News from the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Summer 2016
’Round the Reserve 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54481 • 715-346-4992 • www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle
Summer in full swing at Reserve By Jim Buchholz Schmeeckle Reserve Director
Photographer Bob Mosier, of Plover who captured this image of Lake Joanis, will lead one of three arts workshops planned for this fall at Schmeeckle Reserve.
Friends to host fall arts workshops By Barbara Dixson
Friends of Schmeeckle Board Member Do you want to enhance your skills in sketching, writing, or taking photos in the outdoors? Would you enjoy spending time with others in the beauty of Schmeeckle Reserve in autumn? Or do you want to have something ready to submit to the annual Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Writing, Art, and Photo Contest? This fall the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve will offer three separate workshops in art, writing,
and photography on Saturdays in September and October. The workshops are free and open to the public, but registration will be limited. Each one will be led jointly by a local artist and a Friends of Schmeeckle Board member. All workshops will begin at the Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center, 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, and will be outdoors. In case of rain, workshops will be held in the visitor center meeting room.
See Workshops, Page 2
Summer is in full swing at Schmeeckle Reserve. The prairie has erupted in an array of colors—orange butterfly-weed, purple wild bergamot, yellow blackeyed susan, and white daisy fleabane. Wild raspberries are Jim Buchholz on the verge of ripening. Fawns are exploring their new surroundings. The Reserve’s first priority is to preserve and restore native ecological communities. Watch for several exciting projects this summer that are helping to move in the right direction. Rob Knauber, a forest ecosystem restoration and management major in the College of Natural Resources, is serving as our first-ever invasive See Director, Page 2
Local artist Jean Watkins, who created this greeting card depicting Stevens Point’s Iverson Park, will lead the art workshop this fall.
On Meeting a Moose
Fall Arts Workshops Art with Jean Watkins When: Saturday, Sept. 10, 2-4 p.m. Leaders: Jean Watkins, artist; and Barbara Dixson, Friends Board member Supplies to bring: Sketch pad and black pen Registration limit: 24 Writing with Richard Behm When: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2-4 p.m. Leaders: Richard Behm, UW-Stevens Point professor emeritus of English, poet, and creative writing instructor; and Barbara Dixson, board member and UW-Stevens Point professor emeritus of English Supplies to bring: Materials for writing outdoors Registration limit: 24
Workshops, From Page 1 For more information about the annual Writing, Art, and Photography Contest, including an entry form, visit www.uwsp.edu/ cnr-ap/schmeeckle/Pages/friends/ contest.aspx. 2
Photography with Bob Mosier and Nisha Fernando When: Saturday, Oct. 15, 8-10 a.m. (to catch the autumn morning light) Leaders: Bob Mosier, photographer, and Nisha Fernando, Friends Board member and UW-Stevens Point professor of interior architecture Supplies to bring: Camera (or any device you’d like to use for photography), notebook, and a pen Registration limit: 20 Registration: Register online at www. uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/schmeeckle/Pages/friends/ contest.aspx or call Schmeeckle Reserve Outreach Coordinator Megan Espe at 715346-4992.
Nov. 1 is the deadline to submit entries. The awards ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the Pinery Room at the Portage County Public Library. Throughout December, the contest entries will be posted in the library’s display window facing the street.
By Richard Behm Writing Workshop Leader You find them unexpectedly In the muck of a beaver pond Or browsing a stand of mountain ash. They watch you with lovely eyes And the sweet expressions Of great aunts at Christmas dinner. They look as if they should Fall down every other step Like clowns practicing slapstick. When they tire of you and part The mist, fading into the tamarack With more dignity than a bishop, You will think you have just awakened And run to tell everyone Of your marvelous dream.
