News from the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve
Summer 2015
’Round
the Reserve
2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54481 • 715-346-4992 • www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle
Friends a new
chapter in
Reserve’s
rich history
By Bill Berry
Friends Board President A cunning fox auditioned for a part in the “Schmeeckle Underground” play in the
campfire program at the spring 2015 Candlelight Hike Festival. This fall’s Candlelight
Hike will be Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m.
‘City critters’ expected at
fall Candlelight Hike Festival
This fall’s Candlelight Hike
Festival will explore the ways
that encountering wildlife in the
city can spark feelings of awe,
annoyance, or fright, reminding us
that we are never far from nature.
The Candlelight Hike will be
Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m.
It is sponsored by the Friends of
Schmeeckle Reserve.
Walk a half-mile or one-mile
trail lit by torches through the
autumn woods and along the
lake. The campfire program, “City
Critters,” will be presented at 6:30
and 7:30 p.m. at the campfire ring.
Meet Schmeeckle’s white-tailed
deer, foxes, and bats, among other
characters. It’s a fun program for
the entire family. Arrive early for a
good seat.
The program is presented by
students in the environmental
See Hike, Page 2
“Someday this area will serve as
an island of green in the city of
Stevens Point.”
Those words were spoken
by Fred Schmeeckle, the
namesake of
the natural area
so many of us
love.
Our Friends
of Schmeeckle
organization
seeks to honor
those words.
We’ve been at
Bill Berry
that task for
almost two
years, thanks to folks like you.
Many of you became
founding members by joining
the Friends in 2014. Those
who joined in the first half of
2014 recently received renewal
See Berry, Page 3
Hike, From Page 1
education and interpretation
practicum course.
Other events all evening
will include Discovery Stations
featuring hands-on activities, 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 “Schmeeckle
Underground” at the spring 2015
Candlelight Hike. Attendees
generously donated more than
$1,200 to the Friends. To see a
video of the campfire program,
visit http://bit.ly/1OCxHz4
Donations Sought for Candlelight Hike Festival
Schmeeckle Reserve is seeking
donations to help continue the
success of the Candlelight Hike
Festival. We invite individuals,
organizations, and companies to
donate or sponsor the following
components:
• Pumpkins for the trails
• 50 to 100 tiki torches for
lighting the trails
• Craft supplies for children’s
craft stations related to the
“Urban Wildlife at Schmeeckle”
theme
• Healthy snacks related to the
theme that are available free to
event attendees
• Refreshments and food for the
50 student staff and volunteers
who help run the event
All donors will be recognized in
event publicity and on a banner
displayed at the Hike.
To offer donations or
sponsorships, contact Melissa
Alexander, Schmeeckle graduate
assistant, at malex@uwsp.edu or
715-346-4992.
• Materials for interactive
Discovery Stations related to
the event theme
Welcome Your New and Renewing Friends!
New Members: Thank you to the
following members who have joined
the Friends since March 31, 2015. The
Friends is now made up of 119 memberhouseholds. Thank you for your support!
Jane Wisinski
Allison Wisinski
Jill Trochlell Ziehr
Renewing Members: Thank you to the
following members who have renewed
their Friends membership for 2015-16.
Bill Berry and Nick Schultz
Samantha and David Birkenkamp
Nancy Bozek
Jim and Sunshine Buchholz
and Walden
John and Mari Buzza
Barbara Dixson and Alan Smith
Richard and Janice Doxtator
2
Glen and Kristi Drapes and
Dani and Ali
Sally Ellingboe
Alan and Marge Engebretson
Megan and Troy Espe
Annie Fabina
Nisha Fernando
Josh and Amber Garbe
Nicole Garrity
Mike and Bev Gross
Chris and Gretchen Hamp
and Henryk
Alan Haney
Jan and Kathy Hermann
Dave Hillier
June and Gene Johnson
John and Dori Jury
John and Patricia Kedrowski
Brenda Lackey and Cathy Scheder
Kendra Liddicoat and
Brian Barringer
Rick and Ann Lindner
Jerry Lineberger
Dan and Donna Marx
Dieter Marx
Eric Marx
Merle McAuley
Don and Tina Peters
Judy and Jean Ratkowski
James Rogers
Jane Rogers
Chris Schmelling
Tom and Lynda Schrader
Bev Scott
Dan and Tina Sivek
Dan Stephens
Guy and Mary Stewart
Timothy Taschwer
Chris and Kaila
Thompson
Richard and Lois Wetzel
Vern and Mary Winker
’Round the Reserve
Berry, From Page 1
notices so we can continue our
work together. Sincere thanks to
those of you who have renewed.
We aim to build upon your
commitment, and we are always
open to your suggestions.
What have we been up to?
We have held work days, hosted
educational programs, sponsored
a Writing, Art, and Photography
contest that is now in its second
year, assisted at the wildly popular
spring and fall Candlelight Hike
Festivals, and reached out to the
central Wisconsin community
to tell the story of the Reserve.
