Schmeeckle
Reserve
July 2009 - June 2010 Annual Report
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A field station of the College of Natural Resources,
serving the University and greater community
July 2009 - June 2010 Annual Report
Prepared November 2010
Schmeeckle Reserve
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
2419 North Point Drive
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone: (715) 346-4992
E-mail: schmeeckle@uwsp.edu
Internet: http://www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle
Director: Ron Zimmerman
Assistant Director: Jim Buchholz
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Schmeeckle Reserve
Contributing to a Sense of Community in Central Wisconsin
Since its beginning in 1976, Schmeeckle
Reserve has held a special place in the
community. It is a location where students,
faculty, city residents, and visitors can gather
and celebrate the unique qualities that make
central Wisconsin a great place to live. To
some, the Reserve is a quiet refuge from
urban and campus life; to others, it is a living
laboratory for research and classes; and for
many, it defines our campus’ and community’s
sense of place and rich history.
Schmeeckle Reserve is an integral
component of the central Wisconsin
community. It is a peaceful sanctuary where
area residents mingle casually with university
students, faculty, and staff. When surveyed,
citizens consistently identify the Reserve as a
place that contributes greatly to their quality of
life in Portage County.
A goal of the Reserve has always been to
preserve and celebrate the unique landscape
of central Wisconsin; maintaining select
habitats for study, research, and the spiritual
enjoyment of the visiting public. Schmeeckle
helps residents and visitors to feel a sense
of place. It allows people to develop a
relationship with the land, experience
the rhythm of the seasons, and just as
importantly, to participate in festivals and
celebrations that help bind us into a central
Wisconsin community.
The Reserve continues to grow in size and
popularity with more people than ever before.
The student staff has been increasing to
better maintain and improve trails and natural
habitats and to serve visitors. Special events
and public programs continue to attract
thousands of local supporters. Class use and
research are growing, and the visitor center
hosts more statewide environmental meetings
than ever before.
Panorama photo of Lake Joanis. October 2009.
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Serving the Local Community
Candlelight Hike Festivals
Enthusiastic crowds grow larger at every
candlelight hike celebration! These free,
community events feature a trail lit by tiki
torches, an educational program presented
by environmental education/interpretation
students, science research stations, thematic
crafts, snacks, and door prizes.
Large crowds gather around the campfire to learn about
Schmeeckle’s nocturnal insects in October 2009.
On October 30, 2009, our largest crowd yet
of nearly 800 people joined the fall festival
featuring nighttime insects of Schmeeckle
Reserve.
Despite a freak late
spring snowfall, about 200
people participated in the
festival on May 7, 2010,
which featured different
animals that migrate
during the spring.
Families enjoy thematic crafts and research stations
in October 2009.
Wetland Exhibit Renovation
In August 2010, renovation began on a
wetland exhibit in the front lobby of the
visitor center. A beautiful mural of a marsh
scene was painted by Schmeeckle artists
as a backdrop to the project. Aquariums
house common residents of the Schmeeckle
wetlands, including painted turtles, a green
frog, a tiger salamander, and several fish from
Lake Joanis. When complete, the exhibit will
feature interactive booklets and signs.
Schmeeckle student artists paint a wetland mural.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Serving the Local Community
New Plank Trail Boardwalk
Construction
In April 2009, Schmeeckle student staff
constructed a new accessible boardwalk on
the Plank Trail. The former trail segment was
a series of long, warped planks that limited
access for people in wheelchairs and with
strollers. The new boardwalk is four feet wide
and artistically winds through the wet woods.
This is a major route for Schmeeckle’s annual
Candlelight Hike Festivals.
Schmeeckle maintenance staff construct the new Plank Trail
boardwalk in April 2009.
Swinging Bench Renovations
Hanging over a small pond, the swinging
bench in Schmeeckle Reserve is a popular
resting place for trail users. Over the years,
it has served as a place for watching wildlife,
relaxing, and even proposing for marriage!
In March 2010, Schmeeckle student staff
renovated the swinging bench with a new
support system and a wide deck that provides
universal access off of the Trail of Reflections.
It is now a place that everyone can share.
Schmeeckle staff renovated the swinging bench with more
sturdy supports and a wide deck.
