Friends of Schmeeckle Fall 2017 newsletter

News from the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Fall 2017

Photo courtesy of Bob Mosier

2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54481 • 715-346-4992 • www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle

Amphitheater is Friends’ first major capital project

By Jim Buchholz Schmeeckle Reserve Director As the prairie grass turns golden and the leaves burst into color, we’re excited to announce the Friends’ first major capital improvement Jim Buchholz project in Schmeeckle—the Friends Amphitheater.

The amphitheater will be designed with sandstone seating for 200 people, a timber-frame stage with lighting and sound, and native landscaping to blend with

The Friends Amphitheater will feature native sandstone seating and a timber-frame stage to blend into the natural environment of Schmeeckle Reserve.

the natural environment. It will serve as a unique outdoor venue for community programs, plays, concerts, and other performances.

Rettler Corporation in Stevens Point has generously donated time See Amphitheater, Page 2

Supporting our values in our community

By Jerry Lineberger Friends Board President

Board President Jerry Lineberger’s grandsons Isaac, 5, and Milo, 1, enjoy the swing bench at the Moses Creek Overlook in Schmeeckle Reserve.

Why did you choose to become a Friend of Schmeeckle Reserve?

My family and I are each individual members of the Friends. The Reserve holds a very special meaning for each of us. I want to share a story that, while not specifically about the Reserve,

has meaning about the values of our choices.

The photo at right is of my two grandsons. Isaac is 5 years old and Milo is 1 year old.

Recently Isaac, See President, Page 3

Jerry Lineberger

Amphitheater, From Page 1 to develop conceptual designs for the amphitheater.

In December 2005, about 200 people attended our first Candlelight Hike Festival at Schmeeckle. Last fall, a record 2,800 people attended! We’ve definitely outgrown our small campfire ring area where UWSP students perform character programs. The existing space has limited seating, and audience members have difficulty seeing the stage and hearing the actors.

A professionally designed amphitheater will blend into the landscape, serve as a focal point for the visitor center area, and provide a better audience experience. It will also create opportunities for new campus and community partnerships.

The estimated cost of the project is $235,000. Our goal is to generate $110,000 in cash donations, with the rest supported by in-kind services and materials.

Fundraising has begun, with a planned construction in summer of 2018.

Your generous gift will help us achieve our goal of creating a meaningful outdoor program space for the campus and community. Local supporters Dallas and Edith Pankowski have offered to match every dollar donated up to $40,000. This is a fantastic opportunity to double your contribution.

Donations of any size are welcome and will be acknowledged on the Friends

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website and newsletter.

Donors who contribute Dallas and Edith Pankowski $1,000 or more also FRIENDS AMPHITHEATER will have their names Dedicated 2018 inscribed on a stone Made possible through the generous support of: plaque installed near Founders ($40,000 and above) the amphitheater. At Dallas and Edith Pankowski the $10,000 level and Patrons ($20,000–$39,999) above, donors can Your Company Your Name(s) Logo Here Here choose an image or Partners ($10,000–$19,999) logo next to their name.

Your Company Your Name(s) You can donate Logo Here Here by using the form Sponsors ($5,000–$9,999) below or by visiting www.uwsp.edu/ schmeeckle and Supporters ($1,000–$4,999) clicking on “Friends of Schmeeckle.”

Thank you for your continued support of Schmeeckle Reserve and the Friends organization! Please let us know if you have any questions.

Jim Buchholz can be contacted at jbuchhol@uwsp.edu or 715-346-4992.

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Yes, I would like to donate to the Friends Amphitheater!

Name(s): ________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: ____________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________ Email:_____________________________ Donation Amount: $____________ In Honor of:

I would like to remain anonymous

In Memory of: _______________________________

Send this form and payment to: Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve 2419 North Point Drive Stevens Point, WI 54481

Donate online at: www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle and click on “Friends of Schmeeckle”

Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law as provided in IRS 170(c)(3)

’Round the Reserve

President, From Page 1 with the help of his mom, sent his accumulated savings of the summer—$4.00—to the Northwest Community Hospital Foundation in the north suburbs of Chicago.

