News from the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Fall 2016
’Round the Reserve 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54481 • 715-346-4992 • www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle
Fall a busy season at the Reserve By Jim Buchholz Schmeeckle Reserve Director Fall is definitely in the air! The leaves are turning vivid colors, especially in the wetlands. Squirrels are caching food in preparation for winter. Geese and sandhill cranes are flocking together for their migratory journey south. While the wildlife are getting ready for winter, here at Schmeeckle we’re moving Jim Buchholz into one of our busiest seasons. A new semester has begun at the university, and that means a new staff of students at Schmeeckle to operate the visitor center, maintain the trails, and build cedar signs. We’ve hired 46 students this fall, representing every college on campus. We’re also in the middle of preparing for our biggest event of the year, the fall Candlelight Hike Festival on Friday, Oct. 28, See Director, Page 2
The Zimmerman Prairie was dedicated as part of the Friends Annual Member Meeting on Sept. 27. The prairie is now named in honor of Ron Zimmerman, first director of Schmeeckle Reserve from 1979 to 2015.
Zimmerman Prairie dedicated Friends gather for annual meeting
evolved into a vibrant part of the community, and Schmeeckle Reserve has hosted many families and visitors. We are a young By Jerry Lineberger Friends group, and yet we have Friends Board President accomplished much in three years. On Nov. 4, 2013, I received At our most recent annual a letter from Ron Zimmerman member meeting we said thank thanking me for agreeing to serve you to departing charter board as a member of the charter board members Dan Sivek, Bill Berry, of the Friends of Schmeeckle and Alex Thomas. We would not Reserve. Much water has flowed have become such an excellent through Moses Creek since then. The Friends group has See President, Page 2