New John Deere Gator Purchased
In September 2009, Schmeeckle Reserve
purchased a John Deere Gator for trail
maintenance work. The vehicle enhances
the maintenance staff’s ability to remove trail
hazards, fix trail surfaces and boardwalks,
manage invasive species, and haul materials
while minimizing damage to the trail system.
Schmeeckle staff load the new John Deere Gator with tiki
torches for the fall Candlelight Hike Festival.
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Serving Natural Communities
Exotic Invasive Species Control
Schmeeckle Reserve is escalating efforts
to irradiate exotic species of plants in the
natural area. In 2009, the College of Natural
Resources funded the purchase of specialized
equipment and supplies to physically extract,
cut, and chemically treat common and
glossy buckthorn and other woody invasive
plants. The Schmeeckle student maintenance
crew has substantially reduced the buckthorn
population around Lake Joanis.
Schmeeckle staff cut through a wall of buckthorn near Lake
Joanis. The plants are treated with herbicide after being cut.
Moses Creek Research
Jeremy Lebrick, Schmeeckle’s student
maintenance supervisor, guides over 40
students in controlling invasive species,
maintaining trails, building boardwalks, and
constructing cedar signs.
Nearly 30 acres of the Moses Creek
Restoration Area has been cleared of
buckthorn and will be monitored and treated
through a ten year agreement with the
Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Stream flow and biological diversity of Moses
Creek is being monitored and researched by
Dr. Steve Seiler, UWSP Biology Department,
and students from the Ichthyology and
Aquarium Science Society. They surveyed
the ditch prior to restoration, during the
reconstruction process, and continue to
monitor biological changes in the new stream
ecosystem.
As the Maintenance Supervisor, I have developed
confidence and fine tuned my leadership abilities
which will apply to any future supervisory
position I may have. I truly enjoy being a part of
Schmeeckle Reserve and everything we provide
for the community.
—Jeremy Lebrick, Maintenance Supervisor
The Moses Creek Restoration provides unique research
opportunities for faculty and students.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Serving Natural Communities
Restoration of Moses Creek
was frequently updated to keep all interested
people fully informed of the restoration goals
and progress. Radio, television, and print
media also covered the progress.
Moses Creek has been restored to a free
flowing stream through a $1.3 million
mitigation project funded entirely by the
Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Nearly 18 acres of wetlands have been
created that serve as a floodplain for the
rejuvenated streambed of Moses Creek.
The creek now flows in a swift, natural,
meandering channel. Islands of oaks and
maples rise above the new sedge meadows
and a half mile of boardwalk trails invite
walkers and bikers to explore the new habitat,
which also serves as a gateway from campus
to the Green Circle Trail. The project will be
officially completed on November 12, 2010.
The trails and boardwalks have already been
reopened.
In the 1930s, Moses Creek was ditched in an
effort to drain wetlands for farming. The creek
was reduced to a dry and sterile streambed
during summer droughts. During periods of
rain and snow melt, the creek swells to flood
the Brillowski Subdivision east of Schmeeckle
Reserve. In the 1970s, floodwaters clogged
storm sewers on campus, filling basements
and spilling out over athletic fields.
Public input was gathered in spring of 2010
through a series of community meetings.
Neighbors were personally contacted for
their opinions and questions and plans were
developed that incorporated their ideas. A
detailed Moses Creek website
(www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle/moses_creek)
Visitor response to the project has been
overwhelmingly positive. Neighbors living
next to the project area are unanimous in
their approval of the resulting habitat and
boardwalk.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Serving the Conservation Community
Schmeeckle Reserve Environmental
Monitoring Station
With base funding from the College of Natural
Resources, an upgraded environmental
monitoring station was installed by
Schmeeckle staff near the visitor center. The
station monitors air and soil temperatures,
wind speed and direction, relative humidity,
soil moisture, and precipitation. Students,
faculty, and the general public can now
access real-time and historic monitoring data
online. The station will have major benefits
for natural resources, ecology, and biology
classes, as well as research projects such
as bat and flying squirrel monitoring. More
information can be found at:
www.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle/weather.
Schmeeckle student staff install a wind vane/
speed sensor at the top of the Environmental
Monitoring Station tower.
Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame
Schmeeckle staff again helped to coordinate
and facilitate this year’s Wisconsin
Conservation Hall of Fame (WCHF) Induction
Ceremony held on April 24, 2010. George
Becker, Emily Earley, and Ruth Hine were
inducted.
Schmeeckle Reserve’s graduate assistant,
Elise Kahl, will be developing exhibit concepts
and video vignettes that tell the interwoven
stories of the inducted members of the WCHF.
“At Schmeeckle Reserve I am able to get hands-on
experience with teaching undergraduate students,
organizing events, and helping run the visitor center.
Because of all of this experience, with the help of my
mentors, I will have an advantage when looking for jobs.”
—Elise Kahl, Schmeeckle Graduate Assistant
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Serving the Conservation Community
Community Meeting Room and
CNR-funded Renovation
A public meeting room located in the visitor
center is a popular gathering place for
agencies, organizations, and classes. It is
provided free of charge to conservation and
non-profit organizations.
Dr. Christine Thomas, Dean of the College
of Natural Resources, generously provided
$30,000 to renovate the meeting room in fall
of 2009. When completed, the room will house
new padded chairs, moveable tables, durable
carpeting, window blinds, presentation
lighting, and a digital projection system.
The renovated meeting room, which includes new portable
tables, chairs, and carpeting (above), provides a more
comfortable and convenient space for groups to meet in.
The room offers excellent exposure for
Schmeeckle Reserve and the CNR to diverse
groups of people from around the state. These
are potential supporters of the program.
Summary Meeting Room Use:
July 2009-June 2010
• Approximately 3,500 people met in the
community meeting room.
• The room was used 226 days of the
year, meeting for an estimated 1,099
hours.
The Schmeeckle Reserve meeting room is heavily used by
statewide natural resources agencies and organizations,
educational public programs, and classes.
Society, Master Woodland Steward
Program, U.S. Forest Service: Great
Lakes, AIG Travel Guard, Wisconsin River
Academy (SPASH), LEAF (WCEE), Blue
Bird Restoration Association, Wisconsin
Wastewater Operators’ Association, North
Central Conservancy, 4-H Work Team,
Marathon County Health Department,
Focal Point Camera Club, Green Circle Trail
Committee, Wisconsin Conservation Hall
of Fame board, Wisconsin Bow Hunters
Association, American Red Cross, Big
Brothers/Big Sisters
A few representative groups include:
Wisconsin Conservation Congress,
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service,
USDA Rural Development, Wisconsin DNR
(Stewardship, Air and Waste Management,
Forestry Leaders, Environmental Grants,
Disabled Advisory Council, Wisconsin
Tree Farm, Urban Forestry, Streams
Team, Fisheries Management), Wisconsin
Woodland Owners, Aldo Leopold Audubon
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Serving the UWSP Community
UWSP Student Staff
UWSP students keep Schmeeckle Reserve
vibrant. A large student staff is essential in
providing personal services and maintaining
the natural area. All positions are made
possible through SGA funding.
During the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year:
• 37 students were hired in Summer 2009
• 83 students were hired from August 2009
to May 2010
• 42 students were hired in Summer 2009
The student Office Supervisor, Nikki Heiden (right), handles
hiring, training, payroll, and financial reporting for the Reserve.
“My time at Schmeeckle Reserve has been a
great experience. As Office Manager, I have
developed professional skills that I will keep the
rest of my life through first-hand opportunities
such as hiring staff and handling finances.”
In May 2010, Schmeeckle was voted as one
of the best places to work on campus by
student employees for the third year in a row.
—Nikki Heiden, Office Supervisor
Trail Ranger Internship Program
The Trail Ranger Internship program is a successful continuing partnership among Schmeeckle
Reserve, the CNR Law Enforcement program (led by Dr. Bob Holsman), and Protective Services
(directed by Bill Rowe). It provides real world experience for students interested in natural
resources law enforcement.
Four UWSP students, Wes Powers, Tyler
Gagner, Brandan Macha, and John
Hagermann, successfully completed the
internship from April 2008 to October 2009.
Two new interns, Jared Fringer and John
Schreiber, were hired in April 2009 and are
currently finishing their programs.
The trail ranger program has been a positive
tool in reducing rule violations, while
maintaining a safe and friendly environment for
visitors.
