Find: a natural area by name.

Locate: a natural area by county.

Explore outdoors: and find places to go.

Use our interactive map: to find natural areas.

Volunteer: and help care for SNAs.

Related links

I work in an industrial setting that does not inspire and reward me in the way these volunteer opportunities do. I get to learn things that I can apply to my own land. I've enjoyed meeting people who share my enthusiasm for restoration of our land. I've also been shown some prairie remnants in our SNAs that I never would have realized were still in existence. It's like finding treasure for me.
—Zach, SNA volunteer

Contact information: For information on the SNA Volunteer Program, contact:; Jared Urban
Volunteer coordinator
608-228-4349

State Natural Areas (SNAs) Volunteer Program

Help us care for some of our state's most pristine public lands – State Natural Areas. Encourage native plant and animal communities to thrive by cutting brush, pulling and spraying invasives, collecting seeds, monitoring rare species and preparing fire breaks. Show up for a day or become a steward responsible for all volunteer activities at a SNA – any level of participation is encouraged. No experience is necessary to start volunteering.

Join us at a workday

Workdays are one of the main ways volunteers accomplish tasks. They occur throughout the year at different SNAs. They are a great way to get some exercise, have fun, learn something new and see if you’ve got what it takes to enjoy restoration. Come join us for a workday to see for yourself.

Thumbnails link to larger images.

Displaying seeds collected from Ridgeway Pine

Large group of volunteers working at Kettle Moraine Oak Opening SNA

Highlighted workdays - Southern Wisconsin Travelling Seed Crew

Enjoy the simple act of seed collecting, a little adventure, and being outside. We will meet near Madison and carpool around southern Wisconsin (often 1 hour from Madison) to collect seed for ongoing restoration projects on important State Natural Areas. This is a great activity for new or experienced seed collectors with the chance to learn about and see new sites. On the 4th Wednesday of the month (except September is on the 4th Friday), more details [PDF].

Volunteer workday calendar
Date	Property	County	Activities
10/10/2019	Maiden Rock Bluff	Pepin	Seed collecting
10/11/2019	Ridgeway Pine Relict	Iowa	Seed collecting
10/12/2019	Hogback Prairie	Crawford	Seed collecting
10/12/2019	Kettle Moraine Oak Opening	Jefferson	Seed collecting
10/13/2019	Parfreys Glen	Sauk	Brush
10/16/2019	Rocky Run	Columbia	Seed collecting
10/19/2019	Council Grounds State Park	Lincoln	Honeysuckle cutting
10/19/2019	Chiwaukee Prairie	Kenosha	Brush, invasives
10/19/2019	Hogback Prairie	Crawford	Seed collecting
10/19/2019	York Prairie	Green	Seed collecting
10/20/2019	Centennial Bedrock Glade	Polk	Brush
10/23/2019	Empire Prairie	Dane	Seed collecting
10/24/2019	Bluff Creek	Walworth	Brush, seed collecting
10/26/2019	Sugar River Wetlands	Dane	Seed collecting, brush
11/03/2019	Centennial Bedrock Glade	Polk	Brush
11/08/2019	Ridgeway Pine Relict	Iowa	Brush
11/14/2019	Maiden Rock Bluff	Pepin	Brush
11/16/2019	Chiwaukee Prairie	Kenosha	Brush
11/16/2019	York Prairie	Dane	Brush
11/20/2019	Rocky Run Oak Savanna	Columbia	Brush
12/07/2019	Sugar River Wetlands	Dane	Seed sowing, brush

Receive email updates on upcoming workdays

We have divided the state into volunteer regions. Receive email updates on upcoming volunteer workdays in the region. Sign up for as many regions as you'd like.