Schmeeckle
Reserve
Contributing locally, nationally,
and internationally
A field station of the College of
Natural Resources serving the
University and greater community.
July 2008 - June 2009 Annual Report
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A field station of the College of Natural Resources,
serving the University and greater community
July 2008 - June 2009 Annual Report
Prepared November 2009
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 2008-09 Annual Report
Schmeeckle Reserve
Contributing to Local, National, and International Communities
Less known than its community presence are
the contributions that Schmeeckle Reserve
makes on national and international
levels. Each year, Schmeeckle staff journey
across the continent to share their expertise
in interpretive planning with parks, scenic
byways, and museums. Interpretation
connects people with the meanings of natural
and cultural resources.
Since its beginning in 1976, Schmeeckle
Reserve has held a special place in the
community. It is a location where students,
faculty, and city residents 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.
Sharing interpretive ideas nationally and
internationally has several benefits:
• Provides essential funding that supports
the daily operations and expansion of
Schmeeckle Reserve
• Promotes the professional reputation
of UWSP and the CNR to a worldwide
audience
• Allows for real-world scenarios to be
brought into the classroom, providing a
solid foundation for training
• Opens new job opportunities for
students graduating from UWSP
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. Special events and public
programs continue to attract hundreds 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.
2
Serving the International Community
Interpretive Workshop in Wales
In October of 2008, Ron Zimmerman, Jim
Buchholz, and Michael Gross (professor
emeritus) facilitated a two-day workshop
in Wales to explore ways of developing
successful interpretive centres in the UK.
The team was invited by Interpret Wales
(Dehongli Cymru), a partnership of Welsh
heritage organizations. Over 30 professionals
from around the UK participated in the
discussions. The workshop included a visit to
an interpretive center at the summit of Great
Orme Country Park.
Schmeeckle Reserve staff lead workshop participants through
a visitor centre at Great Orme Country Park, Wales. Oct. 2008
Thank you again for a very interesting and
inspiring couple of days—I’ll never look at,
listen to, touch, smell or taste examples of
interpretation in quite the same way again!
Schmeeckle Reserve facilitated a similar
workshop in Scotland in 2003.
—Jon Gruffydd, Lifelong Learning Manager,
RSPB, Wales
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 worldwide
audience. Just in the past year, Schmeeckle
sent books to customers in Canada, Brazil,
Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal,
France, Latvia, England, Wales, Taiwan, and
Bahrain.
The three books in the Interpreter’s Handbook Series are
shipped worldwide.
Schmeeckle Reserve is proud to serve the
interpretive training needs of the national and
international communities.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2008-09 Annual Report
Serving the National Community
South Denali Visitor Center, Alaska
In July of 2009, Schmeeckle Reserve
completed the final Interpretive Master Plan
for Denali State Park in Alaska. This twoyear comprehensive project included planning
for a multimillion dollar visitor center that
overlooks Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in
North America.
Several weeks were spent in Alaska
conducting community meetings, inventorying
resources, and developing concepts for trails,
roadways, buildings, and exhibits.
Jim Buchholz and Ron Zimmerman conduct a site analysis for
the South Denali State Park: Interpretive Master Plan in Alaska.
September, 2007
Ginamaria Javurek, Schmeeckle’s graduate
assistant for the past two years, obtained a
full-time position with Alaska State Parks in
May of 2009.
Being the Schmeeckle Reserve graduate
assistant prepared me for my position with
Alaska State Parks by ensuring that I thoroughly
knew and understood the principles of
interpretation and how to apply them in real
world settings...
—Ginamaria Javurek
Illinois Historic Route 66 Scenic Byway
In May of 2008, Schmeeckle Reserve
completed the final Interpretive Master Plan
for Illinois Historic Route 66. This two-year
project involved planning for 92 communities
along the 400 mile historic route from Chicago
to St. Louis.
As the project moves from planning to
development, Schmeeckle Reserve continues
to be involved with the project.
Ron Zimmerman and Mike Gross interview Bill Shea, who ran a
gas station along Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois.
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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.
Crowds gather to watch the Web of Light presentation in
October 2008, featuring the spiders of Schmeeckle Reserve.
On October 27, 2008 nearly 600 people
joined the fall “Web of Light” festival that
featured the different spider species of
Schmeeckle Reserve.
