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, more details [PDF].

Volunteer workday calendar
Date	Property	County	Activities
08/08/2019	Maiden Rock Bluff	Pepin	Seeds
08/09/2019	Ridgeway Pine Relict	Iowa	Seeds
08/10/2019	Bluff Creek	Walworth	Phragmites and seed
08/14/2019	Orion Mussel Beds	Richland	Brambles
08/17/2019	Chiwaukee Prairie	Kenosha	Weeds
08/17/2019	York Prairie	Dane	Seeds, brush, weeds
08/18/2019	Centennial Bedrock Glade	Polk	Brush
08/21/2019	Rocky Run Oak Savanna	Columbia	Seeds
08/22/2019	Kettle Moraine Oak Opening	Walworth	Seed and brush
08/24/2019	Sugar River Wetlands	Dane	Seed collecting
08/28/2019	Mazomanie Oak Barrens	Dane	Seeds
09/07/2019	Waubesa Wetlands	Dane	Seed and brush
09/11/2019	Orion Mussel Beds	Richland	Brambles
09/12/2019	Maiden Rock Bluff	Pepin	Seed
09/13/2019	Ridgeway Pine Relict	Iowa	Seed
09/14/2019	Sugar River Wetlands	Dane	Seed
09/14/2019	Johnson Lake Barrens and Springs	Vilas	Honeysuckle
09/18/2019	Rocky Run	Columbia	Seed
09/21/2019	Chiwaukee Prairie	Kenosha	Weeds
09/21/2019	York Prairie	Green	Seed and brush
09/22/2019	Centennial Bedrock Glade	Pepin	Brush
09/25/2019	Dewey Heights Prairie	Grant	Seed

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.