Events

Pre-order your plants for the best choice of grasses, ferns, forbs, sedges, vines, trees, and shrubs. The order form will be available February 2025. Deadline to place your order is March 31. Download an order form from www.foxvalleyarea.wildones.org

Join us for Foraging for Wild Edible Plants!

Are you curious about the tasty treats that Mother Nature has to offer? Come and learn about the abundance of wild edible plants that surround us! David Langner is a highly knowledgeable forager who has taught edible plant programs in the Fox Valley area since 2015. The program will consist of a PowerPoint followed by a hike where he will show and discuss multiple spring edible plants as well as how to use them. The hike will be followed by sampling a few edible plant recipes that he has prepared. Online registration required by May 17.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with nature, learn about local flora, and maybe even find a new favorite snack! This in-person event is perfect for nature lovers, foodies, and anyone looking to expand their knowledge of the great outdoors.

Join us for Foraging for Wild Edible Plants!

Since the morning session filled so quickly, David has graciously agreed to hold another session in the afternoon!

Are you curious about the tasty treats that Mother Nature has to offer? Come and learn about the abundance of wild edible plants that surround us! David Langner is a highly knowledgeable forager who has taught edible plant programs in the Fox Valley area since 2015. The program will consist of a PowerPoint followed by a hike where he will show and discuss multiple spring edible plants as well as how to use them. The hike will be followed by sampling a few edible plant recipes that he has prepared. Online registration required by May 17.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with nature, learn about local flora, and maybe even find a new favorite snack! This in-person event is perfect for nature lovers, foodies, and anyone looking to expand their knowledge of the great outdoors.

Come join us for a property tour to see a wonderful example of native planting and management!

This 1.5-acre property on the Rat River has been managed for native plants since 2012. We’ll view a variety of trees nestled among grasses and sedges, ramps and skunk cabbage, nettle and jewelweed, and some plantings near the house. Online registration due by June 1.

Location details will be emailed to registrants June 2, 2025. Please watch your email. Contact us if you do not receive directions.

Come join us for the Stone Silo Prairie Gardens Tour!

Stone Silo Prairie Gardens specializes in wildflowers and grasses native to the Upper Midwest. Our tour will be led by owner Justin Kroening. Come and see more than 100 varieties of plants and take home some species for your perennial planting or rain garden. Online registration required by June 7.

Identifying Bugs in the Wild
Instructor: Dr. Paul Whitaker
Format: Blended 3-part course
Dates/Times:
Virtual Monday, June 16, 7-8 pm,
Virtual Wednesday, June 18, 7-8 pm,
In person Saturday, June 21, 12-4 pm
Location: UW Stevens Point
Elective (6 hours)
Description: The overall goal of this course is to help you feel better equipped to identify insects associated with plants and to understand plant-insect interactions. You’ll need to spend some time outside of class to complete a modest collection of insect specimens and/or photographs. The virtual sessions will cover basic entomology content, including insect body structure, life stages, life cycles, and ecology. They will also give an overview of diversity of insects associated with land plants and introduce the insect (or photograph) collection project. Weather permitting, the in-person class will begin with an insect walk on the UWSP campus, allowing you to practice various insect collecting techniques. In the lab, we’ll use a variety of live and preserved insects to practice insect rearing and identification.

An email with specific details will be sent to you approximately 2-5 days before the first day of the course.

Butterflies of Wisconsin: Ecology, Identification, and Conservation
Instructor: Dr. Skye Bruce
Format: Blended 2-part course
Dates/Times:
Virtual Saturday, June 28, 6-8 pm
In person Sunday, June 29, 12-2 pm
Location: UW Madison Arboretum
Elective (4 hours)
Description: This course offers a comprehensive exploration into the science of Wisconsin’s native butterflies, focusing on their identification, ecology, and conservation. Through detailed study, participants will delve into the intricate life cycles of butterfly species and the critical role of host plants in their development and survival. The curriculum is designed to equip learners with the skills to identify key butterfly species and understand the selection and cultivation of appropriate host plants, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between flora and fauna in local ecosystems. Additionally, the course addresses the pressing threats to native butterfly populations and their habitats, from habitat loss to climate change, and discusses scientific strategies for conservation and population support. By combining fieldwork with classroom learning, participants will gain practical and theoretical knowledge, preparing them to contribute effectively to conservation efforts and promote biodiversity within their communities. Recommended book: Butterflies of the North Woods by Larry Weber.

An email with specific details will be sent to you approximately 2-5 days before the course.

Tour the Bohn Farms Glacial Habitat Restoration Area

Last year, the Wisconsin DNR completed a 5-year restoration effort on this 79-acre former family farm. Now, a wealth of native plants support wildlife, including several bird species of concern. FVAC board member Dana Hartel will be our guide through prairie, sedge meadow and oak savanna. Waterproof footwear and insect repellent are recommended. Online registration required by July 12.

Join us for a unique opportunity to explore the beautiful Glacial Habitat Restoration Area at Bohn Farms. This in-person event will take place at 9500 County Rd B. Get ready to witness the stunning natural beauty of this restored habitat and learn about the efforts to preserve and protect it. Don't miss out on this chance to connect with nature and support conservation efforts in our community. See you there!