The letter pictured at the right is what he sent with his donation.

My purpose in sharing this with you is that as a family we believe in supporting and working to make a difference in those parts of our community that we value.

For us, Schmeeckle Reserve is a special and sacred place.

I thank you for the choice you have made to become and remain a Friend of Schmeeckle Reserve.

It is a part of our community that provides leisure, respite, relaxation, and a connection with nature not common to all cities.

As we approach the 40th anniversary of Schmeeckle Reserve in 2018, it is important to remember that this natural area was not always been here. We have this resource because visionary leaders in our

Jerry Lineberger’s grandson Isaac donated his summer savings of $4 to Northwest Community Hospital Foundation.

community worked together to create and maintain the Reserve.

I believe it is our responsibility as beneficiaries to work to make sure it is here for those who follow.

The Friends Board of Directors is very excited to announce the creation of the Friends Amphitheater. We hope you

will join us in your support of the project and of the continued presence of this amazing community resource.

Jerry Lineberger of Plover is president of the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Board of Directors. He can be contacted at jerrylineberger@ gmail.com.

OCTOBER IN SCHMEECKLE: WHAT TO LOOK FOR? Buckthorn Berries: You’ll find them all over the Reserve—try the Frog Chorus Trail that runs between the Visitor Center and Lake Joanis. They’re black and irresistible to birds, who get an upset tummy from them, and defecate them everywhere to plant even more seeds of this invasive species.

abundant Yellow-rumped Warblers. Several raptors fledged young ones in the Reserve this summer—Great Horned owls to the east, Cooper’s Hawks north of the lake, Barred Owls to the west—and you can still hear them calling around Schmeeckle. Watch or listen for Saw-whet Owls, cardinal-sized predators, moving through.

Maples: Along Moses Creek, the maple trees have their feet in the water—thus their early scarlet leaves.

Sources: Ron Zimmerman, former director of Schmeeckle Reserve, and Bob Rosenfield, UW-Stevens Point biology professor

Birds: For songbirds in migration, Schmeeckle is an important stopover. Keep an eye out especially for the

Fall 2017

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Five new members elected to board of directors At the fourth annual Friends Annual Member Meeting on Sept. 26, members elected five new board members.

LEAH EGAN Leah Egan is the new UW-Stevens Point student board member for the Friends. She is currently a junior studying biology with a minor in sustainable energy. Originally from DeForest, just outside of Madison, Leah chose Stevens Point because of its beautiful campus and access to Schmeeckle Reserve. This past summer, Leah worked with a biology professor as a turtle wrangler. As a wrangler, Leah studied the movement Leah Egan and crossing of turtles across Highway 66 near Jordan Pond. She is very excited to be a part of the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Board.

KIM FISHER Kim relocated to Stevens Point in 2013 when her husband, Bill, joined the faculty in the College of Natural Resources at UW-Stevens Point. Kim has spent most of her career concerned with dental health. Now she is happy to focus on environmental health! Being a neighbor to Schmeeckle Reserve, Kim is a regular on the trails—walking, biking, or snowshoeing. She is a charter member of the Friends group. Wanting to learn more about Wisconsin’s rich history of environmental conservation, she participated in the first Wisconsin Master Naturalist Volunteer Training held at Schmeeckle. Many of her volunteer hours are spent helping the Master Gardener at Schmeeckle with the native plants around the Kim Fisher visitor center. Kim is also a member of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association and participates in many of their workshops, field days, and gatherings. Kim’s interests include cooking, volunteering, being with family, and spending time up north at their lake house exploring nature, hiking, kayaking, relaxing, and a little fishing.

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AARON THOMPSON Aaron Thompson is an associate professor in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management discipline at UW-Stevens Point and a natural resource planning specialist for UW-Extension’s Center for Land Use Education. He has an extensive background in nonprofit leadership, including serving for the past four years as the president of North Central Conservancy Trust that works to provide permanent land protection options for landowners across central Aaron Wisconsin. Aaron and his family Thompson have called Stevens Point home since 2010. Along with his wife, Erin, and their three daughters, Aaron enjoys spending family time in nature that often includes trips to Schmeeckle Reserve for hiking, biking, fishing, photography, and snowshoeing.