’Round the Reserve
New endowment fund to provide long-term support for the Reserve By Jerry Lineberger Friends Board President As the Friends group matures (we are almost three now!), it is good to look around and see the continuing evolution in pursuit of our mission. We are very pleased that Jim Buchholz has been chosen by the university as the secondever director of Schmeeckle Reserve. Jim served as interim director following Ron Zimmerman’s recent Jerry Lineberger retirement. Jim has a long history with the Reserve and will help to continue and improve the programs and progress begun under Ron’s leadership. In honor of Ron’s service to the Reserve, the university, and the community, a Schmeeckle Reserve Endowment Fund has been established at the UWStevens Point Foundation. This endowed fund will help provide long-term support for the Reserve. In addition, a 1-acre prairie near the visitor center parking lot will be named the Zimmerman Prairie in his honor. If you would like to make a tax-deductible Summer 2016
contribution to the fund, you can find more information at: www.uwsp.edu/cnrap/schmeeckle/Pages/ endowment.aspx If you have been to the visitor center recently, you may have noticed the excellent gardening work near the front entry. Friends of Schmeeckle members Jill Trochlell Ziehr and Kim Fisher have updated the layout and added new plantings and identification markers. Their work has been financially supported by the Friends and Schmeeckle Reserve. See Page 4 of this newsletter for Jill’s article about the project. It makes a big difference and looks great! Forbes Magazine recently named Stevens Point as #6 in the Top 10 Cities to Raise a Family. Stevens Point residents would heartily agree. Schmeeckle Reserve is regularly mentioned as one of the best parts of living in the Stevens Point area. We are profoundly blessed to have such an “island of green,” as Fred Schmeeckle said, in our midst. If you have interest in being more involved, serving on the board, or have suggestions for the Friends group, please let me know! Jerry Lineberger of Plover is president of the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Board of Directors. He can be contacted at jerrylineberger@gmail.com.
Director, From Page 1 species intern. He and his crew have been working hard to remove garlic mustard, honeysuckle, and buckthorn. Paul Skawinski, Citizen Lake Monitoring Network educator with the UW-Extension Lakes program, has been instrumental in restoring several ponds along Maria Drive that had been invaded by phragmites, a large exotic grass. A special thank you to all of the volunteers who helped remove piles of cut phragmites and plant thousands of native plants. Earlier this month, I was delighted to accept the director of Schmeeckle Reserve position. This natural area has always held a special place in my heart. When I attended UWSP in the late 1990s, Schmeeckle was my personal refuge, an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday college life and a retreat to connect with nature. I served as the assistant director of Schmeeckle for 16 years until Ron Zimmerman, former director, retired last December. I have been serving as the interim director since that time. I am excited to guide the Reserve into a new era of preservation, land management, education, and community involvement. I see the Friends group as playing a major role in expanding opportunities and enhancing the natural area. We are stronger by working together. I am always eager to hear new ideas or feedback about the Reserve. Feel free to stop by the visitor center or contact me by phone or e-mail any time. Jim Buchholz is Director of Schmeeckle Reserve. He can be contacted at jbuchhol@uwsp.edu or 715-346-4992. 3
Friends members revamp Schmeeckle native gardens By Jill Trochlell Ziehr If you’ve visited Schmeeckle lately, you may have noticed some new plantings. As a Master Gardener and also a Master Naturalist, I jumped at the chance to help redevelop the gardens in front of the visitor center and next to the Compost Demonstration Jill Trochlell Area. Kim Ziehr Fisher, a Master Naturalist, has also volunteered to work on this project. My sister Pat Trochlell, a wetland ecologist at the Department of Kim Fisher Natural Resources, gave me ideas and advice. In planning the gardens, I took into account the soil type, moisture, and sun conditions. Our first step in the process of revitalizing the gardens was to remove non-native and invasive plants. We left the native Sensitive Fern, Bloodroot, ButterflyWeed, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Prairie Dropseed, and Wild Ginger that was already growing there. Next we added new plants. Portage County native grasses and forbs were chosen because they belong in a natural setting and are already adapted to local conditions. The book Wildflowers of 4
Jill Trochlell Ziehr, right, describes native plants in the gardens outside the Schmeeckle Visitor Center to students in the Wisconsin Master Naturalist course held in June at the Reserve.
Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region by Merel R. Black and Emmet J. Judziewicz was an invaluable resource in determining which plants are native to Portage County. The Consortium of Wisconsin Herbaria was also very helpful (wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu). For the shady spots, we added woodland plants such as white baneberry, wild geranium, meadow rue, large-flowered trillium, bellwort, and Solomon’s plume. For sunnier areas, we planted culver’s root, golden alexanders, joe-pye weed, rough blazing star, black-eyed susans, lead plant, wild geranium, showy goldenrod, and many more. Some plants were purchased at Prairie Nursery, a native-plant nursery in Westfield, and others were donated by Master Gardeners who use native plants. During this process, Schmeeckle’s staff and the Friends
of Schmeeckle Reserve have been generous and helpful with our gardening needs and tasks. Mulch was added to keep down weeds. Watering is needed until the plants become more established. Plants have been labeled to help people identify them. Every time we garden, Schmeeckle visitors and staff seem so appreciative and interested in the plants. Our biggest problem so far has been the deer. To discourage them from eating our plants, we’ve used deer repellents and chicken wire cages. We continue to explore new ways to keep them out of the area. We’re still in the process of weeding and planting but hope to have some beautiful gardens as our plants grow! Jill Trochlell Ziehr, a Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve member, is a Master Gardener and a Master Naturalist. She lives in Plover. ’Round the Reserve
Friends seeking sponsors for the Candlelight Hike
Schmeeckle’s spring 2016 Candlelight Hike Festival featured the aquatic critters of the natural area. UWSP students dressed in character for the campfire program.
Fall Candlelight Hike to feature Schmeeckle’s ‘Nighttime Predators’ When darkness falls in Schmeeckle Reserve, hungry creatures appear from the woods and wetlands, seeking their prey. Wander through the Reserve after dark to meet these nocturnal predators at this fall’s Candlelight Hike Festival. The Candlelight Hike will be Friday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve. Walk half-mile or one-mile trails lit by torches through the woods and along the lake. The campfire program, “Predators of the Night,” will be presented at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Join us around the campfire ring to meet the foxes, owls, bats, and other creatures that hunt after dark. It’s a fun program for the Summer 2016
entire family. Arrive early for a good seat. Other events all evening will include Nocturnal Discovery Stations featuring hands-on activities, nighttime 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 aquatic life during last spring’s “Schmeeckle Underwater” Candlelight Hike. Attendees generously donated more than $2,200 to the Friends. To see a video of the campfire program, visit www.youtube. com/SchmeeckleReserve
For the first time, the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve is seeking businesses and organizations to help sponsor the popular Candlelight Hike Festival. Schmeeckle Reserve held its first Candlelight Hike Festival in 2005. Over the past 11 years, the event has grown immensely, expanding in attendance from a few hundred people to nearly 2,500 last fall. As the Candlelight Hike has grown in popularity, the cost of hosting the event also has increased, prompting the need for sponsors to offset the expense. Sponsorships will be for the school year, with sponsors recognized at both the fall hike and the spring hike in April or May. Corporate sponsors will be recognized in event publicity, including event T-shirts, the Schmeeckle Facebook page (2,300 followers); Schmeeckle website; media outreach; e-mail promotions to UW-Stevens Point staff and students and to the Schmeeckle mailing list; banners placed on North Point Drive, Michigan Avenue, and at the event; posters; and in the Friends newsletter. Sponsors also will know they are helping support an event that is family-friendly, free, accessible, and encourages people to explore the 280-acre greenspace that is part of their community. For more information, e-mail schmeeckle@uwsp.edu 5
Welcome Your New and Renewing Friends! New Members: Thank you to the following members who have joined the Friends since March 1, 2016. Dianne Meyer Dorothy Semple Maria and Casey Trader Ward and Tonya Vieth & Nataleigh and Joshua
Becca Franzen, center, and her children Edith and Aloysius, along with Amy Nitka, right, and her daughter Iris explored the prairie looking for butterflies at Schmeeckle Reserve. Prairies will be one of three habitats featured during a series of family programs this summer at the Reserve.