Despite being a rainy evening, over 200
people participated in the spring festival on
April 25, 2009, which featured the singing
frogs of central Wisconsin.
Fun, thematic snacks are a hit with festival participants.
Nestled under a tarp, visitors discover the enchanting songs of
frogs during the April 2009 Candlelight Hike Festival.
Families discover the science behind spiders and
frogs at Discovery Research Stations.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2008-09 Annual Report
Serving the Local Community
Restoration of Moses Creek
Moses Creek will be restored to a free flowing
stream through a $1.3 million mitigation
project funded entirely by the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation.
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.
Moses Creek was dredged into a long linear drainage ditch in
the 1930s, reducing diversity and productive wetlands.
Plans are now being finalized to recreate the
natural meanders of the stream and restore
the wetland floodplain. Excavation of the
wetlands and stream channel will begin in late
summer of 2010. Approximately 20 acres of
new wetlands will be created along the Moses
Creek channel. Large specimen trees have
been identified and are included as islands
and peninsulas in the floodplain. Schmeeckle
Reserve is developing media to inform visitors
about the changes.
The resulting wetlands, ponds, and
meandering streams will increase the diversity
of wildlife and plants, improve water quality,
and provide new recreational opportunities in
Schmeeckle Reserve.
Scenic sedge meadows, tamarack forests, and shrub thickets
will be restored along Moses Creek in Schmeeckle, similar to
the habitat found at its headwaters.
6
Current Plans for the Restoration of the
Moses Creek Corridor
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2008-09 Annual Report
Serving the Local Community
Expanding the Green Circle Trail
Schmeeckle Reserve is the headquarters for
the Green Circle, a 30-mile hiking and biking
trail that loops around Stevens Point. In the
summer of 2008, a student crew was hired by
Schmeeckle to build a new boardwalk through
a newly acquired wetland just north of the
Reserve.
The Green Circle Foundation provided
$32,360 in the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year for
supplies and student salary to complete the
project. The finished half-mile long boardwalk
is now the longest on the Green Circle—a
tribute to the dedicated students who battled
knee deep mud and swarms of mosquitoes for
several months.
The Schmeeckle Reserve student crew worked long hours
moving materials and equipment by foot over the half-mile
boardwalk.
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 18, 2009. Herbert
F. Behnke, Martin Hanson, and Charles H.
Stoddard were inducted.
Schmeeckle Reserve’s new graduate
assistant, Elise Kahl, will be surveying visitors,
designing, and building an interpretive exhibit
in the visitor center that tells the interwoven
stories of the inducted members of the WCHF.
Along with the new exhibit, the current exhibits
will be given a new life with updated artifacts
and information.
Schmeeckle Reserve is a dynamic setting that I am
able to thrive in because of its natural habitat for wildlife,
its multifaceted interpretation projects, and impressive
advisors. Working here is a privilege and an important
step in my career.
—Elise Kahl, Schmeeckle Graduate Assistant
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Serving the Local 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 Schmeeckle Reserve meeting room is heavily used by
statewide natural resources agencies and organizations,
educational public programs, and classes.
The room offers excellent exposure for
Schmeeckle Reserve and the CNR to diverse
groups of people from around the state. These
are potential future supporters of the program.
Summary Meeting Room Use:
July 2008-June 2009
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.
• Approximately 3,700 people met in the
community meeting room.
• Over 220 groups were represented,
meeting for an estimated 1,080 hours
(which is an average of 3 hours every
day of the year).
Woodland Owners, Aldo Leopold Audubon
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
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2008-09 Annual Report
Serving the UWSP Community
UWSP Student Staff
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 2008-2009 Fiscal Year:
• 36 students were hired in Summer 2008
• 61 students were hired from August 2008
to May 2009
• 37 students were hired in Summer 2009
Not only have I learned some very valuable
skills, such as gaining experience hiring
employees, training them, payroll, and dealing
with finances, but I have learned a great deal at
what it actually takes to run a Visitor Center. I
just love working here!
The student Office Supervisor, Amber
Brunette, handles hiring, payroll, and financial
procedures for the Reserve.
—Amber Brunette, 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.
Two UWSP students, Tim Orlowski and
Christine Colrue, successfully completed
the internship from April to October 2008.
Four new interns, Wes Powers, Tyler Gagner,
Brandan Macha, and John Hagermann,
were hired in April 2009 and are currently
finishing their programs.
