State Parks & Forests
- Introduction
- Find a Park or Forest
- Find a State Trail
- A to Z Index
- Current Conditions
- Events Calendar
- Fees
- Maps
- Rules
Volunteer Work
- Introduction
- Adopt-A-Trail
- Campground Host
- Conservationist
- Friends Groups
- Naturalist
- Nature Center Host
- Visitor Services
- Volunteer Jamboree
- Trail Tender
- Current Needs
Wisconsin State Parks and Forests
Current Volunteer Needs
- Project Volunteers
- Restore a Prairie
- Be a Campground Host
- Remove Invasive Plants
- Help Organize a Friends Group
Project Volunteers
Youth groups, scouts and environmental clubs often volunteer to clean up litter, plant trees and other group projects.
Gibraltar fourth
graders help remove non-native phragmite plants from a wetland
at Peninsula State Park.
DNR Photo by Kathleen Harris
Business and adult organizations also participate in litter clean up, trail renovation and construction projects for retreats and team building experiences. Groups or individuals that are interested in volunteering as a short-term or project volunteer should contact the property supervisor to discuss available opportunities and make arrangements.
Restore a Prairie
The "Third Thursday Nine Springs Prairie Project" is a group of volunteers working on a prairie restoration in the Capital Springs State Recreation Area. They are cutting with hand tools, hauling, and stacking brush. A picnic meal often is provided. Bring yourself, friends and family. Children are welcome and encouraged to come.
For dates and times, contact Joe, (608) 333-5388, or Nancy, (608) 271-0956. (12/1/08)
Be a Campground Host
These parks are seeking campground hosts (12/1/08):
- Yellowstone Lake State Park, August and September 2009. Contact Mark Garvey, (608) 523-4427.
- Roche-a-Cri State Park , August and September 2009. Contact Heather Wolf, (608) 565-3381.
- Buckhorn State Park . Contact Heather Wolf, (608) 565-3381.
- Potawatomi State Park, Contact Mary Ripp, (920) 746-3121.
- Hartman Creek State Park, Summer 2009. Contact Susan McElrone, (715) 258-2372.
- Big Bay State Park, Summer 2009. Contact Mark Eggleson, 715-747-6425.
- Lake Wissota State Park, phone (715) 382-4574.
- Brunet Island State Park, phone (715) 239-6888.
- Point Beach State Forest, phone (920) 794-7480.
- Devils Lake State Park, phone (608) 356-8301.
- Pattison State Park, phone (715) 399-3111.
- Perrot State Park, phone (608) 534-6409
- Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Contact Laura Van Slyke, (262) 878-5600.
Remove Invasive Plants
Havenwoods State Forest would like volunteers to cut invasive buckthorn. Contact Larry Goeb, (414) 527-0232. (11/25/08)
Help Organize a Friends Group
The following parks and trails are interested in having friends groups:
- Nelson Dewey State Park, Cassville, (608) 725-5374
- Dells Natural Area, Wisconsin Dells, (608) 254-4737
- Kinnickinnic State Park, River Falls, (715) 425-1129
- Council Grounds State Park, Merrill, (715) 539-2631
- Gandy Dancer State Trail, St. Croix Falls/Superior, (715) 635-4121
- Wild Rivers State Trail, Rice Lake/Solon Springs, (715) 635-4121
- Saunders State Trail, Superior/Frogner, MN (715) 635-4121
If you are interested in starting a friends group at a property where none currently exists, "How to Form an Official DNR Friends Group In Wisconsin [PDF 68KB]" will give you a good idea of what is involved with the process. This two-page document lays out the steps you will need to take to become a friends group and where to direct questions.
For more information, ask Marissa DeGroot, Outreach Coordinator, (608) 264-8994.
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