Wetland Community Gatherings
Connect with wetland enthusiasts like you, meet Wisconsin Wetlands Association members, staff, and board, and celebrate wetlands!
To protect wetlands, we need a vibrant and active community of people who care deeply about these places.
That’s why one of Wisconsin Wetlands Association’s top priorities is to enhance engagement with our members, create opportunities for members to engage with one another, and welcome new people into this mighty community. Our goal is to foster more meaningful interaction between our members and among the broader wetland community. Together, we can cultivate a powerful network of advocates and experts who speak up for Wisconsin’s wetlands.
So join us at a wetland community gathering! We invite all WWA members and others who love wetlands to attend any of these events.
If you’re interested in collaborating with Wisconsin Wetlands Association to organize a gathering in your community, reach out to programs@wisconsinwetlands.org to learn more. A successful event needs local leadership.
Cable, WI: Bibon Swamp Paddling Adventure with the Cable Natural History Museum
July 29, 2026 (Wednesday)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Description
Join us on a paddling tour through northern Wisconsin’s Bibon Swamp State Natural Area. You’ll learn how this 10,000 acre wetland helps protect downstream areas from floods, cleans and cools the waters of the White River, and hosts migratory and resident wildlife, trout, orchids, and more! This is a rare opportunity to explore deep into one of the most diverse and intact large wetland systems in Wisconsin guided by experts from the Wisconsin Wetlands Association and the Museum. Participants must bring your own canoe/kayak. You don’t have to be a certified Master Naturalist to participate! Any adult learners are welcome. For more info visit cablemuseum.org or call the Cable Natural History Museum at 715-798-3890. Register by: July 22. Cost: $35 CNHM member/$45 non-member.
Eau Claire, WI: Gathering at The Brewing Projekt
August 17, 2026 (Monday)
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Supported by:
Description
Celebrate wetlands and wetland enthusiasts at a special social gathering at The Brewing Projekt in Eau Claire! Engage with other wetland enthusiasts and help build the community working together to protect and restore Wisconsin’s wetlands.
The Brewing Projekt’s taproom is a gathering place for friends, families, and strangers who are on the hunt for fresh, interesting, and innovative beverages. Our official motto is “stubbornly crafted beer.” The Taproom is family-friendly, as long as everyone is well-behaved. Weather permitting, we can hang out on their lovely outdoor patio. We’ll provide some basic snacks (special thanks to the Menomonie Food Co-op for donating an appetizer tray!), and you are welcome to bring take-out from local establishments or carry in your own eats. Thanks to support from our event sponsor Dahlby Conservation Services, Wisconsin Wetlands Association will host beer and non-alcoholic beverages while supplies last.
Your RSVP will help us plan for the crowd—but you are welcome to attend even if you don’t RSVP. Bring your friends, neighbors, and family!
Madison, WI: Wetland Community Gathering and Cheese Raffle at the Northside Lounge
August 19, 2026 (Wednesday)
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Raffle begins at 6:30 pm
Description
Celebrate wetlands and win some cheese in Madison, WI! The Northside Lounge is hosting it’s monthly cheese raffle with proceeds going to Wisconsin Wetlands Association. Engage with other wetland enthusiasts, buy a raffle ticket, and help build the community working together to protect and restore Wisconsin’s wetlands.
The cheese raffle begins at 6:30, but we encourage you to arrive early, grab a drink, and engage with other wetland enthusiasts and Wisconsin Wetlands Association staff before it begins. Raffle tickets are $2 a piece for six rounds of fun!
The Northside Lounge is a charming Northside-Madison gem with eight rotating taps, a variety of canned and bottled options, and handcrafted cocktails (including spirit-free options!). The bar doesn’t serve food, but it does encourage visitors to order takeout from nearby restaurants.
Your RSVP will help us plan for the crowd—but you are welcome to attend even if you don’t RSVP. Bring your friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family!
Williams Bay, WI: Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy Tours AND Gathering at the Green Grocer
August 29, 2026 (Saturday)
Longer Tour: 10:15 – 11:45 AM
Shorter Boardwalk Tour: 11:00 – 11:45 AM (accessible)
Gathering/Social at the Green Grocer: 12:00 – 2:00 PM
Description
This two-part event invites you to connect with nature and community—you’re welcome to attend either field trip, the gathering, or both:
FIELD TRIPS – two choices!
- 10:15 – 11:45 AM | Longer walking tour of the Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy
Enjoy this remarkable restoration initiative on the largest undeveloped watershed of Geneva Lake, protecting its crystal clear waters. This longer hike will traverse the diverse landscapes of the 231-acre Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy. No bathrooms at hike location. Leaders: Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy volunteers and Wisconsin Wetlands Association staff. Hike about 2 miles on mowed trails that could be wet or muddy. Detailed meeting location and other trip information will be provided to registrants about a week before the hike. - 11:00 – 11:45 AM | Short walking tour on the accessible Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy boardwalk
This short hike will traverse the accessible lakefront boardwalk of Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy and will connect with the Geneva Lake shore path along the Williams Bay lakefront. Leaders: Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy volunteers and Wisconsin Wetlands Association staff. No bathrooms at hike location, but they are available in the adjacent town center. Detailed meeting location and other trip information will be provided to registrants about a week before the hike.
COMMUNITY GATHERING
- 12:00 – 2:00 PM | Gathering at The Green Grocer in Williams Bay
The Green Grocer: 77 N Walworth Ave, Williams Bay, WI 53191
Whether or not you attend one of the Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy tours, you are invited to gather with other wetland enthusiasts and Wisconsin Wetlands Association members at The Green Grocer, a boutique organic deli, grocery store, and expansive bar serving beer, wine, and spirits. Weather-permitting, we’ll enjoy the rooftop patio with a view of Geneva Lake and Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Superior, WI: Wetland Community Gathering at The Spirit Room
September 13, 2025 (Sunday)
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Description
Celebrate wetlands and wetland enthusiasts at a special social gathering at The Spirit Room in Superior! Engage with other wetland enthusiasts and help build the community working together to protect and restore Wisconsin’s wetlands.
The Spirit Room is a creative cocktail and mocktail lounge located inside Superior’s old City Hall. We have the whole place to ourselves for this gathering, as usually they aren’t even open on Sundays! Weather permitting, we can hang out on their lovely outdoor patio. We’ll provide some basic snacks, and you are welcome to bring take-out from local establishments or carry in your eats. Stay tuned for info about a possible special wetland cocktail (!!).
Your RSVP will help us plan for the crowd—but you are welcome to attend even if you don’t RSVP. Bring your friends, neighbors, and family!