February 2021
Upham Woods Partners with UW-Madison on Mellon Foundation Just Futures Initiative
Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center partnered with UW-Madison faculty to submit a proposal to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to develop anti-racist curriculum. The project is led by Professor Elizabeth Hennessy in History Department and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and is called "Humanities Education for Anti-racism Literacy (HEAL) in the Sciences and Medicine." The project will bring together faculty, students, community members, and Tribal partners to elevate Black and Native perspectives and experiences in academic disciplines.

Upham Leads 2021 Professional Development
Upham staff led and participated in a number of professional development opportunities in January. The team is preparing for what the Spring and Summer could look like as we continue to navigate the pandemic.

  • Staff connected with the University of Wisconsin System to prepare for the return of youth summer programs on campuses.
  • Justin Hougham and Isabelle Herde partnered with the Wisconsin Association of Environmental Education and the Wisconsin American Camp Association to lead a training on the North American Association of Environmental Education Guidelines for Excellence highlighting equitable and accessible strategies to programming. Participants developed meaningful action items related to diversity, equity, and inclusion for each key guideline category. For example, when discussing program evaluation, sharing your results or providing multiple avenues and methods to receive feedback increases participation and can engage broader audiences.
  • The Upham Woods team also continues to participate in and lead the Camp Work Group within Extension to provide a collaborative space for colleagues to connect and tackle the challenging camp questions ahead of us. The group meets monthly on the second Friday of each month. 
Research Accelerators Conducts Experiments
The Research Accelerator program converted to a virtual format for many of our school partners this Fall and Winter. Central to the Research Accelerators is conducting field science and experiments. The Upham team has continued to navigate this challenging terrain by leaning into the technology and resources we have available. 

With Escuela Verde field science research team, the students and Upham staff developed a trail camera experiment. The group was curious if Upham's barred owl, Stella, received visitors and wanted to observe how her behavior was different during the day and night. Upham staff went onsite and set up trail cameras inside and outside of Stella's mew. Pictures were then shared with students through Google Drive. Upham staff and students came together again to review the results. Check out their scientific story!

The Upham team also worked with the Doerfler School 6th and 8th graders. We had met with them a few times in December and January and had realized during one of our sessions about reptiles that the students in both classes were very interested in the turtles. The Upham team and students decided that for the last two sessions, we wanted to explore the cold-blooded features of the turtles. Painted Turtles and Box Turtles were removed from their enclosures, had their temperatures taken, and placed in buckets or a bucket of water. Johanna measured the temperature of the turtles at regular intervals throughout the class period and the students made notes about the changes. See their results below!

We have also been working with Maryland Avenue Montessori students who are still in the process of conducting their trail camera experiments remotely at Upham! 

These experiments are only possible thanks to the creativity of our team, the fortitude of the students and teachers we work with and our sponsors who support our work. We have intentionally organized the Research Accelerators to include multiple sessions per class that scaffolds the scientific process through story-sharing and by focusing on a specific portion with each visit culminating in the design and execution of these experiments. 
Winter Sports Camp
Winter Sports Camp has start its annual partnership with Dells/Delton Parks & Recreation. On Wednesdays now through mid-February, our team will be leading youth in winter activities like snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing onsite. We look forward to the programs we will host in partnership again this Spring including Archery Club (April) and Fishing Club (May)! 
New Construction Update
Upcoming Work
  • Double door connection to the main room of the lodge.
  • 2nd floor flooring
  • AV system install
  • IT hardware install
  • Elevator install
Completed Work
  • Plumbing/electrical/HVAC rough-ins
  • 2nd floor drywall
  • Spray foam insulation

Ongoing Work
  • Front porch roof timber framing
  • Roof shingles
  • Exterior siding
  • IT room
  • Mechanical Room
  • 1st floor drywall
Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center
N194 County Rd N
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
(608) 254-6461
Stay Connected
The University of Wisconsin–Madison does not discriminate in its employment practices and programs and activities on a variety of bases including but not limited to: age, color, disability, national origin, race, or sex. For information on all covered bases, the names of the Title IX and Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinators, and the processes for how to file a complaint alleging discrimination, please contact the Office of Compliance, 361 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison WI 53706, Voice 608-265-6018, (relay calls accepted); Email: uwcomplianceoffice@wisc.edu.