Future activities include helping
to update and enhance the Trail of
Reflections, one of the Reserve’s
centerpieces.
The Reserve serves many
purposes. It is managed to protect
and restore natural communities
of central Wisconsin. It is an
important outdoor classroom for
learning. As many of you know,
it provides year-round outdoor
recreation opportunities. And
because of its distinctive geology,
it is also a natural barrier against
flooding in the community.
If you want to learn more
about the Reserve’s fascinating
history, including the work of
its namesake Fred Schmeeckle, a
pioneering professor of natural
resources at UW-Stevens Point,
check out the history section of the
Reserve’s website at www.uwsp.
edu/schmeeckle.
The Friends of Schmeeckle is
a new chapter in this rich history.
With your help, we’ll make it a
great one.
Summer 2015
Writing, Art, and Photo
Contest entries due Nov. 1
Have your visits to
Schmeeckle Reserve inspired
you to take photographs,
create art, or write about the
natural area? You are invited
to submit your work for the
second annual Writing, Art,
and Photo Contest.
The Friends of Schmeeckle
Reserve is hosting this contest
to raise awareness of the
Reserve and the Friends group,
which supports the natural
area. Entries are due Nov. 1.
Contest submissions will
be posted on the Friends
of Schmeeckle Reserve
website. First- and secondplace winners in each category will be honored in a ceremony at a
Friends board meeting. First-place winners also will receive a $25 gift
certificate to the Browse Shop, a gift shop in the Schmeeckle Reserve
Visitor Center that features natural and cultural gifts.
Submissions must be accompanied by a 75-100 word statement
describing how the entry was inspired by time spent in Schmeeckle
Reserve. All ages are welcome to participate. For the entry guidelines
and submission form, visit http://bit.ly/1xqVPdQ or call Megan Espe
at Schmeeckle Reserve at 715-346-4992.
Annual Member Meeting set for Sept. 29
The Friends of Schmeeckle
Reserve second annual
Member Meeting will be
Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 5:30 to
7:30 p.m. at the visitor center.
Social time with refreshments
begins at 5 p.m., with the
meeting to follow at 6 p.m. A
guest speaker will present at
6:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more
details.
Also, annual member
meetings are when board and
officer elections are held. If you
are interested in serving as a
board member for the Friends
of Schmeeckle Reserve, please
contact Friends liaison Megan
Espe at mespe@uwsp.edu or
715-346-4992, or current board
president Bill Berry at billnick@
charter.net or 715-341-9119.
3
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Member Names: ____________________________________________________
How to Join
Online:
www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle
Click on “Friends of
Schmeeckle” and then “Join
the Friends”
Address: ___________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: ______________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________ Email:_____________________________
Newsletter delivery preference: E-mail
Mail this form and a check
made payable to Friends of
Schmeeckle Reserve to:
Friends of
Schmeeckle Reserve
2419 North Point Drive
Stevens Point WI 54481
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
___________________________
Walk-in: Sign up at the visitor
center
Trailblazer — $250
Call: Schmeeckle Reserve, 715346-4992
Other amount: $_______
4
Mail
Explorer — $500
Contributions to the Friends of
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Makes a great gift!
’Round the Reserve
Exploring how water flows through Moses Creek
By Paul McGinley
Professor of Water Resources and
UW-Extension Water Quality Specialist
How much do wetlands slow
the movement of water? That is an important question,
because when stormwater flows
more slowly through a wetland,
downstream flooding can be
reduced and pollutant removal can
be improved.
We hope a research study in
Schmeeckle Reserve will help us
better understand how wetlands
provide this important function.
I am leading students in the
UW-Stevens Point College of
Natural Resources in studying
wetland hydraulics for the
Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Students use the Moses Creek
area restoration as they develop
methods to explore flood wave
movement through wetlands.
Our early studies suggested
UW-Stevens Point students study what happens with water flow after storms move
through the Moses Creek Wetland.
Research Update
that the Moses Creek wetland
would be a great location to
monitor and test some of the ideas
we developed studying wetlands
near Lake Superior.
Although the students have
been studying the Moses Creek
wetland for only several months,
they have been able to follow
several storms through the
wetland using equipment that
tracks water levels at different
locations. My students and I
plan to continue monitoring the
wetland into the fall.
For more information, contact
Paul McGinley at paul.mcginley@
uwsp.edu or 715-346-4501.
Friends reaching out to
community organizations
Friends of Schmeeckle board member Jerry Lineberger
shared the story of the Friends with the Rotary Club of
Stevens Point at the group’s July 15 meeting.
Summer 2015
Do you belong to a community organization that
hosts guest speakers? The Friends of Schmeeckle
Reserve is reaching out to civic and community clubs
to share more information about the Reserve and
the work of the Friends. A board representative and
Schmeeckle staff member are available to serve as guest
speakers.
To learn more, please contact Megan Espe, the
Friends’ liaison and Schmeeckle Reserve outreach
coordinator, at mespe@uwsp.edu or 715-346-4992.