Trail ranger interns John Schreiber (left) and Jared Fringer
(right) patrolled trails from spring to fall of 2010.
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Serving the UWSP Community
Coursework and Research
Schmeeckle Reserve is an outdoor classroom
and laboratory for UWSP. In 2009-2010,
the Reserve continued to serve the ever
expanding educational and research needs of
faculty and staff.
Summary of class and research use in
Schmeeckle: July 2009-June 2010
Students in FOR 335, Recreation Use of Parks and Forests,
determine the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum of Lake
Joanis in Schmeeckle Reserve. September, 2008
4,881 students attended a class or
conducted research in Schmeeckle Reserve.
Water 480- Water Chemistry
Wildlife 350/550- Wildlife Mgmt Techniques
Wildlife 372- Wildlife of North America
Students spent 10,699 hours attending
class in the Reserve. This doesn’t include the
uncountable hours spent conducting studies
for classes and student organizations.
College of Letters and Science
BIO 160- Introduction to Animal Biology
BIO 306- Ecological Methods
BIO 351- Plant Physiology
BIO 367- General Entomology
BIO 490- Mushroom Identification
GEOG 358- Biogeography
The following list includes a sampling of the
diverse classes and groups that used the
Reserve in the past year:
College of Natural Resources
FOR 322- Forest Mensuration
FOR 327- Forest Protection
FOR 424- Forest Pathology
FOR 426/626- Forest Entomology
FOR 431- Tree Structure and & Function
FOR 432- Urban Silviculture
FOR 435- Nursery Operations & Mgmt
NR 151- Ecological Basis for NR
NR 250- Fisheries, Forestry, and Wildlife
NR 251- Soil and Water Resources
NR 301/501- Foundations of Env. Ed.
NR 367/368/568- Oral Interp. Methods
NR 369/569-Interpretive Media
NR 374-Env. Interpretation Practicum
NR 392-Law Enforcement Theory
NR 457/657- Ecological Monitoring
NR 482- EE/Interp. Practicum
NR 483- Professional Development EE/I
Soils 465- Soil Physics
Water 389- Hydrology
College of Professional Studies
Adv. Ed. 250- Camping/Backpacking
IA 415- Problems in Interior Architecture
MSL 101- Military Science and Leadership
MSL 301- Adaptive Team Leadership
Wellness 199- Wilderness Orientation
UWSP Student Groups
The Wildlife Society
Fisheries Society
Student Athletic Advisory Committee
Society of Ecological Restoration
UWSP Sports Medicine Club
Other Educational Organizations
Mid-State Technical College
Divepoint Scuba
LEAF K-12 Forestry Education (WCEE)
Wisconsin River Academy, SPASH
Continuing Education
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Serving the UWSP Community
Public Programs: Environmental
Education/Interpretation Practicum
People from Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids,
and Marshfield eagerly await the arrival of
Schmeeckle Reserve’s public programs every
fall and spring. Students in the Environmental
Education/Interpretation Practicum (NRES
482) and Practicum in Interpretation (NRES
374) fine tune their interpretive skills under
the guidance of Dr. Brenda Lackey.
Spring 2009 Practicum students dressed up as different
Schmeeckle animals that migrate during the spring.
Each student develops and presents several
natural or cultural history programs that are
free to students and community members.
This year’s diverse topics included: worms,
witch hazel, Schmeeckle history, prescribed
burns, stars, sandhill cranes, bats, owls,
underground creatures, conservationists,
weasels, moon, oppossums, Menominee
folklore, spring sounds, woodcocks, and
maple syrup.
Summary Public Program Attendance:
July 2009-June 2010
• Approximately 760 visitors attended
the students’ individual public programs
• Nearly 500 additional visitors
experienced the students’ group
presentations at the Candlelight Hike
Festivals
Group presentations included character
interpretation of the Reserve’s nocturnal
insects (October 2009) and Spring Migrations
(May 2010).
“Schmeeckle Reserve provides a fabulous
resource for the practicum students
majoring in Environmental Education and
Interpretation at UWSP! The students are
able to practice their naturalist skills first
hand with members of the Stevens Point
community, providing educational programs
for all ages...Students recognize the value
of gaining this experience at Schmeeckle
Reserve as they prepare to head into the
job market.”