Trail ranger interns Tyler Gagner, Wes Powers, John
Hagermann, and Brandan Macha patrolled trails during the
spring, summer, and fall of 2009.
I am looking towards a full-time credentialed
[ranger] position once I graduate from college...
Being a Trail Ranger at Schmeeckle during
the summer was a great stepping stone for my
future career.
The trail ranger program has been a positive
tool in reducing rule violations, while
maintaining a safe and friendly environment
for visitors.
—Brandan Macha, Trail Ranger Intern
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Serving the UWSP Community
Coursework and Research
Schmeeckle Reserve is an outdoor classroom
and laboratory for UWSP. In 2008-2009,
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 2008-June 2009
Students in FOR 335, Recreation Use of Parks and Forests,
determine the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum of Lake
Joanis in Schmeeckle Reserve. September, 2008
2,431 students attended a class or
conducted research in Schmeeckle Reserve.
Water 366- Aquatic Invertebrates
Water 389- Hydrology
Wildlife 350/550-Wildlife Mgmt Techniques
Wildlife 693- Field Trip to K-12 Teachers
Students spent 9,023 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 101-General Biology
BIO 160- Introduction to Animal Biology
BIO 306- Ecological Methods
BIO 319- Techniques in Molecular Biology
BIO 353/553- Ethnobotany
BIO 355- Plant Ecology
HIS 392- Native American Forestry
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 335- Recreational Use of Forests
FOR 424- Forest Pathology
FOR 426/626- Forest Entomology
FOR 431- Tree Structure and & Function
FOR 432- Urban Silviculture
FOR 435- Nursery Operations & Mgmt
FOR 480- Recreation Management
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 482- EE/Interp. Practicum
NR 483- Professional Development EE/I
Soils 465- Soil Physics
College of Professional Studies
Adv. Ed. 250- Camping/Backpacking
Wellness 199- Wilderness Orientation
Wellness 221- Snowshoeing
UWSP Student Groups
The Wildlife Society
Student Athletic Advisory Committee
Society of Ecological Restoration
Env. Educators and Naturalists Association
Outdoor Edventures
UWSP Sports Medicine Club
Other Educational Organizations
Mid-State Technical College
Divepoint Scuba
LEAF K-12 Forestry Education (WCEE)
Wisconsin River Academy, SPASH
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2008-09 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 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 the different
frog species of Schmeeckle Reserve, and interpreted their
unique calls and adaptations.
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: stars,
migration, autumn leaves, woodpeckers,
oak savanna, bears, deer, recycling, fall
harvest, the Green Circle, Halloween history,
porcupines, “sex in the garden,” snakes, night
sounds, bats, spring senses, Stevens Point
history, bald eagles, and Eastern bluebirds
Summary Public Program Attendance:
July 2008-June 2009
• Approximately 680 visitors attended
the students’ individual public programs
• Over 350 additional visitors
experienced the students’ group
presentations at the Candelight Hike
Festivals
Group presentations included character
interpretation of the Reserve’s spiders
(October 2008) and frogs (April 2009).
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 2008 Practicum students dressed in elaborate costumes to interpret the
different species of spiders in Schmeeckle Reserve.
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Serving Natural Communities
Aggressive control methods and careful monitoring are slowing
the spread of buckthorn and garlic mustard in the Reserve.
Exotic Invasive Species Control
Schmeeckle Reserve is escalating efforts to
irradiate exotic species of plants in the natural
area.
The College of Natural Resources contributed
$8,000 toward the purchase of specialized
equipment and supplies that will be used
to physically extract, cut, and chemically
treat common and glossy buckthorn and
other woody invasive plants. The Reserve
has increased the size of its maintenance
crew to more fully utilize this equipment and
to substantially reduce the population and
spread of Buckthorn in the Reserve.
2010, will monitor the population density of
the weevil and document the effectiveness of
this technique for biologically controlling the
invasive milfoil in Lake Joanis.
The research project on the biological control
of Eurasian water milfoil in Lake Joanis is
continuing and will enter a new phase in 2010
as a new graduate researcher begins studies
under the guidance of Dr. Ron Crunkilton.
Jeremy Lebrick, Schmeeckle’s student
maintenance supervisor, guides over 40
students in controlling invasive species,
maintaining trails, building boardwalks, and
constructing cedar signs.