CHRIS THOMPSON Chris writes: I grew up in West Bend, just north of Milwaukee, and have always had a love of wildlife and the outdoors. In 1997, I attended UW-Stevens Point to study biology and frequented Schmeeckle often for class, projects, and leisure. I fondly remember conducting amphibian surveys throughout the Reserve and ice fishing on Lake Joanis during my college years.

After graduating in 2002, I moved around for graduate school, and while my wife attended school. When looking for a place to call home, we jumped at the chance to move back Chris Thompson to Stevens Point, partially due to the great outdoor opportunities the city provides—like Schmeeckle Reserve!

I currently reside in Stevens Point with my wife, two sons, and menagerie of pets. I enjoy spending time outside, birdwatching, biking as much as possible, and spending time with my kids. I am excited and honored to be a member of the board. ’Round the Reserve

NANCY ROSS Nancy writes: Our family has always been close to UWSP since my late husband, John M. Ross, lived all his young life in Plover and was a 1958 graduate of UWSP in conservation. Fred Schmeeckle was his major professor and had great influence on his life and career.

Fred’s wife, Bea, had even been his kindergarten teacher! Their love for nature and the environment rubbed off on him as he worked first for the National Park Service, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, and later Indiana University. He taught recreation and Nancy Ross park planning, camping, and a variety of related courses. He became the first development officer for the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Indiana.

In retirement, he returned to his roots as a member and president of the UWSP Foundation board. We were greatly honored to have the Schmeeckle amphitheater on Maria Drive dedicated in our names.

Until we married, I had never even been in a canoe! I learned a great deal in our 40 years together,

including an appreciation for the beauty of nature and a concern for the health of our environment. I was fortunate to participate in many related activities, including bringing college students into our home for classes and fellowship, working with alumni events, and community environmental action.

At IU, I worked in development for Hilltop Educational Foundation and as a part of a team from the Eppley Institute training federal employees of the Park Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Fish and Wildlife Service in working with local partnerships.

Since coming to Waupaca, I have been active with Trinity Lutheran Church, Relay for Life, and the Waupaca High School Equestrian Team.

My family includes my daughter, Michele, her husband and teenage son in Waupaca, and my son, Michael, his wife, and three children in Cincinnati.

Also all five of my brothers- and sisters-in-law are UWSP grads.

My interest in working with the Friends of Schmeeckle stems from my desire to see quality outdoor experiences for the students and the community, while continuing the legacy of my family’s love for this program. I am honored to serve.

Welcome New and Renewing Friends!

New Members: A special welcome to the following members who have joined the Friends: Randy and Patricia Cray Jami Gebert Dan Holloway and Trish Baker Lynne E. Kagelmann Gary Nickel and Deborah Padgett Paul Otto Jennifer Page Dallas and Edith Pankowski Nancy Ross Dick and Diane Steffensen

Fall 2017

Renewing Members: Thank you to the following members who have renewed their Friends membership for 2017-18: Dave Hillier Brenda Lackey and Cathy Scheder Megan Lineberger Susan, Keith, Isko, Allan, and Sam Ollech Dorothy Semple Dan and Tina Sivek Paul Skawinski

Amphitheater Donations: Thank you to the following people for donations to the Friends amphitheater project: Jack Hurrish and Joan Karlen Gene and June Johnson Lars Smith

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Upcoming Family Nature Programs The Hallways of Schmeeckle Tuesday, October 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Take a stroll through Schmeeckle Reserve to discover ground level homes. Explore the forest floor and under boardwalks to see how critters navigate through both natural and manmade hallways. Please bring a flashlight or a headlamp!

Monsters in the Muck Wednesday, November 1, 5-6 p.m.

Creepy, crawly and downright amazing! Aquatic invertebrates are the most eerie looking creatures in the animal kingdom.

Join us as we take an in-depth look at these tiny “monsters” and discover their true value to humans and the environment.

Are You Feeling Batty?

Thursday, October 12, 6-7:30 p.m.