Registration open for ‘Habitat Adventures’ family programs By Melissa Alexander
Schmeeckle Graduate Assistant
A series of family nature programs will be held in July and August at Schmeeckle Reserve. Programs will encourage families to explore various habitats. The first program on prairies will be July 30 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Other programs will look at wetlands and woodlands in the Reserve. Programs are geared toward youth ages 4-10, with a maximum group of four children and two adults per registration. The programs will be presented by two 6
student naturalists in the College of Natural Resources. The program line-up includes: • Prairies, July 30 or Aug. 2, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. • Wetlands, Aug. 6 or 9, 10 a.m.12:30 p.m. • Forests, Aug. 13 or 16, 10 a.m.12:30 p.m. The programs are free but registration is required. Register by contacting Melissa Alexander at malexand@uwsp.edu or 715-3464992. For more information, visit www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/ schmeeckle/Pages/programs/ calendar or call 715-346-4992.
Renewing Members: Thank you to the following members who have renewed their Friends membership for 2015-16. Bob and Paula Bell & Katie and Marshall Bruce and Carla Bertelsen Samantha and David Birkenkamp Nancy Bozek Jim and Sunshine Buchholz & Walden John and Mari Buzza Erin Cherkauer Joseph R. Clark Matt Clucas Daniel Czaikowski Barbara Dixson and Alan Smith Richard and Janice Doxtator Sally Ellingboe Alan and Marge Engebretson Megan and Troy Espe Nisha Fernando Bill and Kim Fisher Josh and Amber Garbe Nicole Garrity Michael and Beverly Gross Bonnie Grubba Lora Hagen Jim and Madeleine Haine Chris and Gretchen Hamp & Henryk Alan Haney Dave Hillier Jack Hurrish ’Round the Reserve
Welcome Your New and Renewing Friends! Renewing Members (continued): Karin Hyler Jan and Kathy Hermann June and Gene Johnson Robert Juracka John and Patricia Kedrowski Brenda Lackey and Cathy Scheder Kendra Liddicoat and Brian Barringer Helen McAuley Dan and Donna Marx Dieter Marx Eric Marx Emmalea Stirn Todd and Angela Stirn Phil and Penny Kallas Jean Klein Jerry Lineberger Bob and Mary Mosier Mike and Linda Orella Don and Tina Peters Cynny and Jack Porter Judy and Jean Ratkowski Ralph and Sharon Reniewicki James Rogers Brenda Ryther Chris Schmelling Tom and Lynda Schrader Vern and Katie Schroth Beverly Scott Jane Maya Shippy Dan and Tina Sivek Timothy Taschwer Chris and Kaila Thompson Dick and Lois Wetzel Vern and Mary Winkler Kay Wohlbier Jill Trochlell Ziehr James and Susan Zach Ron and Donna Zimmerman
Summer 2016
Tom Pease of Amherst will perform at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the campfire ring near the visitor center. The event is free and is sponsored by the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve.