Colonies of Eurasian water milfoil have been
spreading across the lake since 2004. To
avoid using chemical treatments, the College
of Natural Resources, Portage County,
and the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources are partnering in a research
effort to develop an effective biological
control. Native milfoil weevils, which feed
on this invading plant, have been reared
and released
in the lake
to curtail the
spread of milfoil.
Populations
have been
successfully
established.
Future research,
beginning in
Native milfoil weevils have been
As the Maintenance Supervisor at Schmeeckle
Reserve, 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
introduced into Lake Joanis.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2008-09 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.
Interpretive Consulting and Student
Interpretive Media Projects
Rib Mountain State Park: Master Plan
Wausau, Wisconsin
Status: Completed in July 2009
Funding: $33,000
Description: Research and plan for new visitor
center and exhibits
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.
Student Media Projects included:
In addition, Schmeeckle coordinates the final
design and fabrication of media that UWSP
students develop in NR 369/569: Interpretive
Media course.
Wildwood Zoo: Bald Eagle Panel
Marshfield,
Wisconsin
Status:
Completed
in July
2008, $580
In the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year:
Interpretive planning projects generated
$124,837, with a net revenue (after expenses)
of $45,389. This funding supports operations
and special events for the natural area.
Professional Interpretive Master Planning
Projects included:
Chequamagon-Nicolet National Forest:
Medford Administration Site Panels
Illinois Historic Route 66 Scenic Byway:
Interpretive Master Plan
Status: Completed in October 2008
Funding (over 2 years): $130,600
Description: Plan to guide interpretive
development of Route 66 byway in Illinois
Medford,
Wisconsin
Status:
Completed
in Dec.
2008,
$1,885
Denali State Park: Interpretive Master Plan
Alaska
Status: Completed in July 2009
Funding (over 2 years): $149,000
Description: Plan to guide development of
visitor facility and trails on Curry Ridge.
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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 2008-2009 Fiscal Year:
The College of Natural Resources hired Schmeeckle to
produce entry signs for 4 properties. Here, the Kurtzes and
Dean Christine Thomas pose in front of a newly installed sign.
Sales of cedar signs generated $22,095, with
a net revenue (after expenses) of $11,898.
The Tri-County
Area School District
ordered a map and
rule sign for their
Birdhouse Walking
Trail in Plainfield.
Clients included:
• Wis. Department of Natural Resources,
Natural Resources Park, Madison
• Wis. Department of Transportation,
Carson Wetland Mitigation, Wisconsin
Rapids
• Marathon County: Michael W. King
Plantation, Wausau
• Stevens Point Convention & Visitors
Bureau
• Tri-County Area School District
(Plainfield Birdhouse Walking Trail
• Green Dragon Gallery & Prairie Seed
Co., Galesville
• Silver Springs Campsites, Rio
• Computer Magic, Stevens Point
• Filtosa Farm LLC, Stevens Point
• Aldo Leopold Audubon Society,
Stevens Point
• Kummer-Vallier property, Tomahawk
• College of Natural Resources
properties, UWSP
• Central Wisconsin Environmental
Station, UWSP
• Wisconsin Center for Environmental
Education, UWSP
• UWSP Disc Golf Club
• Multiple gift signs for UWSP students,
faculty/staff, and community residents
This detailed sign ordered
by the Stevens Point CVB
acknowledges the Master
Gardeners of Portage County
Schmeeckle student staff work on final sanding and painting for
the Silver Springs Campsites in Rio, Wisconsin.
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Schmeeckle Reserve 2008-09 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 2008-2009 Fiscal Year:
In the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year:
Sales of the Interpreter’s Handbook Series
generated $15,398, with a net revenue (after
expenses) of $13,100.
Sales from the Browse Shop generated
$16,531, with a net revenue (after expenses)
of $5,429.
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, Pam Olson,
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.
Through this job, I’ve
strengthened my ability to
work professionally with
a wide range of clientele
and have met a lot of great
people along the way.
—Athena Salzer, Handbooks
Series Manager
16
Being the Browse Shop manager at
Schmeeckle Reserve has benefited
me by allowing me to broaden my
management skills and experience,
while allowing me to go to school
fulltime and earn my degree.
