Hands on Experiences
Field Trips and Workshops
We help create informed community members by connecting them to their land and water! Field trips and workshops are some of our favorite ways to get our community involved with local science and places.
Past Field Trips and Workshops
Fish Creek Estuary Ed-Venture
Saturday July 19, 2025
Cathy Techtmann, Environmental Outreach State Specialist withthe University of Wisconsin Madison – Division of Extension, will lead a group through a guided tour of Ashland’s Fish Creek Sloughs by boat! She’ll share stories, history, and knowledge of the estuary as we paddle.
Birding in Prentice Park
Friday May 30, 2025
Join us for our first field trip of the season! Local birder Tim Oksiuta will guide us on a birding field trip through Prentice Park. This field trip is part of a series to connect our community to the Fish Creek Sloughs as we get ready to start our Cattail Removal Project.
Nature Journaling with Superior Rivers
Friday April 11, 2026
Join the Superior Rivers Watershed Association’s Education Coordinator Emma Holtan as part of the Washburn Library Get Lit Literature Festival to learn ways to connect writing with nature through nature journaling! Emma will share with participants about the importance of and ways you can enjoy nature through the written word, leading the group through one or two different prompts to connect you to the land and water around you.
Birchbark Star Workshop
November 30, 2024
Learn how to create a birch bark star step by step with local artisan and weaver April Stone, owner of Stone House Weavers. April will instruct through the process of creating a star, all materials provided.
Workshop: Composting for Watershed Health
Thursday August 8, 2024
Join us for a hands-on workshop with Big Lake Organics! We’ll learn about what goes into compost, the soil it creates, how this benefits water health, and how to do it at home.
Elsewhere Farm: Protecting Water Quality through Perennial and No-Till Agriculture
Saturday August 17, 2024
Join us as farmer Clare Hintz leads us on a tour of her farm, Elsewhere Farm. The farm is beautiful, with plenty to see including chickens, pigs, and beautiful plants that promote pollinators. She’ll show us how she uses perennial and no-till agriculture and explain how it benefits water quality.
Homestead History of the Lincoln Community Forest
April 13, 2024
Join the Friends of the Lincoln Community Forest and Superior Rivers Watershed Association for a historical look at our watershed and forest! Gary Johnson, a history buff who grew up in the Town of Lincoln, will share his memories and knowledge about the homestead era and beyond. His stories are fun and informative. We will take a short hike in the Lincoln Community Forest after for those interested (weather permitting).
Hike with a Ranger!
April 20, 2024
With Ariana London, park ranger for the Whittlesey Creek Wildlife Refuge with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Hiking the Northern Great Lakes Visitor’s Center trail system.
20 Mile Creek: A Case Study in Watershed Restoration
May 18, 2024
Tom Doolittle, retired US Fish and Wildlife biologist will lead this field trip with guests, Nate Thomas Fish Biologist with Wisconsin DNR and a US Forest Service Hydrologist. We will explore 20 Mile Creek and the restoration work that has been done to ensure fish passage, mitigate flooding, and make 20 Mile Creek resilient in the face of ongoing challenges facing watersheds in our changing climate.
Foraging Walk
Saturday July 30, 2024
Join us with local forager, Axel Peterman, for this walk to learn about foraging and edible plants. We’ll do a walk along the lakeshore and back through town, ending in the same spot.
Washburn Waterfront Restoration Tour
Sunday July 18, 2024
Join us on a tour of all the great restoration work along Washburn’s waterfront led by Nile Merton who’s a local environmental consultant with Chequamegon Environmental LLC. Nile worked to implement the restoration projects we will visit. He will be accompanied by Washburn’s Assistant City Manager, Tony Janisch, who will give more project history and background.
Master Naturalist
In 2025, we’re co-hosting a Wisconsin Master Naturalist training with the Lake Superior Collaborative. Our Lake Superior focused course will feature many of our partners including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, US Forest Service, Lake Superior Estuarine Research Reserve, and more.