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Community Engaged Science and Education – Lifelong Learning
Community Engaged Science and Education
We foster lifelong connections between people and nature, strengthening communities’ capacity to care for the natural world through place-based and outdoor educational programs, volunteer service, and community science.
By Topic
Explore the different ways we support community engaged science and education throughout the state
Lifelong Learning
We provide lifelong learning programs on broad environmental science topics to build environmental awareness and skills and increase Wisconsin residents’ access and connection to nature. We work to ensure all Wisconsinites have safe and abundant access to outdoor spaces, meaningful place‑based connections to their surrounding environment, and improved wellbeing from time spent outdoors. Explore our work and programs.
Wisconsin Master Naturalist Training
The Master Naturalist Program is a network of well-informed volunteers trained in Wisconsin’s natural history, ecological processes, and conservation issues. Trainings emphasize outdoor learning experiences in a variety of locations and provide an opportunity for conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning.
Lake Superior Reserve Community Programs
The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses over 16,000 acres along the St. Louis River estuary in Superior, Wisconsin. The Reserve regularly hosts community programs and events, such as the monthly River Talks and River Walks series. You can also plan a visit to the Lake Superior Estuarium, an interactive exhibit hall, to learn more about how freshwater, ecology, and culture coexist and thrive in the Lake Superior watershed.
Upham Woods Adult and Community Programs
Upham Woods is a residential, year-round, outdoor learning center that connects youth and adults with the research and educational resources of UW–Madison to improve the human-nature connection, support understanding of science, foster environmental stewardship, and engage communities. Through our programs, we aim to ignite curiosity, cultivate leadership, and create a lasting impact on the natural world and the communities we serve.
Extension Lakes Program
Based at UW–Stevens Point, the Extension Lakes Program seeks to preserve Wisconsin’s legacy of lakes through education, communication, and collaboration. The program works with more than 800 local lake associations and lake districts in Wisconsin, assisting them through education, capacity building, lake monitoring opportunities, and lifelong learning.
Featured Resources
Interested in learning about the natural world from the comfort of your own home? Learn about the Great Lakes ecosystem at your own pace using online readings, videos, and supplemental activities that reinforce key concepts.
The Lake Superior Reserve, with the help of Laura Jean Media Services, has created a virtual tour of the Estuarium exhibit space. Enjoy, explore, and experience the Estuarium from the comfort of wherever you are.