by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Jul 27, 2026
Empire-Sauk Chapter Annual Picnic
Monday, August 3 – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Lewis Byrns Park and Giordano Oak Barrens and Sand Prairie in Lodi, WI
Mark August 3 on your calendar and plan to join us for the Empire-Sauk Chapter Annual Picnic. The fun will start at 5:00 p.m. at the Lewis Byrns Park north of Lodi. Potluck will begin at 5:30 followed by a short business meeting. We need to elect our vice chair and treasurer, and nominations are accepted. After the meeting, site steward Rob Schubert will lead a field trip at Giordano Oak Barrens and Sand Prairie.
WHAT TO BRING:
Please bring a dish to share and utensils/cups.
CONTACT:
For questions, to RSVP, and if you have any nominations, contact Willis Brown (willisbrown55@gmail.com).
DIRECTIONS:
Directions to Lewis Byrns Park: The address is W10988 Rodney Dr, Lodi. Take State Highway 60 north from Lodi and turn left in 0.6 miles on Lindsay Road, which joins County J going north. Travel for 2.4 miles and continue straight on County V when County J turns off (County V joins County J from the west). Travel 2.2 miles to Rodney Dr. and turn left. The park will be on the right.
by Evanne Hunt | Jul 23, 2026
Let’s look for insects!
Bob Marquis, noted botanist, biologist, and insect expert, leads us for an insect walk of Alexander oak savanna.
Photo credit: Eric Preston
Date: August 8 (Saturday)
Time: 10am – Noon
Novices and experts are all welcome. Bring a butterfly/insect net if you have one. 1-3 hours. We have a few extras.
Directions: Take highway 35 south towards River Falls.
Take highway 65 south (35 turns into 65) toward Ellsworth.
Gravel road entrance is on the right just after the Town of River Falls town hall.
Map
by Evanne Hunt | Jul 21, 2026
Join several of us at Alexander Oak Savanna to assess the condition of the savanna!
Date: Sunday, July 26
Time: 10am – Noon
Address: 7829 WI-65, River Falls, WI 54022
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Coarse-level monitoring is useful for habitat managers interested in assessing baseline conditions and restoration progress. The coarse level metrics used in the approach can track ecological integrity over time in response to management or lack thereof.
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Please review the protocol before Sunday. We will fill out the
Oak Woodland worksheet during our walk on Sunday.
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Jul 21, 2026
Shea Prairie Field Trip
Sunday, August 2 – 9:30 a.m. to Noon
Location: Shea Prairie in Barneveld, WI
Come explore remnants of dry bluff prairies and restorations of wetlands, streams, and wet-to-mesic prairie of the 100-acre Shea Prairie. This is a unit of The Prairie Enthusiasts’ 830-acre Mounds View Grassland that has undergone extensive stream and wetland restoration beginning in 2012. A great diversity of high summer prairie wildflowers should be in bloom, including Culver’s-root, rosinweed, compass plant, rattlesnake master, prairie blazingstar, and many more.
DIFFICULTY: Be prepared for a long hike, some off trail.
WHAT TO BRING:
We recommend long pants, sturdy shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and water.
FIELD TRIP LEADER:
For questions and to RSVP, contact Rich Henderson (608) 845-7065 or (tpe.rhenderson@tds.net).
DIRECTIONS:
8624 Reilly Rd, Barneveld, WI. From US Hwy 18/151 near Blue Mounds, take County F south for 5 miles, turn right on to Reilly Road and proceed to the barn at the end of the road.
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Jul 21, 2026
Schurch-Thomson Prairie Field Trip
Wednesday, July 29 – 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Schurch-Thomson Prairie in Barneveld, WI
Come for a hike into a portion of The Prairie Enthusiasts’ 830-acre Mounds View Grassland preserve. We will see the progress being made in bringing back to life degraded remnant prairies, converting non-native, cool-season grass to native prairie. We will encounter rich displays of mid-summer prairie flowers such as compass plant, western sunflower, Culver’s-root, rattlesnake master, and prairie blazingstar. Along the way, we will also have opportunities to observe and hear uncommon grassland birds, as well as butterflies and bumblebees.
DIFFICULTY: Be prepared for a long hike, some off trail and steep slopes. Prepare for moderate hiking over uneven terrain.
WHAT TO BRING:
We recommend long pants, sturdy shoes, a hat, water and sunscreen. Bring binoculars if you have them.
TRIP LEADER:
Contact Rich Henderson (tpe.rhenderson@tds.net) or (608) 845-7065.
LOCATION:
Address is 8624 Reilly Road, Barneveld. From the intersection of US Hwy 18-151 and County F (south of Blue Mounds in western Dane County), take F approximately 5 miles south. Turn right onto Reilly Road and proceed to parking lot and kiosks at the end of the road (past the barn). (Note: A half mile down F from 18-151, pay close attention to the road signs, for F turns to the right & the straight ahead road becomes County Z. Stay on F.)
