Interested in volunteering? Check below for opportunities.
This year marks the beginning of the sixth year of volunteer effort to affect positive change in our environment. Many of the invasive species that we have been working on can easily diminish the biodiversity of the native flora in the Forest. We are lucky to have 12 state natural areas in the KMSF-NU. Our state natural areas are designated to preserve the best of Wisconsin prairies, forests, and wetlands. These unique places are home to 90% of Wisconsin’s threatened and endangered plant species and 75% of the animal species. We have been working intensively in two of these SNAs for the last five years.
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Join the Battle to Save Haskell Noyes Woods
The Haskell Notes State Natural Area protects an old-growth forest. Garlic mustard has infiltrated this premier woods and we need your help to push back this non-native invader.
Dear Stewards of the Northern Kettle Moraine,
It is my pleasure to send you the new volunteer opportunities starting in May. As a long time board member of the Friends of the Kettle Moraine, it has been very satisfying to coordinate the volunteer program being done in the Forest. This year marks the beginning of the seventh year of volunteer efforts to affect positive change in our environment and we have come a long way. In 2018, there were 14 volunteers that worked a total of 61 hours removing garlic mustard in Haskell Noyes State Natural Area. In 2024, there were 41 volunteers who worked a total of 260 hours in 10 different areas of the Forest!
Many of the invasive species that we have been working on can easily diminish the biodiversity of the native flora in the Forest. We have gone from hauling out dozens of large bags of garlic mustard from Haskell Noyes SNA in 2018 to less than a dozen in 2024. The plant diversity on the forest floor is responding by multiplying without garlic mustard suppressing them. I encourage you to come and see for yourselves!
This year, we are rewarding volunteers who work at least three times this year with a Stewards of the Kettle Moraine T-shirt. The shirt has been designed by Bill Millonig, renowned artist and former board member of the Friends of the KMSF. We haven’t printed them as we will ask for your size beforehand.
Our volunteer days begin in May with Haskell Noyes SNA. It is 61 acres of prime dry-mesic forest and it was never heavily logged or clear cut during the logging era of the 19th century. The land was purchased in 1947 to prevent imminent logging and was designated a state natural area in 1952. It has a rich diversity of plants that are under threat from invasive species, such as garlic mustard and buckthorn. Because of our volunteer effort, we are finding fewer and fewer of these plants throughout this SNA.
Volunteer days for garlic mustard removal in Haskell Noyes SNA are as follows.
Wednesdays, May 7st, 14th, 21th, 28th, and June 4th from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Thursdays, May 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, and June 5thth from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Saturdays, May 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st, and June 7th from 9 am to noon.
Meet at the Haskell Noyes parking lot on GGG.
Doug Stadler will also be leading some of the volunteer days at Haskell Noyes. His contact information is stadler.d@gmail.com and 920-979-1357. The schedule of dates list the group outings of the Stewards of the Northern Kettle Moraine and are planned to optimize our collective efforts. We would like to accommodate additional dates and times that better fit any interested individuals or groups; please contact Doug or Connie with any requests or proposals.
At a later date, we will be sending out the schedules of workdays in various locations for June and July.
The Friends of the Kettle Moraine have long been committed to preserving and protecting our land and water. We hope by volunteering, you will experience the deep rewards that come from contributing to the preservation of biodiversity in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit.
Please contact Connie Ramthun, Volunteer Coordinator, with any questions or concerns. She will put you on the emailing list with details of the work involved, what to wear and what to bring. Her email address is connieramthun@gmail.com. You will also receive a reminder with details on the workdays a few days beforehand.
Thank you very much. We look forward to connecting with you!
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Ice Age Visitor Center hours
Call the Center for current hours at 920-533-8361
Please note that the DNR urges state park visitors to do their part when visiting DNR properties. Most Wisconsin state parks, forests and other day-use areas do not have garbage or recycling bins. When you visit, please take your garbage and recyclables home with you. We all play a vital role in taking care of our natural resources. Following the Leave No Trace principles helps protect the land for generations to come. Fight the Bite! Ticks are out, and visitors should take precautions to prevent Lyme Disease.