They do restoration work, habitat management, work with landowners to conserve their land and so much more. They help manage over 28 nature preserves that are a joy to hike in and explore in nine counties in southwestern WI.
And as far as "nature school" classrooms go, they are top-flight!
About once a month, throughout the year, MVC offers registered programs for the public to celebrate different nature preserves they manage and to learn about the flora, fauna, geology and habitat of the Driftless. Each of these Linked to the Land events is free thanks to the generosity of Olson Solar Energy and WXOW 19. Each event is led by subject experts and staff from MVC.
Recent ones I have participated in the last year or two have been a geology tour at Mathy Quarry, guided hike at Borah Creek State Natural Area, tackling invasives in Viroqua, guided hike and citizen science at Holland Sand Prairie and bat cave ecology tours at Kickapoo Caverns. Each event has been rich in content and a chance to explore the nature preserves with a group of like-minded nature-lovers.
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| The view from FSPA land on St. Joseph’s ridge Image - Karen Solverson for the Mississippi Valley Conservancy |
There is still a little room in the next event scheduled for this coming Saturday Sept 20 (registration deadline Sept 17) for a walk in the gardens of the FSPA at their villa on St. Joseph's Ridge followed by by a ridgetop hike to see the sunset and spectacular views followed by a chance to see the night sky with telescopes and help from the a Crosse area Astronomical Society. I highly recommend it.
Another upcoming event is an exciting guided stargazing walk at the Tunnelville Cliffs property near LaFarge on Saturday, October 11 from 7-9:00 pm that evening.
You'll also see volunteer opportunities listed. MVC welcomes your help in habitat restoration, invasives removal, prepping for prescribed burns, brush removal and more. During these work parties, you not only contribute to restoration but also learn a ton from your co-workers.
To encourage you to explore the nature preserves, MVC also offers an annual free Trail Trek Challenge, inviting you, friends and families to discover and hike at least of their five preserves. It's a great way to discover amazing hikes in rich and diverse habitats.
I hope you can go to school with them soon and become a member of their organization as well.
Nature School is what I like to call the guided hikes I go on when I’ve a mind to learn more about the natural world and to fulfill my required training hours to maintain my annual Master Naturalist volunteer certification. The Nature School series highlights parks, organizations and groups that provide free or low-cost guided learning experiences while hiking. The Driftless area of MN, WI and IA is rich in dedicated biologists, naturalists and citizen scientists who share their knowledge, passion and expertise. By doing so, they help hikers of all ages better understand our natural world. It’s always a delight to attend their “schools.”
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| Participating in MVC BioBlitz in June at Holland Sand Prairie - Image: Karen Solverson |
Check out additional Nature School posts:
Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters
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