—Dr. Brenda Lackey, Assistant Professor of
Environmental Education/Interpretation
Fall 2009 Practicum students dressed in elaborate costumes to interpret
the nighttime insects of Schmeeckle Reserve.
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Serving the Interpretive Community
Interpretive Handbooks Series
The Interpreter’s Handbook Series is a
collection of training manuals written by
Schmeeckle Reserve staff. The purpose of the
books is to enhance the skills of students and
professionals in the field of interpretation.
These guidebooks serve a national and
worldwide audience. Just in the past year,
Schmeeckle sent books to customers in
Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan,
Brazil, Peru, England, France, Romania, and
Finland. In fall of 2010, the Handbooks Series
will be translated into Chinese for yet another
new international audience.
The three books in the Interpreter’s Handbook Series are
shipped worldwide.
Interpretive Consulting and Training
Schmeeckle Reserve developed unique chrome
interpretive wayside exhibits for Illinois Route 66.
Schmeeckle Reserve’s directors serve as
environmental interpretation consultants,
helping agencies and organizations
throughout the country plan for programs and
media at nature centers, parks, trails, scenic
byways, and other sites. The projects help
people to find greater meanings in natural and
cultural sites and resources.
These consulting services accomplish several
significant needs:
• Provides external funding for the daily
operations and improvements at the
Reserve.
• Promotes the environmental reputation
of the College of Natural Resources and
UWSP to a national and international
audience.
• Allows students to view real world
projects as case studies in their
interpretation classes and makes them
aware of professional opportunities at
these locations.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Funding Schmeeckle Reserve
Only about 1/3 of Schmeeckle Reserve’s operational budget is funded by the University. The
other 2/3 comes from a variety of funding sources that Schmeeckle staff consistently develop
and maintain on a yearly basis.
Illinois Historic Route 66 Scenic Byway:
Wayside Exhibits
Status: Completed in September 2010
Funding: $379,991
Description: Plan, design, and fabricate 32
unique, stylized interpretive wayside exhibits
along the legendary highway.
Interpretive Consulting Projects
The team of Ron Zimmerman, Jim Buchholz,
and Mike Gross (Professor Emeritus) provide
professional master planning and design
services to parks, nature centers, and historic
sites throughout the country.
The Teller Wildlife Refuge: Conservation
Education Master Plan, Montana
Status: Ongoing
Funding: $60,000
Description: Research and plan for new visitor
center, education program, and exhibits
In the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year:
Interpretive planning projects generated
$348,352, with a net revenue (after expenses)
of $195,018. This funding supports operations
and special events for the natural area.
Ron Zimmerman meets with stakeholders of The Teller, a
private wildlife refuge in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana
Professional Interpretive Master Planning
Projects included:
South Denali Visitor Center Complex:
Interpretive Master Plan, Alaska
Status: Completed in August 2009
Funding (over 2 years): $149,000
Description: Plan to guide the development
of a multiple-use visitor center and trails on
Curry Ridge
Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area:
Interagency Visitor Center Plan, California
Status: Completed in March 2010
Funding: $53,380
Description: Assisted in planning for
interpretation at a newly designed visitor
center.
The Ridges Sanctuary: Interpretive Master
Plan, Door County, Wisconsin
Status: Ongoing
Funding: $60,000
Description: Research and plan for new visitor
center, trails, and media.
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Cedar Sign Sales
Schmeeckle Reserve has been constructing
hand-crafted cedar signs for over 20 years.
Signs are sold to organizations, agencies,
businesses, and individuals. Student staff
design, construct, rout, and paint signs in
the visitor center basement workshop. All
proceeds support Schmeeckle Reserve
In the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year:
Indiana University Northwest in Gary contracted with
Schmeeckle Reserve to develop rustic signs for their Little
Calumet River Prairie and Wetlands Nature Preserve.
Sales of cedar signs generated $24,016, with
a net revenue (after expenses) of $10,348.
