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Friday, August 1 | 4 - 8pm
FRIENDS OF RETZER NATURE CENTER'S BEER GARDEN
The Friends of Retzer are excited to announce another beer garden this summer! Join us on Friday, August 1st from 4-8PM, for a delightful evening featuring:
Additionally, there will be a 50/50 raffle, with proceeds supporting the new Retzer Garden project, along with food available for purchase.
*We will post an update on social media if we have to switch to the rain date.
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Saturday, Sept 20 | 9am - 4pm
FRIENDS OF RETZER NATURE CENTER SPONSORS APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL
Celebrate autumn at our family-friendly Apple Harvest Festival! Purchase fresh apples and enjoy delicious apple treats at the Apple Market. Visit the Delafield Brewhaus Beer Garden for food, creamy root beer, and beer (21+) – try the Retzer Apple Ale!
Browse eco-friendly arts & crafts vendors and explore fun kids’ activities in “The Pines.” Take part in the Passport Expedition, silent auction, Scarecrow Lane scavenger hunt, story hike, Planetarium shows, and live music by JC Ayer.
Don’t miss this festive celebration, sponsored by the Friends of Retzer Nature Center in cooperation with Waukesha County Parks, Waukesha County Technical College, and other community partners.
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Donations For Silent Auction & Raffle
Interested in donating items for our raffle and silent auction during Apple Harvest Fest? Examples of items include: Gift Cards, Themed Gift Baskets, and Experiences.
Please contact Kathy Arts at: karts@friendsofretzer.org with interest.
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Friends of Retzer Commitment to Retzer Garden Project
In June, The Friends of Retzer Nature Center committed an initial $25,000 in funding towards the Retzer Garden Project. Since 2007, Retzer Nature Center has always had an interactive garden for use with educational programs and open for the public.
The goals for this project:
- Reimagine what is the current Children's Garden for teaching, photography, picnic, respite, and enjoyment by other independent groups, and events
- Honor and respond to the existing site
- Provide opportunities for wheelchair accessibility
- Invite users of all ages to teach the value of all plants (native and non-native) and their relationships within the ecosystems
With the help and support of Waukesha County Parks, Senior Landscape Architect, Luisa Dummann, the project was designed and planned in two phases pictured below. It is estimated this project will cost about $51,135 in total to complete both Phase 1 & Phase 2.
If you are interested in supporting this project please donate using this link or mail your donation to the Friends of Retzer Nature Center to the address mentioned within the link above. Please indicate with your donation, that it is intended for the Retzer Garden Project.
Note: the new location of the planned garden is adjacent and attached to the current concrete patio/pergola area to maximize the goal of accessibility.
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Annual Membership Meeting and Chili Dinner
A buffet chili dinner was served at 5:30pm, followed by our annual business meeting and presentations. Nature Center Supervisor, Janet Barthel provided a statistical summary of Retzer’s busy year of programming, and President Andi Kornowski offered a recap of the Friends organization’s activities and achievements over the past months. She also extended well wishes to Larry Kascht, who stepped off the Board after years of dedicated service to the Friends. In turn, newly-elected Board members Joe Strazishar and Amy White were welcomed into the fold. After the meeting concluded, a private showing of the Retzer 50th Anniversary Documentary was viewed.
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Arbor Day Tree Planting
The Friends of Retzer provided snacks and water for volunteers at Naga-Waukee Park.
Thank you to Johnson's Nursery, Kohls, Tim O Brien Homes, Everlight Solar, Target-Delafield, Generac and community members for volunteering your time and resources for making events like these a success!
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Earth Week at Retzer Nature Center
Throughout the week of April 21st, multiple Earth Week Events were held at Retzer Nature Center such as: a Spring Ephemeral Hike, Sunset Meditation, A Mindful walk in nature, Outside Clean up and the Earth Day Celebration. Over 100 attendees joined us on that Saturday and enjoyed hands on activities like paper making, recycling, and more! Many also enjoyed the Planetarium show and hiking on the trails.
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Food Truck Friday
We are grateful for nice weather and the opportunity to participate in Food Truck Friday last month, at the Waukesha County Airport. A portion of the proceeds from food truck sales at Food Truck Friday benefits local non-profit organizations.
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Friends of Retzer Nature Center
Welcome New Board Members
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Joe Strazishar
Joe Strazishar is now “gainfully retired” but previously served for 20 years as a church administrator with oversight of his congregation’s business and personnel operations. He has followed for years the great work of the Friends at Retzer Nature Center. Joining his wife Kathy as a member of the Board, Joe hopes to live out his calling to be a responsible caretaker of God’s creation by contributing to the preservation, enhancement and awareness of Retzer’s natural amenities. Personal interests include kayaking, biking, bowling, photography, and exploring new countries with Kathy. Fun factoid: Joe has umpired more than 1500 baseball games and claims to have never personally lost one of them!
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Photo taken May 2025
in Costa Rica
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Amy White
Amy White is excited to begin her first year on the Friends of Retzer Nature Center Board, where she looks forward to contributing toward fundraising, marketing, and community outreach efforts. With a background as a high school science teacher and her current role as Recreation Coordinator for Pewaukee Parks and Recreation, Amy is deeply passionate about nature conservation and community service. In her free time, she enjoys reading, attending sporting events, hiking, and spending quality time with her family.
| | 2025 Friends of Retzer Board of Directors | |
Interested in Joining the Friends of Retzer Nature Center Board?
We are looking to round out some open board positions with individuals who are passionate about natural resource conservation, environmental education, and volunteer & financial support of Retzer Nature Center. No board experience is necessary. We will train interested individuals.
Additionally, we are specifically seeking individuals with backgrounds in the following areas: legal expertise, treasurer expertise, fundraising & capital campaigns, and community partnerships.
There is no official nomination application required, but please feel free to reach out to ask questions or express interest by either messaging us on social media or filling out the form linked here and a current board member will contact you regarding your interest. Thank you for considering!
Elections to the Friends of Retzer Nature Center Board are held yearly at our annual membership meeting in April.
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As always, if you need to renew your Friends of Retzer membership, you may do so as follows:
a) Mail your check to Retzer Nature Center attention: Friends of Retzer Nature Center.
b) Pay online via our website using a credit card or PayPal.
c) Stop at the nature center’s front desk with check payment .
For more information about 2025 membership levels and benefits click the membership button below.
Thank you for your continued support! Your membership supports vital projects and programs at Retzer Nature Center.
| | Mission Statement of The Friends of Retzer | | |
The mission of the Friends of Retzer Nature Center shall be to promote and support activities and initiatives which enhance the goals of natural resource conservation and environmental education and involve the community, through financial support and volunteer work, in the growth and improvement of programs and facilities at Retzer Nature Center.
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Your general donation supports over 450 acres of natural habitat and educational facilities at Retzer Nature Center. All donations are tax-deductible – and any amount is always welcome. |
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