Enjoy a batty experience with Vlady, the Wisconsin Red Bat. Explore the life of Schmeeckle’s bats during a night walk, check out local bat research, peek into bat houses, and make a bat craft to take home.

Nature’s Grocery Store Thursday, November 2, 5-6 p.m.

You can eat that?! The forest is an amazing grocery store filled with edible plants that have been eaten throughout history. Go on a shopping trip through Schmeeckle and explore the do’s and don’ts of forest edibles.

Be ready to sample some goodies!

Wind, Rain and Storms ... Oh My! Thursday, October 19, 5-6 p.m.

The weather is causing quite a ruckus in Central Wisconsin!

Discover how extreme weather events impact humans, animals and the environment. We will blow you away with our rain, lightning, and wind!

Witches in Hats and Caterpillar Fairies Saturday, October 21, 10-11 a.m.

Have you spotted the witches of Schmeeckle?

What about the fairy pods? Explore the fall woods as we look for plants with unique stories and adaptations.

You Diggin’ the Fossils?

Saturday, October 21, 1-2 p.m.

What lies beneath is a mystery set in stone. Tim, a “visiting archaeologist,” will unearth the truth about Schmeeckle Reserve’s past. Discover what fossils are and how they are made. Make your own imprint of the past to take home.

Feathers and Flight Tuesday, October 24, 6-7 p.m.

There are few animal characteristics that fascinate us more than feathers and flight. Discover the birds of Schmeeckle and the wonders of flight, while meeting a few feathery friends along the way.

The Natural Side of Halloween Tuesday, October 31, 6-7 p.m.

Get ready for a different Halloween experience! Jack-o’Lantern and the Schmeeckle Witch will reveal the natural origins of this popular holiday. Participate in fun activities, go for a spooky night walk, and carve your own jack-o’-lantern!

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Stevens Point: Where it all Began* Saturday, November 4, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Join Jo us along the Wisconsin River where a sawmill worker and a river pilot will take you on a journey back in time to the beginning of what we know today as Stevens Point. *Meet at the Pfiffner Pioneer Park bandshell.

Spiders of Schmeeckle Tuesday, November 7, 6-7 p.m.

Beat your fear of spiders! Uncover how the spiders that live right in your backyard are important to us and Wisconsin’s wildlife. Create your own spider and see if you are able to catch prey as well as our eight-legged friends.

Keep Calm and Carrion Thursday, November 9, 6-7 p.m.

The big, the bad and the ugly. They eat dead stuff, pee on their legs, and puke as a defense. There’s no doubt that vultures are gross, but did you know that they are actually one of nature’s most important animals? Prepare to open your hearts (not literally) to an under-appreciated bird!

Oh Deer!

Saturday, November 11, 3-4 p.m.

Anytime is a perfect time to spotlight one of Schmeeckle’s most recognized animals, the white-tailed deer. Discover deer adaptations and traverse the trails to seek out deer signs!

’Round the Reserve

A Look Under the Stars Tuesday, November 14, 6-7 p.m.

Twinkle, twinkle little star, how we wonder what you are. Join us for an evening of stargazing and storytelling about Wisconsin’s November night sky!

Man vs. Wildlife Saturday, November 18, 1-2 p.m.

Explore the unique adaptations that the wildlife of Schmeeckle Reserve use to survive. Discover how our human senses compare to the amazing abilities of these familiar creatures.

Want to be Turtlely Cool?!

Thursday, November 30, 6-7 p.m.

Discover how we can help protect the five endangered species of turtles in Wisconsin.

We will explore each turtle’s amazing characteristics and meet some live turtles up close and personal!

Birrrrrds Braving Wisconsin Winters Saturday, December 2, 1-2 p.m.

Gone away is the bluebird, here to stay is the ... chickadee? Birds have a lot of amazing cold-weather adaptations! Find out how birds survive our Wisconsin winters.

A Robin’s Story Sunday, December 3, 1-2 p.m.

Before she leaves, our very own “Robin” will tell us her story.

We will learn about her journey and explore Schmeeckle to see if any of her friends are still around. Help the robins in your own backyard by making some cookies that birds, especially the robins, find delicious.

Nature’s Gliders Thursday, December 7, 6-7 p.m.