Clients included:
• Schwalbe Construction Company,
Wabasha, MN
• Village of Whiting, WI
• Pulaski Academy and Central School,
Pulaski, NY
• Pointer Place Townhouses, Stevens
Point, WI
• Lake Ripley Management District,
Cambridge, WI
• Jefferson County Parks, Jefferson, WI
• Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources-Chiwaukee Prairie State
Natural Area, Sturtevant, WI
• Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona,
WI
• Birnamwood Veterinary Services,
Birnamwood, WI
• Idyllbrook Village, Peoria, IL
• Wisconsin Woodland Owners
Association, Burlington, WI
• Town of Stockton, WI
• Northwoods Land Trust, Eagle River, WI
• Midwest Prairies LLC, Milton, WI
• Indiana University Northwest, Gary, IN
• Riverfront Arts Center, Stevens Point,
WI
• Multiple gift signs for UWSP students,
faculty/staff, and community residents
Schmeeckle student staff install a Veterinary Services sign in
Birnamwood, Wisconsin.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Interpreter’s Handbook Series Sales
Browse Shop Sales
The Interpreter’s Handbook Series is a
collection of training manuals written by
Schmeeckle Reserve staff. Books are
distributed throughout the world from the
visitor center.
The Browse Shop, located in the Schmeeckle
Reserve Visitor Center, features unique
natural and cultural merchandise that
connects customers to central Wisconsin’s
heritage.
In the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year:
In the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year:
Sales of the Interpreter’s Handbook Series
generated $12,709, with a net revenue (after
expenses) of $11,561.
Sales from the Browse Shop generated
$20,776, with a net revenue (after expenses)
of $1,800.
Three books are currently available for sale
through Schmeeckle Reserve:
• Signs, Trails, and Wayside Exhibits. 2006
• Interpretive Centers. 2002
• The Interpreter’s Guidebook. 1994
The gift shop’s student manager, Nicki Feiten,
trains staff, orders merchandise, works with
regional artists, and maintains inventory.
Athena Salzer, a UWSP student,
manages the Interpreter’s Handbook
Series business. She fills orders,
maintains inventory, coordinates sales,
and develops marketing strategies.
“I am very grateful to have
this position at Schmeeckle.
Not only do I love the work
environment here, but it has
really helped me build my
professional skills working
with different clientele.”
—Athena Salzer, Handbooks
Series Manager
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“Working at Schmeeckle over the past 3 years
has given me the opportunity to bring together
my love of nature and working with people. As
the Browse Shop manager I have been able
to strengthen my leadership skills and provide
the public with tools to strengthen their own
environmental knowledge. Being able to work
with the public and go to school has not only
helped me grow as a student, but also gain
practical experience necessary for future
employment.”
—Nicki Feiten, Browse Shop Manager
˜••ŽŽ
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Student Government Assoc. Funding
College of Natural Resources Funding
UWSP students provide the largest single
funding base for the operation of Schmeeckle
Reserve through Student Activity Fees.
Schmeeckle Reserve is a field station of the
College of Natural Resources, serving the
academic needs of several courses in forestry,
wildlife, soils, water, and human dimensions.
According to a survey in 2006, 95% of
UWSP students visited the Reserve and
98% believed that supporting Schmeeckle
was a good use of their fees. Nearly 80% felt
that Schmeeckle was a valuable part of their
UWSP experience.
The Director’s salary is provided through the
CNR budget. In addition, the CNR supports
specific projects and expenses annually that
benefit the Reserve’s academic mission.
In the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year:
Without annual student support, Schmeeckle
could not provide the quality outdoor
experiences that visitors have come to expect
from the natural area.
• Assistant Director float: $7,131
Provides savings in position benefits
• Graduate Assistant: $13,124
Shared with Dr. Brenda Lackey for
teaching of interpretation courses
• Operations budget: $2,652
Supports CNR’s Environmental
Education/Interpretation courses
• Technology support: $2,059
Laptop, Adobe software, and memory
upgrades for CNR’s Environmental
Education/Interpretation courses
• Travel to conference: $450
Partial funding of travel expenses
for Director and Assistant Director to
professional interpreter’s conference
• Continuing renovation of Meeting
Room: Total of $30,000
New chairs, tables, blinds, carpet,
lighting, painting, and trim
In the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year:
UWSP students provided $70,000 in funding
through the Student Activity Fee.
