When is the best time to be thinking about the summer camp season? All the time. The warmth, sunshine, adventure, and camaraderie of the camp season will be back again soon. Although we are always pleased to serve as a partner for 4-H county-based camps, we also have a growing open enrollment program. These camp sessions are open to anyone in the state regardless of county, or even 4-H involvement, and gives people who could not come to their own county’s camp a way to have a summer camp experience.

               Upham Woods kicked off recruitment for summer 2019 camp counselors at the 2018 4-H Fall Forum in Green Lake. In our active hands- on session, participants were given the opportunity to experience and reflect on how the actions of a teacher or counselor can improve a camper’s experience, as well as explore areas where they themselves can still grow and develop. 

               A major goal of our Fall Forum excursion was to encourage high school aged youth to consider coming out to Upham Woods as counselors this summer. Being a camp counselor not only allows the counselors to have a summer camp experience for themselves but also affords them the opportunity to develop their own personal leadership skills.

                Although Fall Forum was the kick off for counselor recruitment, we still have several more events coming up:

On these weekends, prospective counselors will be able to get a preview of what to expect from an Upham Woods experience, as well as practice more of the leadership skills that will give then a successful camp. We are glad that the Fall Forum was able to put camp in people’s minds, and are looking forward to the 2019 season.

Click here for more information on Camp Counselor Training!

The EPA kick off meeting was a success with 16 partners in attendance from 8:30 am until 4 pm on 11/9/18. Members from Friends of Wehr Nature Center, Reflo Sustainable Water Solutions, Escuela Verde, Urban Ecology Center-Menomonee Valley Branch, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Upham Woods met up to spend time getting to know each other’s organizations as well as each others' personal investment in the project. The day included reflection on the history, pedagogy and thinking that has built Science Strikes Back. We reviewed the goals and commitments made in the grant and created our own goals to build on those. These personal partner goals can be found in the recap document circulated to all members present for the kick off. The team practiced inquiry activities that they could use with students. Partners shared resources with each other throughout the course of the day and reflected on what they committed to in the grant and how to complete the work assigned to them. 

Animal Expo Day- Public Program- Saturday, Dec. 8th 9:00am to 12:00pm

Come celebrate animals with us as we “show-and-tell’ with many of our resident program animals. You will meet turtles, snakes, birds, fish, raptors, and many more. Explore additional animal artifacts in the Upham Woods nature center. There is no fee for this program. This is an “open house” style event. Family program- All ages welcome!

User Group/Summer Camp Pro Day - A chance to give us your feedback! Join us on January 23-24th. Also includes DOTS training on the 24th. Click here to register!



We are seeking enthusiastic individuals for our school year teaching naturalist and summer staff teams. Contact Max Myers, Program Director, at [email protected] with questions regarding the job opportunities.

Individuals currently looking for positions in the field of environmental education are highly encouraged to apply for the school year position.  Click here for more information. Work available starting January 2019.

Do you know anyone who loves summer camp? Former 4-H camp counselor? Upham Woods has the summer job for you. Join our summer staff team. This is a great opportunity for individuals seeking summer employment who have aged out of the camp counselor role and are looking for a quality summer position. Gain skills in education, youth development and outdoor recreation.  Click here for more information.

               An important milestone in our season transition to winter is the final paddle of the Voyageur Canoe. Because of its size, it needs to be paddled down into the town of the Wisconsin Dells to be loaded onto a trailer for winter storage. Paddling out the voyageur has become an annual tradition at Upham Woods and serves as a great chance to reflect on the year and seasons that have just concluded. 

This year, many staff members and friends of Upham Woods gathered on Monday, November 12 ^th for the annual take out. Although it was a cold day, the effort of paddling was more than enough to keep us warm and in good spirits through our journey. We set out, heading upstream around Blackhawk island and through the narrows before reaching town. As we approached the large rock formations on the northern stretch of Upham Woods, we saw that groundwater flowing through the porous sandstone, causing large icicles to form on many of the overhangs and outcroppings. Paddling out the Devil’s Elbow, we were then “escorted” to the boat landing by a pair of Bald Eagles hoping to take advantage of the more open river water to hunt.

Voyageur Day 2018 was a memorable experience for returners and first timers alike.  And when spring does return, it will be back in the water again ready and waiting to take out the next group of Upham Woods Wisconsin River Explorers.

We may be biased, but we think that the people that come to Upham Woods are some of the funniest, most enthusiastic, interesting people around. But don't take our word for it. Below are the selections for this month's “Heard on the Trail:"

Student: “How do you pick up Igor?"

Staff: “Carefully”

“Stella is a very fun bird to talk to. If you remember that one click means yes and two clicks means no, you can ask her anything” --Upham Woods staff after a bird enclosure cleaning. 

“I just wanted to say that this is the best trip ever, and you are not going to change my mind about that and I’m not sorry”—La Escuela Fratney student

We are thankful for many things-beautiful late fall days, our staff members getting things buttoned up for winter weather and our great November visitors spending time with us here at Upham Woods! Thanks to all who joined us this month:

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