Did you know there are two types of flying squirrels that call Schmeeckle home? Be amazed at how they sail from tree to tree and discover what makes them unique through fun, interactive activities!

Retracing Their Steps Saturday, December 9, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Where are they going and where have they been? Become a wildlife tracker and reconstruct the stories of our outdoor friends by collecting the clues they leave behind.

Mona Lisa Mallard Tuesday, December 12, 6-7 p.m.

What inspires you? Many people have been inspired by ducks. Discover the connections between ducks and art in Wisconsin and create a Mona Lisa Mallard of your own.

Candlelight Hike Festival Friday, October 27, 6-9 p.m.

Walk trails lit by torches and jack-o’-lanterns and discover the mystery of Schmeeckle’s master hiders. Arrive and leave when you like. A free family event!

Suggested donation of $2/person or $5/family

Campfire Programs: “The Case of the Missing Animals” Two different programs presented at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the campfire ring

Family Nature Programs...

The Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve is sponsoring this fall’s family nature programs, presented by UW-Stevens Point students majoring in environmental education and interpretation. Each program features hands-on activities designed to involve all ages. Snacks will be provided. No reservations are required; just stop by and enjoy the fun! * All programs meet at the visitor center unless otherwise noted. = Dress for the weather!

Fall 2017

The animals of Schmeeckle are master hiders. Deer, insects, foxes, frogs and other creatures have incredible abilities to blend in and avoid detection. Help our sleuths search for clues to crack the case, and discover what it takes to be invisible.

Other events all evening: Detective scavenger hunt with prizes Thrilling hands-on activities Clue Craft and Sleuth Snack stations Mystery-inspired gifts in the Browse Shop 7

Why I Love the Reserve: Personal & professional interest

By Barbara Dixson Friends Newsletter Editor John Buzza has always been an outdoors person. When you walk into his office, the first thing you see is a gorgeous photo big enough to be John Buzza a window into an alternate reality. It’s an image John took of his friend Russ Ballenger when they were kayaking the Boundary Waters in May 2012.

John also walked through Schmeeckle Reserve when it was first organized. He has continued to hike it in the decades since then, especially when the Walk Wisconsin event in June traverses the Reserve. And he remembers his amazement at how many community members came to one of the first fall Candlelight Hike Festivals.

John’s predominant relationship to Schmeeckle, though, flows naturally from his profession as an attorney.

In fact, he has given lectures to professional organizations on foundation and nonprofit governance and operations. John was legal counsel to the UWStevens Point Foundation for 36 years. He helped negotiate the acquisition of the land that became Schmeeckle Reserve, including purchasing the Wojcik home, which was transformed into the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center.

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John Buzza, a local attorney who recently completed a four-year term on the Friends of Schmeeckle Board of Directors, loves the outdoors and captured this photo of a paddling companion in the Boundary Waters.

“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 Barbara Dixson at barbaradixson@gmail.com When the first board of directors for the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve was taking shape, former Schmeeckle Reserve Director Ron Zimmerman invited John to join. Because he valued the Reserve and its essential role on the university campus, John found it an easy choice. He joined other community members who have helped make Stevens Point

a green city, and he took over the enormous and essential task of creating the legal framework for the Friends.

John wrote the bylaws for the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve and drafted policy statements. From there, John completed the arduous paperwork necessary for an organization to become officially a tax-exempt and nonprofit entity, a 501(c)(3). While the Internal Revenue Service typically takes 6 to 14 months to respond to such a request, in the case of the Friends, the response came in only 60 days: yes! A first for John. John completed a four-year term on the board in September.

’Round the Reserve

Hi Friends! Fall is a great time to visit the Reserve so I thought I’d share my top 10 things to do at Schmeeckle if you are visiting with kids.

1. Explore the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame and museum: Be sure to climb into the old warden truck and listen to some poachers get busted!

Also try your hand at setting an animal trap, and listen to the story of the CCC on an old telephone.

You’ll find kid-sized rocking chairs in the Hall of Fame gallery that look out big windows, a great place to watch the squirrels and birds at the feeders.