This funding supports:
• Salaries for UWSP student employees
(45-50 each semester)
• Office supplies and services
• Trail and boardwalk maintenance supplies
and services
• Land management
supplies and
services
• Facility maintenance
supplies and
services
• Community
programs and
events
• Construction of new
trails, boardwalks,
and structures
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Planning for the Future
University Financial Support
Securing a GPR Funded Assistant Director
Position
On March 12, 1979, a memo to the UWSP
Administrative Council gave authorization
to recruit positions for the newly created
Schmeeckle Reserve, which included:
• 1 full-time Director
• 1 full-time landscaper
• 1 full-time law enforcement officer
• 1 half-time secretary
This was considered a minimal level of
staffing to maintain the 127 acre natural area,
which did not, at the time, include a visitor
center. When Ron Zimmerman was hired as
the Director in July 1979, the landscaper and
law enforcement positions had already been
eliminated in response to a UWSP budget
crisis. In 1986, the half-time secretary was
given notice and the position was absorbed by
the CNR to make up for budget shortfalls.
Secure position and budget support would lead to enhanced
connections between Schmeeckle, UWSP, and the community.
of services, and large student staff. The
Assistant Director position is program
funded, requiring a tremendous amount
of Schmeeckle’s professional staff time be
devoted to external revenue generating
projects. The directors work long days and
numerous weekends, while relying on many
donated hours from a professor emeritus—a
situation that is unsustainable. If this position
was funded by UWSP, more time could be
devoted to Schmeeckle Reserve activities,
which would benefit the university as a whole.
Since 1979, demands for safety and services
have increased. The original property has
more than doubled to 285 acres, over 2/3 of
the entire campus. A visitor center is open 7
days a week to serve the needs of Reserve
users. The number of trail users, including
students and community members, continues
to grow every year. The popularity of public
programs and events is also increasing.
Despite these major enhancements, only one
GPR funded position, the Director, is still
assigned to the entire natural area.
The College of Natural Resources
administration is continuing to help provide
position assistance (fringe benefits) in the
upcoming Fiscal Year, a critical step toward
more reliable annual funding.
In 2000, Schmeeckle Reserve hired an
Assistant Director to help meet the needs
of the expanding workload, enhanced level
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New Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor and Education Center
meetings and community events. The scale
and architecture of the building will be
harmonious with the landscape and serve as
a model of sustainability on this environmental
campus. Its primary purpose will be to serve
as a gateway to the natural area and to guide
visitors to use the area responsibly.
The existing Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor
Center is popular and heavily used by
university classes, students, conservation
groups, and visitors. Unfortunately, the
remodeled facility is inadequate for this
increasing level of use. The multipurpose
room, for example, is filled nearly 250 days
of the year, but is too small for many public
programs and conservation meetings. Office
space, the cedar sign workshop, the exhibit
hall, and the interpretive technology lab are all
crowded and outdated.
A new Schmeeckle Reserve facility is
proposed in the next phase of the UWSP
Campus Master Plan. To be successful,
however, Schmeeckle must have sufficient
financial support from the university to fund
operating costs and staff salaries.
A new and improved visitor and education
center would serve greater numbers of
people and facilitate events and activities
that cannot be conducted in the present
building. Expanded meeting areas and
classrooms will be available for university
faculty and staff using the natural area. A
large multipurpose room will permit public
A significant amount of money will need to
be raised outside of the university system.
Schmeeckle Reserve is ready to begin a fundraising campaign to support the new facility.
Conceptual idea for a new and improved Schmeeckle Reserve visitor education facility.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2009-10 Annual Report
Fall colors on the new Plank Trail boardwalk constructed by Schmeeckle student staff. September, 2010
“The thing that I value most
about Schmeeckle Reserve is that
not only does it serve the general public, but also university students. I like to get
away from all the hustle and bustle of school life and connect with the land around
me, whether it’s sitting on the rocks by Lake Joanis or spending time at the ‘wildlife
viewing window.’ Schmeeckle Reserve takes you on a journey of discovery. It might be
encountering one of those ‘Schmeeckle deer’ or an early morning hike looking for birds.
Whether you’re a child, university student, or an adult, Schmeeckle holds a special
place in the hearts of those who enjoy the true beauty of Stevens Point...”
—Student Survey, November, 2006
Schmeeckle Reserve continues its long tradition of providing a special
place for students, faculty, staff, community members, and visitors to
connect with the central Wisconsin landscape.
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