Please join us on Saturday, June 27, 2026 as we tour remnant Moely Prairie, a diverse landscape that promises to be in full bloom. At just 23.5 acres, and surrounded by urban development, this prairie is the largest remaining remnant of the original 14,000-acre Sauk Prairie. Because this site was never plowed, a rich array of native prairie plants persist here. Restoration efforts have been underway for the last nine years and the removal of invasive trees and brush, along with regular controlled burns, are encouraging a wide variety of native prairie species to thrive including thousands of Prairie Smoke plants, Eastern Prickly Pear cactus, Hairy Puccoon, Prairie Blue-eyed Grass, Violet Wood Sorrel, Rough Blazing-star, Dotted Horsemint and Lead-plant.

To see updates on the progress of Moely Prairie’s restoration work, and to learn more about volunteer opportunities, consider following us on Instagram, @moelyprairie.

WHAT TO BRING:
We recommend long pants, sturdy shoes, a hat, water and sunscreen. Bring binoculars if you have them.

FIELD TRIP LEADER:
For questions and to RSVP, contact Paul Anderson at 608-712-9552.

DIRECTIONS:
From Hwy 12, turn east onto Hwy PF. After passing the prairie on your right, take a right onto 21st St., a right onto Fullerton Dr., a left on Billings Ave., and then a right onto Alban La. Park at the dead end and enter the prairie from there. 2200 Fullerton Dr, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578

We will meet at the Alban Lane entrance to the prairie, located within the Westwynde neighborhood in Prairie du Sac. Street parking is allowed near the entrance.

Smith-Reiner Drumlin Prairie is a small parcel owned and managed by The Prairie Enthusiasts and a State Natural Area. It has 13 acres of remnant prairie between the two glacial drumlins. The drumlins will be covered with rough and cylindrical blazing stars and the valleys in between will have gay feather. This should be a monarch and grassland bird hotspot. Gentians and other prairie specialist flowers will also be blooming. This is a trip in conjunction with Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association and the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.

Registration is limited to 18 people.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Come for a morning hike across The Prairie Enthusiast’s 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 prairie, renovating streams, wetlands, and seeps, and planting agricultural fields to prairie. We will be encountering rich displays of early summer prairie flowers such as pale-purple coneflower, wild quinine, white wild indigo, white prairie clover, leadplant, Coreopsis, and others. Along the way will also have the opportunity to observe many uncommon grassland birds such as bobolinks, meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows, upland sandpipers, and Henslow’s sparrows, as well as butterflies and bumblebees. 

DIFFICULTY: Be prepared for a long hike (some off trail) and occasionally steep slopes.

WHAT TO BRING:
Bring water, hat, sun screen, long pants, and binoculars.

CONTACT:
Rich Henderson, 608-845-7065

DIRECTIONS:
8624 Reilly Rd, 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, 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.)

Come see upland prairies rich with early summer prairie flowers such as pale-purple coneflower, wild quinine, white wild indigo, white prairie clover, and others that should be in bloom. The preserve is a sea remnant prairie and CRP grassland being restored back to prairie. It is teaming with grassland birds such as bobolinks, meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows, upland sandpipers, and Henslow’s sparrows, so bring binoculars. Schurch-Thomson Prairie is part of The Prairie Enthusiast’s 830-acre Mounds View Grassland preserve. 

DIFFICULTY: Be prepared for a long hike, some off trail and steep slopes. 

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.)