2. Visit the live critters in the visitor center: Search for Diablo the tiger salamander. Watch Lake Joanis fish swimming in the aquarium. Try to figure out why the little painted turtle is named Pirate. Ask the staff to show you what happens when the bullfrog gets fed.

3. Explore the Kids Table. This table in the Visitor Center is just for us! Read nature-themed books, play with animal puppets, and do some activities and coloring. You even get to use cool colored pencils made of twigs.

4. View things under a microscope: Pick up a few natural treasures and bring them back to the visitor center to view them through a high-powered microscope, right next to the Kids Table. You can put rocks, moss, bark, and even insects under the scope and they will be projected onto the screen and look HUGE. This is one of my favorite things to do.

5. Hike the Trail of Reflections: The loop trail starts at the visitor center and is only a half-mile long, perfect for kids and strollers. You’ll get to cross three boardwalks. Stop and swing on the bench at the pond overlook, a perfect place to catch and release little critters if you bring a net. Also, be sure to climb to the top of the Treehouse to get a bird’s-eye view of the woods!

6. Hike the Moses Creek Trail: If you are up for a longer hike, head out to the Moses Creek wetland and walk over the marsh on several long boardwalks. Stop at the overlook to swing on the amazing carved bench.

You’ll notice something interesting about the roof Fall 2017

Schmeeckle Kids Ambassador Walden Buchholz checks out a dobsonfly under the high-powered microscope at the visitor center.

Kids (and adults) are welcome to bring in natural items for close-up examination.

above the bench. Be sure to peer through the viewing scope and see if any birds are coming in and out of the boxes on the island.

7. Climb boulders: There is a great spot to climb on big boulders on the south side of Lake Joanis.

They are right on the edge of the water so don’t fall in! You’ll find them just off the trail near a sign about invasive species, which has a carved turtle on the post.

8. Have a picnic/snack: There are lots of neat places to sit and eat while watching for wildlife: the small gazebo next to the parking lot, the back deck of the visitor center, and the amazing GIANT carved chairs on the Trail of Reflections near the prairie. All of these spots are near the visitor center where you can find water, recycling bins, and restrooms.

9. Join a family nature program: University student naturalists present tons of fun nature programs during evenings and weekends in the fall and spring. All of them include kids’ activities! You can find a list of this fall’s programs in the newsletter and on the Schmeeckle website.

10. Come to the fall Candlelight Hike Festival: Whatever you do, don’t miss it. It is AMAZING to hike in the dark along torch-lit trails and see hundreds of glowing jack-o’-lanterns. Oh, and did I mention there are also a campfire character program, crafts, snacks, activity stations, and s’mores? This fall’s theme is “A Schmeeckle Mystery,” so put on your detective caps and help me look for clues.

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Mycology course explores the fungus of Schmeeckle

By Barbara Dixson Friends Newsletter Editor “What in the heck is that!?”

Terese Barta asked herself the first time she saw Monotropa uniflora in Schmeeckle.

You may have noticed it too: an odd-looking white plant 4 to 12 inches high. It’s commonly called Indian pipe. These plants, which lack chlorophyll and depend on fungi for their nutrients, led to the discovery of the fungi/plant partnership. They were all over Schmeeckle, Dr. Barta noted, one of many discoveries in the Reserve.

In her first semester as a biology professor at UW-Stevens Point, Dr. Barta was asked to teach Mycology, the study of fungi, a class that is typically offered in alternate falls. Near the beginning of each fall, she takes her students on a mushroom walk in Schmeeckle, the success of which depends on ample rain both during the summer and the week before the walk.

As student Courtney Kaleel explained during their Mycology lab, once you start looking, “they’re everywhere.”

Courtney and fellow student Tess Holperin, with the help of Dr. Barta, were sleuthing out the specific identity of a Russula, while Ben Wielgat was completing a spore print of another Russula, which he had identified as R. brevipes by taking off the stem, putting the cap on paper, noting the pattern of fallen spores, and 10

Dr. Terese Barta works in the lab with students Courtney Kaleel and Tess Holperin.

Dr. Barta’s Mycology course uses Schmeeckle Reserve for field study.

