3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat
Wisconsin's Green Fire, January 16, 2025


Students and professionals at our the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat
For the third year, we collaborated with the UW-Oshkosh Student Environmental Action Coalition (UWO-SEAC) to host the Wisconsin Conservation Retreat for students and professionals. We gathered at Lowenwood (the former Conserve School) in Land O’Lakes for networking, skill-building, and fun winter activities! The forests and lakes of the Northwoods, coated with fresh light snow, were the perfect setting for our event January 8-10, 2025.
- The mission of the UWO-SEAC is to encourage and engage members of the University of Wisconsin to take steps toward a more sustainable environment. SEAC provides opportunities to become involved in the community and become leaders.
- At Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF), we feel strong alignment with UWO-SEAC’s mission and our goals at WGF to support and engage the next generation of conservationists.
- We’re proud to offer complimentary memberships in Wisconsin’s Green Fire to all students!
- Become a student member here: Student Membership Form
- We’re proud to offer complimentary memberships in Wisconsin’s Green Fire to all students!
Building Connections in Conservation Careers:
At Wisconsin’s Green Fire, one of our main roles during the retreat is building connections between students and conservation professionals. We are proud, grateful, and energized by the many conversations between attendees at the retreat. We encourage attendees to contact us to continue building on these connections!
This year, we led two versions of our Conservation Policy Storytelling session, led by WGF’s Communications Coordinator Carolyn Pralle, featuring WGF’s Dolly Ledin, Nancy Larson, Bruce Neeb and Bob Martini. We also led a Conservation Career Panel and Networking session. Our featured panelists during the networking session were:
- Jeb Barzen, Wildlife Ecologist, Private Lands Conservation LLC
- Katie Hein, Aquatic Research Scientist at UW-Madison’s Trout Lake Station
- Carly Lapin, North-Central Wisconsin District Ecologist for the WDNR’s Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation
- Bruce Neeb, WGF volunteer, retired from WDNR Information & Education and Grants & Loans Programs
- Casey Baye, Property Manager for the Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area under the WDNR Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Division
About the Retreat:
The Wisconsin Conservation Retreat is tailored for college students in Wisconsin who are passionate about conservation initiatives and want to gain insights on careers, education, and communication strategies. The event featured a dedicated networking session with conservation professionals and an opportunity to earn certification in Project WET (which comes with a book of water activities). Attendees participated in environmental discussions, winter limnology, conservation policy storytelling, team building activities, conservation games, and interpretive trail adventures. While snow wasn’t deep enough for snowshoeing, the trails were perfect for hiking and cross-country skiing during the day and under the stars. The lake ice made for excellent ice skating, too!
Affordability is an important part of the Wisconsin Conservation Retreat. The event is largely organized by volunteers at UWO-SEAC and WGF. This year, the options were:
- Professional rate: $140 for 2 nights, $100 for 1 night
- Student rate: $95 for 2 nights and $60 for 1 night
- Fees included all lodging and meals. We work in teams throughout the retreat to cook and clean.
Gallery of Photos from the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, Jan. 8-10, 2025
- Students and professionals at our the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Dolly Ledin of WGF leads part of our Conservation Policy Storytelling Session at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Dreaming Together during the Conservation Policy Storytelling Session at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Enjoying the bonfire at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Hiking on the lake at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Panel of Conservation Professionals at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Conservation Professionals Panelists and attendees at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Networking at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Networking at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Networking at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Touring the Green Machine at Lowenwood’s water treatment facilities during the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Crowning Margeaux the winner of Conservation Trivia at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025
- Bob Martini of WGF leads part of our Conservation Policy Storytelling at the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025