Children’s performer Tom Pease to give fall concert at Schmeeckle By Alyssa Giaimo
Schmeeckle Trail Ranger Intern On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve will be hosting an event you and your family will not want to miss. Youth entertainer Tom Pease will share his love for the environment through witty songs and the audience’s help. The free event will take place at 6 p.m. at the campfire ring near the visitor center. S’mores around the campfire will follow the performance. Those who spend their evening at the Reserve will be blown away by Tom’s infectious personality. Encouraging the audience to be part of the fun,
Tom will call for singing, giggling, and plenty of learning for the whole family. Tom is a local to the central Wisconsin area. Living with his wife and two sons on their 75 acres in Amherst, Wisconsin, Tom is passionate about the environment. After teaching environmental education in California for a few years, he knew that his way to connect and convey important messages to kids was through song. Performing since 1982, Tom travels nationwide, giving more than 200 programs a year. His fun and interactive performances are sought out for his honest appreciation and education about the natural world. 7
Why I Love the Reserve: A classroom and a refuge By Alex Thomas
Friends of Schmeeckle Board Member I remember when I first learned about Schmeeckle Reserve. It was on a bus tour around town that I took with my father during my freshman orientation. I remember the two of us discussing whether we wanted to go check it out during our free time before deciding it was probably not worth it and that it was too far to walk. Now, as an aspiring hiker and a lover Alex Thomas of Schmeeckle Reserve, I can confirm both of those conclusions were completely wrong. I love Schmeeckle Reserve for many reasons, least of which are the beautiful views, the ready classroom it was for many of courses I took, and the refuge it provided for fun with friends and relaxation from classes. I love Schmeeckle because of the countless memories I’ve been fortunate to have there, and that I continue to have there. Those memories have evolved over time while I’ve been here in Stevens Point too, reflecting the adaptability of Schmeeckle and how awesome it really is. When I began at UW-Stevens Point, visiting Schmeeckle was like exploring, seeing what wonders in the woods we could find. I
8
remember it feeling so big and full of surprises, like a patch of downed trees to explore or the old well to find. From there, once I became more familiar with the Reserve, it became a place to hang out, a place to comfortably ride my bike, and a place to walk around the lake with friends after class. Then as my classes became more specific, it became a place to learn not only more about the Reserve but also more about the natural world as a whole. I learned skills, from how to delineate a wetland, to how to catch and identify the many frogs and reptiles of the Reserve. I even started learning about how to teach these skills to others in my later years in Stevens Point. In my latest chapter with Schmeeckle, I’ve gotten to see the community around the Reserve and what it truly means to the people of central Wisconsin. Through my time on the Friends Board, I have learned of some truly remarkable stories of people’s lives and their connections to Schmeeckle Reserve. Hearing these tales is another reason why I love the Reserve. These stories prove that the Reserve is not just a special place to me but holds a special place with so many of the great people who come to visit it. I cannot succinctly sum up why I love the Reserve, but I can tell you that I do for a multitude of reasons, and that I am not the only
“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 firstperson account, please contact Megan Espe at mespe@ uwsp.edu or 715-346-4992. one who feels this way. I can only recommend to anyone who does not currently know Schmeeckle Reserve that you go visit this excellent place. Stop by the visitor center to learn more about the area. Go to a Candlelight Hike Festival, a Friends of Schmeeckle meeting, or an education event and see the amount of people who have a true passion for this Reserve and see how it makes them smile. Participate in a volunteer day and learn how it feels to put your own sweat and hard work into something so beautiful. And lastly, I will always recommend going to Schmeeckle just to wander and to walk. You will be amazed at what you can find. And to anyone who may be thinking Schmeeckle is too far to go and explore, know that a trip through Schmeeckle is always worth it. Alex Thomas has served as the student representative on the Friends of Schmeeckle Board since the Friends group formed in 2014. He is a senior at UW-Stevens Point, majoring in biology and waste management, and will graduate in December.
’Round the Reserve
Volunteers pitch in at Friends Volunteer Days More than 75 Friends members and volunteers have donated their time at three Volunteer Days this year, including two days devoted to removing invasive phragmites from the wetlands around the Student Memorial Area and restoring the area with native plants. A Volunteer Day on July 15 also included spreading woodchips on the Lake Loop Trail (left) and removing invasive buckthorn.
Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve 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 Reserve UW-Stevens Point 2419 North Point Drive Stevens Point WI 54481 Walk-in: Sign up at the visitor center Call: Schmeeckle Reserve, 715-346-4992
Summer 2016
Join the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve Member Names: ____________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: ______________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________ Email:_____________________________ Newsletter delivery preference: Email Annual Membership Level Student — $10 (Any grade level) Seeker — $25 (Individual)
This is a gift membership.
Trekker — $50 (Family/Household)
Gift donor’s name, phone, and email:
Adventurer — $100
___________________________
Trailblazer — $250 Explorer — $500
___________________________
Other amount: $_______
___________________________
Contributions to the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve, Inc. are tax-exempt.
___________________________
Makes a great gift! 9
A few weeks ago I got to hang out with the Schmeeckle trail rangers during one of their patrols. Their names are Shauna Holmes and Alyssa Giaimo. Doing a patrol meant we walked the trails in the Reserve and had many jobs to do. Anytime we saw someone we made a note if they were male or female and what they were doing like running, walking, or biking. Knowing who uses the Reserve and how they use it is helpful in making decisions about how Schmeeckle is taken care of. We also had to move any branches off the trails to keep people safe. I was good at helping with that. I was also good at finding and picking up litter. Another thing we looked for is vandalism. That is when people write or carve on things or break things in the Reserve. Thankfully we didn’t see any of that. Shauna and Alyssa wear backpacks to carry what they need during a patrol. They have water, snacks, binoculars, a first aid kit, garbage bags, and a neat water rescue kit in case someone falls in the lake and can’t get out. They also wear walkie-talkies 10
Schmeeckle kids ambassador Walden Buchholz, center, tagged along with Alyssa Giaimo, left, and Shauna Holmes, right, who are Schmeeckle’s trail ranger interns this summer.
to report what they are doing to Protective Services on campus. Protective Services is like the UWSP police. If Shauna and Alyssa find someone who needs help they call Protective Services for support. The trail rangers also have to report people doing things they shouldn’t be, like walking their dogs in Schmeeckle, smoking, or swimming in Lake Joanis. Most people stop doing naughty things right away, but if they don’t stop they get a warning. If they still don’t stop they get a ticket from Protective Services. We didn’t give any tickets when I was on patrol, which is OK because it means everyone was safe and following the rules. Shauna and Alyssa like their job because they get to be outside a lot. They walk eight or nine miles every time they work! They started patrolling in May so have
watched the plants and trees grow and get thick. Their jobs end in October so they will get to see the leaves change color in fall too. There are so many animals at Schmeeckle they get to watch like deer, squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, birds, and lots of different bugs. Both Shauna and Alyssa are UWSP students. Shauna is studying natural resources and law enforcement. She wants to be a park ranger someday. Alyssa is studying communication/public relations and environmental studies. She loves seeing families connecting with the outdoors at Schmeeckle. If you see Shauna and Alyssa when you are on the trails in Schmeeckle be sure to stop and say “hi.” They usually carry animal wild cards for us kids and you can ask for one. They will also know where the best places are to see deer and other wildlife. ’Round the Reserve
A: Swimming and diving in Lake Joanis are not allowed because Schmeeckle is a natural area and the lake is a good resting place for birds.
Kids: Can you identify which activity on this lake would not be allowed in Schmeeckle? Check your answer on the side of the page and then color the picture!
10
Summer 2016
11
Parting View: Wisconsin Master Naturalists graduate from Schmeeckle course Sixteen students graduated from the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Volunteer course held in early June at Schmeeckle Reserve. The course was sponsored by the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve. Graduates were, front row from left, Nancy Sander, Sarah Lima, Denise Czaikowski, Karen Wise, Emily Ballard, and Barbara Rambo-Hartley; second row from left, Haily Bares, Carol Grelck, Jean Diedrich, Maria Trader, Lynn Landberg, and Bonnie Pankratz; third row from left, Scott Henning, Carrie Walczak, Maureen McCoy, and Bob Sander.
MAILING LABEL RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 2419 North Point Drive Stevens Point, WI 54481
Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve