August 2017
Outreach at the Kilbourn Public Library

On Thursday, June 29th, Summer Naturalist Drew Dettmann brought a few of Upham Woods’ animals to the Kilbourn Public Library, helping to enhance the library’s summer theme, “Build a Better World”. Attendees learned about the differences between reptiles and amphibians, their specific adaptations, and how humans can positively or negatively impact animal habitats. This hands-on Scales, Scutes, and Skins lesson plan is taught by Teaching Naturalists throughout the year to campers at Upham Woods.

     Outreach programming in public spaces provide a comfortable atmosphere for people who may not be familiar with wildlife or the environment, but who may be interested in expanding their knowledge in these areas. Outreach settings are perfect for providing accurate information, answering questions, and creating positive experiences and memories for each person present.  


Also Featured This Month:
DOTS Kits & Earth Partnership
 The Upham Research Team has been busy this month traveling around the state providing DOTS (Digital Observation Technology Skills) workshops for Indigenous Arts and Sciences Institutes.  In conjunction with Earth Partnership and tribal offices, DOTS have been a part of institutes with youth and educators in Red Cliff, Bad River, Lac du Flambeau, and Ho-Chunk nations.  Participants have gotten to develop their observation skills with inquiry activities and expand a data collection with DOTS tools investigation.  They also put together their own scientific stories to share their discoveries.  Area educators attended hoping to better understand their native students and get a better sense of the culture. Youth explored ways to conserve and restore the environment as well as career opportunities.  Together, they have explored prairie, forest, and bog ecosystems and shared their findings on the online platform. Read their stores here!
Archery Shelter Donated by Washington Co 4-H
During their 2018 Summer Camp, Washington Co 4-H Sharp Shooters enjoyed the shade and shelter provided by the generous donation from their leaders association in 2016.  This shelter makes archery at Upham Woods possible all year long to all of our groups, even in challenging weather.  
    Upham Woods thanks the Washington Co 4-H Leaders Association for their continued support of our commitment to creating safe outdoor learning spaces. 
Thank you to our July 2017 Summer Camps!

Summer Camp in July at Upham Woods was sizzling hot...with fun! The mighty Wisconsin River calmed down a bit, which gave our campers more time on the waterfront swimming, canoeing, rowing the Voyageur canoe, and guiding the barge over to Blackhawk Island.  Of course, no camp at Upham Woods would be complete without Peanut Butter Mountain, archery, circle dances, and field games.  


A big thank you to our July 2017 Camps:

  • Juneau/Marathon/Wood Co 4-H
  • Outagamie/Calumet Co 4-H
  • Sheboygan Co 4-H
  • Crawford/Vernon/Richland Co 4-H
  • Dodge Co 4-H
  • Dane Co 4-H

Hiding in Plain Sight: Wild Forest Plants at Upham Woods
There are many species of amazing plants living right under our noses at Upham Woods may blend into one forest of green. But take a closer look!
     Some of the many plants that you can find on a casual hike down one of the many paths at Upham Woods include, wild columbine, bedstraw, black cherry trees, ferns, tick trefoil, grasses, pines, maples, oaks, partridge berry, enchanters nightshade, black raspberries galore, and many others.
     On Blackhawk Island, you can find witch hazel and hog peanut. The island is also the home of two deer exclosures used to study the plant diversity that could grow all over the island if deer weren’t present, as well as show us how the deer population can affect plant numbers and varieties in an ecosystem.
     So the next time you are out and about on a hike in the woods, make sure to bring your handy dandy plant identification book, a mind for discovery, and a basket to collect those tasty raspberries.
The Wider Impact of Outdoor Learning

Hands-on learning outdoors not only engages children’s interests, it engages a wider spectrum of intelligences as well. This means that more children will find themselves interested in the outdoor learning experience. This interest makes the content more relevant, which results in increased school performance. Outdoor learning helps children develop a “sense of place,” through which children can make connections to the natural and human communities in which they reside.

Teachers can appreciate the increased student engagement that an outdoor classroom provides; nothing is more satisfying than seeing students actively interested in what is being taught! There is an energy for learning outdoors that we just do not see in the regular classroom. Students may not be able to adequately identify the exact source of their increased engagement at the time, but will carry many happy memories with them, which is probably the most important aspect of outdoor learning. It can develop positive memories of both school and the outdoors. Those affirmative experiences can color our views of both for many years to come.

Upham Woods is looking for a few good Teaching Naturalists for Fall 2017!
Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center
N194 County Rd N
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
(608) 254-6461
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