RESEARCH UPDATE then looking at the spores under a microscope.

Dr. Barta fondly recalls surprising finds in the Reserve.

One might expect to find purple mushrooms in exotic habitats, but she found her first one in Schmeeckle. The spotted cort (Cortinarius iodes) is mycorrhizal with oaks—that is, the mushrooms help protect the tree’s rootlets, while the tree helps feed the mushroom. It’s a deep purple when young.

Other mushrooms she has found there are also symbiotic with particular trees, like the chicken fat mushroom (Suillus americanus), which is always under a white pine. She’s also run across hedgehog mushrooms (Hydnum repandum), which don’t have gills underneath like most of their compatriots, but instead have spines like little tiny teeth underneath them.

Early on, former Schmeeckle

Director Ron Zimmerman gave Dr. Barta a vegetation map of Schmeeckle, the very same one she continues to rely on.

When she taught Plant Biology, she took students on an optional Schmeeckle walk so they could experience the sweet fern and other plants on the plant identification test.

Her Mycology students continue to grow from their walks through Schmeeckle, from the moment they figure out that the “blue paint” on the wood is actually a fungus called blue stain (Chlorociboria aeruginescens).

Through the weeks, as Lauren Soergel showed me, they bring back small piles of orange mushrooms from currently dry riverbeds in the Reserve, along with oak leaves dotted with fungi to investigate.

Lauren added, “Schmeeckle just makes the campus.”

Barbara Dixson, a member of the Schmeeckle Friends Board of Directors, can be contacted at barbaradixson@gmail.com ’Round the Reserve

Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve

Annual Report September 2016-September 2017

Accomplishments: Organizational  Total current number of individual and family memberships: 133  2017-18 new members: 42  2017-18 membership renewal rate: 67 percent  Implemented a new member card for members, noting their number of years of membership and offering a 10 percent discount in the Browse Shop  Worked with JHL Digital Direct to send a membership campaign appeal to 4,500 local addresses

Outreach  Sponsored the Candlelight Hike Festival, attended by a record 2,800 people in fall and more than 800 people in spring  Sponsored the spring 2017 Family Nature Program Series presented by UWSP students in the environmental interpretation practicum at Schmeeckle; more than 548 people attended 16 programs  Hosted the third annual Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Writing, Art, and Photography Contest, with 46 entries in three categories, including a reception and display of entries at the Portage County Public Library  Hosted the Friends of Schmeeckle Arts Workshops on sketching, writing, and photography in fall 2016, with more than 45 participants  Hosted a Beginner Nature Photography Workshop, led by Nisha Fernando and Bob Mosier, with 20 participants

 Hosted a 2017 Summer Program Series, with fisheries professor Dr. Justin Sipiorski highlighting the fish of Lake Joanis, Doug Moore sharing his rock expertise, and Paul Skawinski showcasing his backyard prairie; more than 120 people attended

Land Management  Sponsored the continued improvement of the Native Gardens near the visitor center, with the work completed by Friends members Jill Trochlell Ziehr and Kim Fisher  Participated in the Schmeeckle Appreciation Day in April, a volunteer event spearheaded

by College of Natural Resources student organizations

Friends Annual Financial Report Jan. 1-Sept. 25, 2017 Revenue Total membership revenue Total donations Other Total Revenue

Amount 10,966.00 5,273.63 57.15 16,296.78

Expenses State and federal filing fees Printing Postage Direct mail campaign Arts Contest Family program snacks Native Garden materials PayPal fees Spring Candlelight Hike Total Expenses Annual Net

Amount 54.00 457.50 473.81 2,827.44 96.64 61.33 205.48 70.66 971.51 5,218.37 11,078.41

Current Account Balance

Fall 2017

46,977.77

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Parting View: Puppet Menagerie Cute critter puppets are one of the most popular gift items in the Schmeeckle Browse Shop.

Schmeeckle student employees Teresa Lind, left, and Kayla Greguire show off many of the latest puppets now in stock. Your Friends membership card entitles you to 10 percent off any regular-price item in the Browse Shop.

ADDRESS LABEL 2419 North Point Drive Stevens Point, WI 54481

Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve