Division of Extension Natural Resources Institute

Meet Brad, our newest Upham Woods team member! After a vehicle injury limited Brad's arm movement, he is non-releaseable. Thanks to rehab and training with Raptor Education Group, he has settled in permanently at Upham. We can't wait for visitors to meet Brad!

🍁 Curious when sap might run? Use the new Wisconsin Maple Sap Decision Support Tool! Pick a day to see the weather forecast and predicted sap flow in your area. Built by NWS, the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, and Extension. 👇 Check out the tool! go.wisc.edu/46f2iv

🌿 Want to join the 2026 Wisconsin Master Naturalist Training? Spots remain for April 10–May 29 in Door County and more. Learn hands-on, enjoy nature, and help Wisconsin! Many training sessions already have waitlists, so sign up today! 👇 go.wisc.edu/z5i252

Earlier this month, the Wisconsin State Climatology Office and Wisconet gathered 60+ climate service providers and users for a Climate Services Summit to improve coordination, highlight tools, and identify what support Wisconsinites still need to use climate data confidently.

High school students in Northeast Wisconsin can now apply for the Freshwater Summer Scholars Program! This 10‑week paid internship lets you dive into freshwater research, explore careers, and build real skills. Open to all HS students. Apply by April 13! go.wisc.edu/5dx12g

Day of the Badger is April 14–15! 🦡 By supporting Extension, you'll help students explore careers in natural resources. 2024's Upham Woods intern, Hope Dzik, said the program helped her see a future in biological research. Help students like Hope thrive! go.wisc.edu/0515ed

Ready for summer fun? Summer Kickoff at Upham Woods is May 30-31! 🌞 Try canoeing, hiking, archery, survival skills, and a family camp sampler. 👇 See full schedule + register! go.wisc.edu/6bw2e2

Winters near Great Lakes have 70% less ice since the 1970s. A team of researchers including Bret Shaw from UW-Extension studied how ice anglers assess risk and created the Know Your Odds campaign to support safer decisions on the ice.🏒⛸️🎣 Learn more 👇 go.wisc.edu/7rx199

Last week’s snow means sap is still running! 🍁 Two Maple Hour webinars are coming up for anyone interested in maple sugaring: 🌲 Apr 22 – Ticks in the Sugarbush 🌱 May 5 – Companion Crops Both are free + virtual. Join us! go.wisc.edu/p1hp9x

WGNHS hydrogeologist Maureen “Moe” Muldoon gave a lecture in southwestern WI that breaks down karst landscapes, the water cycle, and why some aquifers face higher contamination risks, using real examples from across the state. Watch the lecture 👇 go.wisc.edu/0163m9

Join us April 11 at Kemp Station for Maple Sugaring Day! 🍁 Try multiple sap collection methods, see evaporators, and enjoy nature. Perfect for those new to maple sugaring and small operations looking to improve! 👇 See event details here. go.wisc.edu/f6807x

Day of the Badger is April 14–15! We’re celebrating how NRI supports future natural resource professionals through internships and mentorship. Shayla’s journey—from WGNHS/AIPG intern to geotechnical engineer—shows the power of great mentors. 💛 Help create more stories like hers!

🌟 Last week was AmeriCorps Week! Let's celebrate the members + volunteers powering education, conservation, disaster response, and public health. Shoutout to our 8 WisCorps members + crews for boosting access at Upham Woods and restoring Black Ash wetlands along Lake Superior!

🌾 Edge‑of‑field practices protect water quality, but how do we make their value resonate with producers? UW–Extension’s Watershed Outreach Specialist Jenny Seifert shares insights from farmers and advisors on what drives adoption. Learn more 👇 go.wisc.edu/369nu0

🎉 Congrats to Amy Workman, Director of Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, for receiving WAEE’s Aldo Leopold Award, their highest honor for outstanding service to environmental education in Wisconsin! Learn more 👇 go.wisc.edu/f0gs35

The 2026 WICCI Climate Report is now live! This update to the 2021 assessment breaks down how a warming climate is affecting Wisconsin, and offers practical tools to help communities, businesses, and resource managers. 👇 Read the report here! go.wisc.edu/z1op7w

🔥 Curious how prairies respond to fire, grazing, or other disturbances? Join the Tallgrass Prairie & Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium on March 24 at 12 PM CT for a webinar with UW–Madison researcher Michelle Homann on prairie restoration. 👇 Register! go.wisc.edu/24973e

🌞 Love kids, nature, and summer fun? Volunteer as an Adult Chaperone at Upham Woods Summer Camp, Aug 1–4, 2026! Join us for an outdoor weekend on the Wisconsin River. Sign up today👉 go.wisc.edu/688lc8

👩‍🌾 Work with farmers interested in conservation? Join UW-Extension's Jenny Seifert for a free, virtual train‑the‑trainer workshop for conservation professionals on building farmer-led conservation networks. 🗓️ May 4, 11 & 18, 2026 👇Learn more & register! go.wisc.edu/al28jy

💧 New research from UW Extension’s Environmental Communications Specialist Bret Shaw and partners shows how we explain PFAS shapes people's response. 💬 Messages that explain the risk and offer doable steps help audiences take action! 👇 Read the study. go.wisc.edu/3bs025