Directions: From Oshkosh, take Hwy 41 North to Hwy 45 North. Take the Hwy 116/County Rd GG exit toward Winneconne. Turn left onto County Rd GG/Hwy 116 South. Follow Hwy 116 through Winneconne until you reach County Road D. Turn right on County Road D. Travel approximately 7 miles and then turn right on County Rd B. We will meet in the parking area off to your right adjacent to Welsch Rd. There is limited space in the parking area (9500 Co Rd B), so please plan on parking along Welsch Rd.

The Buzz in Your Garden: Bumble Bees of Wisconsin Ecology, Identification and Conservation
Instructors: Judy Cardin and Susan Carpenter
Format: In person
Dates/Times: Sunday, July 27, 9:30 am-4:00 pm (half hour lunch on your own; bring a packed lunch)
Location: UW Arboretum Madison
Elective (6 hours)
Our charming and peaceful pollinators need your help. Half of Wisconsin’s bumble bees species are threatened. This course shows how each of us can make a difference. Learn what is causing bee population declines, and how to support their native habitat and flower needs. Along the garden path we will learn to identify many of Wisconsin’s 20 bumble bee species. Participants will delve into the life cycles of bumble bees, and flower/bee mutualism resulting from the evolved phenologies of bumble bees and the native flowers they visit for nectar and pollen. We will also explore nesting and hibernation habitat needs, and life inside the bumble bee nest. The curriculum, a combination of classroom and field time, is designed to equip learners with the skills to identify Wisconsin bumble bee species, and the female, male and queen castes of species. We will take an in-depth look at floral and habitat needs of the endangered Rusty patched bumble bee to understand the selection and cultivation of appropriate native flowers and habitat. Additionally, the course addresses the threats to native bumble bee populations and their habitats, including habitat loss, disease, pesticides and climate change. Recommended book: Bumble Bees of North America by Paul Williams et al.

An email with specific details will be sent to you approximately 2-5 days before the course.

Native Plant Ecology and Identification
Instructor: Dr. Paul Whitaker
Format: Blended 3-part class
Dates/Times: virtual Monday Aug 4, 7-8 pm, virtual Monday Aug 11, 7-8 pm, and in person Saturday Aug 16, 12-4 pm
Location: UW Stevens Point
Core Course (6 hours)
Description: Native plants have a variety of fascinating and important interactions with other species. The two virtual sessions will consider interactions that benefit plant through nutrient acquisition, communication, seed dispersal, pollination, and defenses against herbivores, pathogens, and plant competitors. They’ll also introduce aspects of plant anatomy that are helpful for plant identification. The in-person session will provide hands-on study of patterns in plant structures and how these patterns support native plant identification. Recommended resources: Botany Primer, Understanding Botany for Nature’s Notebook, USA-NPN and Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification by Thomas J. Elpel.

Join us for the Fox Property Tour

We’ll take an informal tour of a 15-acre property managed by owner Charlie Fox since 1992. This former ag area has had 1000 trees planted and we’ll see a variety of prime prairie and wetland plants too, including, if we’re lucky, purple-fringed orchids. Location will be provided after registration closes. Registration due August 2.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with nature, learn about local flora, and meet fellow enthusiasts! Get ready to witness the stunning natural beauty of this habitat and learn about the efforts to preserve and protect it. See you there!

Location details will be emailed to registrants August 3, 2025. Please watch your email. Contact us if you do not receive directions.

Wisconsin Forests

Instructor: Frank Kirschling
Date/Time: Saturday, Aug 23, 9am-2:30pm (1/2 hour lunch) location: Calumet Co. Park
Elective (5 hours)
Description: This course will cover the identification of most native tree species found throughout Wisconsin. We will discuss different forest types in Wisconsin with their representative tree, shrub and herbaceous species. Basic forestry concepts will be covered and will include restoration ideas for different forest types in Wisconsin. Weather permitting, this course will include field activities.

Back to the Wisconsin Native Plant Certification homepage.

An email with specific details will be sent to you approximately 2-5 days before the course.

Learn more about the Wisconsin Native Plant Certification Program.

A Look at Native Plant Form and Function
Instructor: Dr. Paul Whitaker
Format: Blended, 3-part class
Dates/Times: Virtual Monday Sept 8, 7-8 pm, virtual Monday Sept 15, 7-8 pm, and in person Saturday Sept 20, 12-4 pm
Location: UWSP (classroom location will be emailed to you)
Core Course (6 hours)
Description: A plant’s structure is intimately intertwined with its functions, including photosynthesis, water movement, absorption and cycling of nutrients, growth, and reproduction. The two virtual sessions will present an overview of the basic structure of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds and the roles of these organs in essential plant functions. Our in-person session will consist entirely of hands-on study of plant structures, emphasizing that the diverse forms of each organ are just variations of a basic structure that has important jobs to do. Recommended resource: Botany Primer, Understanding Botany for Nature’s Notebook, USA-NPN.

An email with specific details will be sent to you approximately 2-5 days before the first day of the course.

Exploring the Fungal World
Instructor: Dr. Jim Perry
Format: In person
Date/Time:  Saturday, Sept 27, 2025, 10am-3pm (1 hour lunch – bring your own)
Location: UWO – Oshkosh campus
Elective (4 hours)
The diversity and beauty of fungi are astounding, with some forms obvious to the casual observer and others not. Likely the single largest living organism alive today is a fungus. Come explore and marvel at a few of the 1.5 million species that occupy the mycological fancy. This minds-on, hands-on short course is designed to acquaint you with this diversity and provide an appreciation of the critical ecological role fungi play in the native plant community. You’ll gain insight into the hidden world of mycorrhizae, the threads that serve as critical nutritional conduits and communication pathways between plants. When we’re finished, your walks in the woods and fields will have a whole new perspective.

This event will be held in October. Specifics about date and location will be released in September. 

Expand your relationship with nature by looking  for matching leaves of similar size, shape, and color  to add to a mosaic the group creates- laying leaves/ berries/cones/stones/etc. in a pattern on the  ground.  Some basic plant identification will be  shared, but the approach is one of art therapy - noticing, observing, sensing, feeling and creating.  Our facilitator is Janelle Jentz.

The Prairie in Seed

Instructor: Connie Ramthun
Format: In person
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct 12, 2025, 9am-2:30pm (half hour lunch on your own.)
Location: Birchwood Nature Preserve (Connie’s home, nursery and prairies)
Elective (5 hours.)
Description: The fall is great time to experience the prairie in its final beauty. This
course will serve as an introduction to identifying seed-bearing prairie plants.
Students will tour a restored prairie and native plant nursery to learn techniques for
collecting and storing seeds from various species. Those that attend will also learn
from a restoration expert how to break native seed dormancy and grow their own
native plants. Participants will be given samples of the seeds that we collect and
clean to use in their home landscaping. Connie will gladly address your natural
landscaping questions.

Back to the Wisconsin Native Plant Certification homepage.

An email with specific details will be sent to you approximately 2-5 days before the course.

Learn more about the Wisconsin Native Plant Certification Program.

Terrestrial Invasive Species Management
Instructor: Emma Neuman
Format: In person
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct 18, 9am-4pm (1 hour lunch on your own)
Location: Heckrodt Wetland Reserve
Elective (6 hours)
Description: This course begins with an introduction to terrestrial invasive species, including what they are, how they affect the environment, how they are spread, and an exploration of the Wisconsin NR 40 regulation. We will learn about common invasive species of Wisconsin followed by a hike around Heckrodt to see a handful of invasive species and practice identifying them. We will use a combination of inside and outside learning to understand most of the control methods that are possible and which is best for different situations. Returning to the classroom, we’ll go over devising an effective management plan.

An email with specific details will be sent to you approximately 2-5 days before the course.

Join us for Seed Collecting Workshop at Gottfried Prairie!

Come join us at 400 University Dr for a hands-on Seed Collecting Workshop where you can learn all about gathering and preserving native plant seeds. Gottfried prairie is a hidden gem: a successful 50-acre prairie restoration adjacent to the UWOFond du Lac campus. Most of the species originated from the last remaining prairie remnants around Fond du Lac County. Bring small paper bags, small snips, light gloves, and a sharpie marker. A limited number of supplies will be available. This is a free event sponsored by Gottfried Prairie & Arboretum and Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter. This event is perfect for nature enthusiasts and gardeners looking to expand their knowledge. Our expert instructors will guide you through the process and share tips on how to identify different seeds.

(if needed, the rain date is October 19, 2025)

Creating a Native Plant Oasis Design Plan 
Instructor: Danielle Bell
Format: In person
Date/Time: Saturday, Nov 15, 9am-3:30pm (half hour lunch on your own)
Location: Mequon Nature Preserve
Elective (6 hours)
Description: To combat the effects of climate change and pollinator decline, we need to incorporate native plants into our home and business landscapes. There is a wide palate of native plants that are capable of handling tough urban environments and provide essential ecological roles. This class will teach students how to understand microclimates of a site and how to properly select the correct native plants for those areas. We will learn which plants provide habitat requirements for specialist insects as well as those that fill large niches to benefit many species from insects to mammals. A portion of the class will be held outside for students to see structure of plants in their natural environment.

An email with specific details will be sent to you approximately 2-5 days before the course.

Come join us for the annual partner meeting with Audobon held at the Evergreen Retirement Community building in Oshkosh, WI. The social begins at 6:30PM and the program begins at 7:30PM. 

See you there!

Join us for our Members and Friends Holiday Gathering!

Take a break from holiday planning and join us for an afternoon seed and cookie exchange. A variety of prairie seeds will be available from our seed collecting workshop in October. And, if you care to, feel free to bring a small plate of cookies to share with others. Beverages will be provided. This event is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow members and enthusiasts to share ideas, knowledge, and recipes. We can't wait to see you there!