—Pam Olson, Browse Shop Manager
˜••ŽŽ
˜
Šž›Š• Žœ˜ž›ŒŽœ
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 2008-2009 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 salary: $29,931
Jim Buchholz taught all Forest Recreation courses during search for new Forestry faculty member
• Assistant Director float: $2,772
Provides savings in position benefits
• Graduate Assistant: $13,124
Shared with Dr. Brenda Lackey for
teaching of interpretation courses
• Travel to conference: $658
Partial funding of travel expenses
for Director and Assistant Director to
professional interpreter’s conference
• Renovation of Meeting Room: $30,000
New chairs, tables, blinds, carpet,
lighting, painting, and trim
• Operations budget: $2,913
Supports CNR’s Environmental
Education/Interpretation courses
• Technology support: $578
Digital camcorder, battery pack, and
charger for CNR’s Environmental
Education/Interpretation courses
• Invasive species management: $8,000
Mechanical equipment, hand tools,
and herbicide for buckthorn abatement
In the 2008-2009 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
17
Schmeeckle Reserve 2008-09 Annual Report
Summary of Schmeeckle Financials: 2008-2009 Fiscal Year
Schmeeckle Reserve serves the academic
needs of UWSP—an outdoor laboratory
for natural resources, biology, health
enhancement, geography, art, outdoor
recreation, and many other departments.
It also serves the needs of this larger
community—an important interface between
Stevens Point residents and University
students, faculty, and staff.
To ensure that this interface is maintained,
sufficient funding must be generated annually
to restore and manage habitats, operate and
maintain the visitor center, maintain and build
the expansive trail/boardwalk system, and
provide educational programs and events that
bring the community and UWSP together.
Total Annual Operating Costs
• 68% was supported by non-GPR funds
• 32% was supported by UWSP/CNR
Total operating expenses for Schmeeckle
Reserve in Fiscal Year 2008-09 was
$327,352.
Student
Positions,
$55,606
Part-time & Overload
Staff,
$41,728
Assistant Director
Benefits,
$3,755
Project & Contract Expenses
(interpretive consulting),
$28,174
Assistant Director
Position,
$42,847
Auxillary Operations
Expenses (signs, shop,
handbooks),
$23,597
Director Position,
$69,215
Facility & Operations
Expenses,
$26,806
Graduate Assistant
Position,
$13,124
Visitor Center
Utilities,
$7,500
Maintenance Student
Supervisor, Supplies, Labor,
$15,000
Expenses covered by nonGPR (in red)
Expenses covered by
GPR (in blue)
$222,513
$104,839
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In 2008-2009, Schmeeckle Reserve brought in
more revenue than expenses due to numerous
consulting projects and temporary support for
the Assistant Director to teach in the CNR.
who have planned similar state-of-the-art
centers for state, national, and private clients
across North America. To commit the time
needed for this effort, the Reserve must
save sufficient amounts of funding to meet
expenses while the staff undertakes a yearlong planning effort.
Schmeeckle hopes to create an innovative,
sustainable visitor center headquarters facility
in the near future. This effort will require the
concentrated efforts of the Reserve Directors
Total Annual Revenue and Support
Schmeeckle Reserve generated $422,238 of
total revenue and support during Fiscal Year
2008-09.
Green Circle Trail,
boardwalk construction,
$32,360
• 17% was provided by UWSP students
• 51% was generated with program funds
• 32% was GPR funded
Auxillary Operations (signs,
shop, handbooks), $54,024
Projects & Contracts
(interpretive consulting),
$124,837
Student Government,
Activity Fee, $70,000
Donations, $3,334
GPR: Facilities, Visitor
Center Utilities, $7,500
GPR: Grounds and
Maintenance, Student
Supervisor, $15,000
GPR: CNR,
Support for
CNR courses,
$2,913
Non-GPR Revenue &
Support (in red)
GPR Support (in
blue)
$284,555
$137,683
GPR: CNR, Assistant
Director (temporary 1 year
teaching load), $29,931
GPR: CNR, Graduate
Assistant, $13,124
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GPR: CNR, Director
Position, $69,215
Schmeeckle Reserve 2008-09 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. This includes long work days,
numerous weekends, and 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 2008-09 Annual Report
Fall colors on the Green Circle Trail boardwalk through Schmeeckle Reserve. October, 2009
“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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