Central Wisconsin Environmental Station

02/20/2026

It was a snow day for some students, but for UWSP College of Natural Resources Forest Restoration students it was an opportunity for chainsaw certification! These students are supporting a larger forest restoration project at the Minister Lake property, which will be followed up with a prescribed burn in the spring.

02/12/2026

Join us at CWES on Saturday, February 21st between 1-4pm for our annual Winter CWEStival! This FREE event is a great opportunity to explore CWES in the wintertime and enjoy some environmental education programming, games, and a craft! This year we are focusing on owls and will have a couple of programs with LIVE owls so the public can learn more about these amazing birds. We will also be raffling off a $200 voucher towards CWES summer camp registration for any youth between the ages of 5-16. Be sure to RSVP so we know how many snacks/craft supplies to have on hand, and feel free to reach out with questions!

Hope to see you here at CWES on Saturday, February 21st!

01/21/2026

The winter trails are beautiful, if you can handle the cold.

01/18/2026

What does the future of Environmental Education look like? How do we make it happen?

Check out this North American Association for Environmental Education - NAAEE webinar at noon Friday, January 23rd. See link in Comments.

It is hosted by WCEE Director Becca Franzen. The panel includes Sarah Wood, a UWSP College of Natural Resources Master's student and Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES) staff member.

12/12/2025

Yesterday, we lost two of our biggest heroes: Bruce Braun and George Meyer.

They each were board members at NRF, impactful visionaries, and committed to protecting nature in our great state throughout their lives.

Bruce Braun, who only recently stepped off our board due to his health, was Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin DNR for 11 years.

George Meyer, who also served on our board, was Secretary of the DNR for eight years. On Wednesday, we sadly lost them both on the same day, each to cancer.

These two men protected our state's natural resources with dedication, warmth, and enthusiasm. Their accomplishments, which are being touted across the conservation community today, are almost too numerous to list. They will be missed, and they will be remembered.

📸: Courtesy of NRF

Image: close up of Bruce Braun, close up of George Meyer

12/09/2025

We are wrapping up a very successful timber harvest on the Minister Lake property! We define success by: the removal of diseased, overcrowded, and declining trees; restoration of prairie; enhanced habitat of migratory birds; and a future forest that is diverse and resilient. The next steps include UWSP Forest Restoration students engaging in a capstone course where they will continue these efforts.

11/25/2025

Along with other members of the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society, CWES graduate assistant Sarah Wood helped students from the Tomorrow River Community Virtual School build nest boxes this morning.

These nest boxes are designed for four cavity-nesting birds found here in Wisconsin: House Wrens, Eastern Bluebirds, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Black-capped Chickadees - all birds we see regularly at CWES! The nest boxes will be hung around CWES before next spring so that as the birds begin to scope out nesting locations, they will have lots of safe options to choose from.

10/29/2025

Program Manager Chip Refsguard and CWES students tabled at the UWSP Sustainability Fair this week!

Composting, choosing alternative energy, buying local, converting to LED lighting, and reusing materials are all ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and support a sustainable future for all!

10/24/2025

The trails around CWES are showing off beautiful colors. Get outside and enjoy the show!

10/21/2025

10/17/2025

There's a beaver back in the Frog Pond on Sunset Lake. What an exciting spot for Clintonville First Grade!

10/14/2025

We are hiring a part-time Food Service Assistant!

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