the weather cleared and I went for a bike ride on the Moses Creek boardwalk. I paused to sit and listen to the newly singing American toads that were busy making their voices heard in attempt to attract a mate. Within moments, a melodic string of footsteps trailed behind me. I turned to see the Stevens Point Area High School cross-country team make their way down the path in impressive synchronicity. After their footsteps subsided on the boardwalk planks, I turned to hear the sound of splashing water revealing the successful catch of a fish in the tightly closed beak of a great blue heron that was camouflaged in the dense marsh grass.
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“Why I Love the ReseRve” is a regular feature in the Friends newsletter. If you would like to be interviewed for this feature, or if you want to write a first-person account, please contact Megan Espe at mespe@ uwsp.edu or 715-346-4992.
I smiled and carried on my way, passing visitors here and there. I engaged in short conversations about rare wildlife sightings, the lovely weather, or other friendly expressions. “This place is special” is a common phrase I have heard when talking with visitors. Aldo Leopold once said, “We abuse the land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” I believe that Schmeeckle Reserve embodies the spirit of Leopold’s message in the ways it provides a welcoming, accessible, and conveniently located natural area that encourages the community to interact with the patchwork ecology that makes up the central Wisconsin landscape. To move beyond Leopold’s quote, however, I believe that the essence of an “ecological community” extends beyond the plants and wildlife at Schmeeckle Reserve and offers a unique meeting place where a diversity of ages and backgrounds are entertained with the wonders of the land. While working at Schmeeckle Reserve I have experienced firsthand these opportunities to connect with each other and the land through the many community events offered. Educational programs and special events like the Candlelight Hike Festivals act as a “gateway” to visit the Reserve in a more formal, or guided fashion. These
experiences encourage continued visits thereafter. Or, if you prefer more active participation, the Reserve offers the occasional chance to contribute to citizen science research or stewardship by participating in volunteer workdays. These experiences (and more!) are some of the many organized through the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve. The Friends group, to me, provides a perfect conduit for this gateway to a campus-community-natural area connection that is so utterly invaluable to places like Stevens Point. Whether looking for a place to watch birds, photograph, exercise, sit, catch
a fish, eat lunch, ride your bike, attend an educational program, or just meet up with your friends, Schmeeckle Reserve provides a unique experience that is sure to inspire a sense of connection to place and community. As I have finished my graduate studies and will be venturing to a new chapter, I hope to model the special “symbiosis” between the people and the land exhibited at Schmeeckle Reserve in future places I call home. I hope you’ll cherish why you love the Reserve during your visits this summer! Carly Swatek graduated from UW-Stevens Point in May 2015. Her master’s thesis was titled, “A Community Needs Assessment to Explore the Feasibility of Expanding Environmental Education Programming,” which used Schmeeckle Reserve as its study site. It can be viewed at http://epapers.uwsp.edu/thesis/2015/swatek.pdf Swatek is now the educational technology and evaluation specialist at Riveredge Nature Center in Saukville, Wis.
A deer peeks out from behind the Reflection Pond on the Trail of Reflections.
Photo by Carly Swatek
Friends ofSchmeeckle Reserve2419 North Point DriveStevens Point, WI 54481
ADDRESS LABEL
Parting View: Gone fishin’Summer students in associate professor Justin Sipiorski’s ichthyology class took a field trip to Moses Creek to study fish. The fish they captured were examined and released. Sipiorski’s class teaches students about the classification and natural history of fish, with an emphasis on Wisconsin food, game, and forage fish. Photo by Doug Moore