5
Former Schmeeckle Reserve graduate assistant Carly Swatek, who graduated in May, took many photos of the Reserve, including
this early summer shot of Lake Joanis.
Reserve a gateway to the community
By Carly Swatek
A drizzly late-spring morning
brought a young man and his
mother indoors to discover a few
of the novelty pieces displayed in
the Schmeeckle Reserve Browse
Shop.
He was interested in field
guides, while his mother looked
at community happenings in the
brochure rack.
A conversation was sparked
while I was staffing the front desk,
and I discovered they were on a
scouting visit to consider whether
the young man will attend UWStevens Point in the fall.
We exchanged stories and
soon the mother-son duo became
entranced with all that Schmeeckle
Reserve had to offer, not only for
6
the student body
but also the
community at
large.
I was
fortunate to
spend the past
two years as
a graduate
Carly Swatek
assistant
at Schmeeckle Reserve, both
observing wildlife and interacting
with students, staff, Friends
members, and visitors. Over this
time, I spent many moments
reflecting on what I love most
about the Reserve, only to conclude
that I love that Schmeeckle Reserve
creates a gateway for a diverse set
of people to make connections with
each other and with the land in
Stevens Point.
Later that afternoon, the
weather cleared and I went for
a bike ride on the Moses Creek
boardwalk. I paused to sit and listen
to the newly singing American
toads that were busy making their
voices heard in attempt to attract a
mate.
Within moments, a melodic
string of footsteps trailed behind
me. I turned to see the Stevens Point
Area High School cross-country
team make their way down the
path in impressive synchronicity.
After their footsteps subsided
on the boardwalk planks, I turned
to hear the sound of splashing
water revealing the successful
catch of a fish in the tightly closed
beak of a great blue heron that was
camouflaged in the dense marsh
grass.
’Round the Reserve
I smiled and carried on
my way, passing visitors here
and there. I engaged in short
conversations about rare wildlife
sightings, the lovely weather, or
other friendly expressions.
“This place is special” is a
common phrase I have heard
when talking with visitors.
Aldo Leopold once said, “We
abuse the land because we see it
as a commodity belonging to us.
When we see land as a community
to which we belong, we may
begin to use it with love and
respect.”
I believe that Schmeeckle
Reserve embodies the spirit of
Leopold’s message in the ways it
provides a welcoming, accessible,
and conveniently located
natural area that encourages the
community to interact with the
patchwork ecology that makes up
the central Wisconsin landscape.
To move beyond Leopold’s
quote, however, I believe that
the essence of an “ecological
community” extends beyond the
plants and wildlife at Schmeeckle
Reserve and offers a unique
meeting place where a diversity
of ages and backgrounds are
entertained with the wonders of
the land.
While working at Schmeeckle
Reserve I have experienced
firsthand these opportunities
to connect with each other and
the land through the many
community events offered.
Educational programs and special
events like the Candlelight Hike
Festivals act as a “gateway”
to visit the Reserve in a more
formal, or guided fashion. These
Summer 2015
A deer peeks
out from behind
the Reflection
Pond on the Trail
of Reflections.
Photo by
Carly Swatek
“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.
experiences encourage continued
visits thereafter.
Or, if you prefer more active
participation, the Reserve
offers the occasional chance
to contribute to citizen science
research or stewardship by
participating in volunteer
workdays. These experiences
(and more!) are some of the many
organized through the Friends of
Schmeeckle Reserve.
The Friends group, to me,
provides a perfect conduit for this
gateway to a campus-communitynatural area connection that is
so utterly invaluable to places
like Stevens Point. Whether
looking for a place to watch birds,
photograph, exercise, sit, catch
a fish, eat lunch, ride your bike,
attend an educational program,
or just meet up with your friends,
Schmeeckle Reserve provides a
unique experience that is sure to
inspire a sense of connection to
place and community.
As I have finished my
graduate studies and will be
venturing to a new chapter, I hope
to model the special “symbiosis”
between the people and the land
exhibited at Schmeeckle Reserve
in future places I call home.
I hope you’ll cherish why
you love the Reserve during your
visits this summer!
Carly Swatek graduated from
UW-Stevens Point in May 2015.
Her master’s thesis was titled, “A
Community Needs Assessment
to Explore the Feasibility of
Expanding Environmental Education
Programming,” which used
Schmeeckle Reserve as its study site.
It can be viewed at http://epapers.
uwsp.edu/thesis/2015/swatek.pdf
Swatek is now the educational
technology and evaluation specialist
at Riveredge Nature Center in
Saukville, Wis.
7
Parting View:
Gone fishin’
Summer students in
associate professor
Justin Sipiorski’s
ichthyology class took
a field trip to Moses
Creek to study fish.
The fish they captured
were examined and
released. Sipiorski’s
class teaches students
about the classification
and natural history of
fish, with an emphasis
on Wisconsin food,
game, and forage fish.
Photo by
Doug Moore
ADDRESS LABEL
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2419 North Point Drive
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Friends of
Schmeeckle Reserve