Team up with Master Naturalist Carrie Frantz to survey bats using high-tech detectors! These devices capture the ultrasonic calls that bats use to communicate.
Conservation in the Parks
Our Conservation in the Parks program is focused on working with our communities to promote environmental stewardship, provide research and educational opportunities, and create healthier natural areas throughout Waukesha County.
Waukesha County has worked to acquire natural areas of regional and statewide ecological significance containing a diversity of ecotypes and rare flora and fauna found within the area.
The natural areas within the park system contain a variety of habitat types including, oak savanna, oak woodland, maple-basswood forest, fens, prairie, southern mesic forest, lowland hardwood swamps, and wetlands.
Effectively protecting and managing these diverse and unique natural resources is important in preserving the ecological integrity and function of these green spaces for the enjoyment of generations to come. Our staff, volunteers, and corporate sponsors work together to restore and monitor the natural areas and species within them throughout the Park System.
Citizen Science Volunteer Opportunities
Help gather data on wildlife species within the Park System to assist in making sure that common species remain common, and that rare, threatened, and endangered species are protected.
Volunteers are trained to help gather and record data in the field. Data helps our staff plan and prioritize their land management and habitat restoration efforts. For some projects, volunteers may work independently or with trained personnel.
- All equipment is provided.
- No prior experience is needed!
Join us for a hands-on invertebrate survey! Assist in monitoring invasive Asian clams.
Stop by The Tap Yard been garden for a bat-tastic presentation by Wisconsin Master Naturalist Caroline Frantz! Learn why bats are vital to our ecosystem, how to spot them, and what you can do to help. Stick around afterward for an optional short hike with acoustic gear to hear the bats in action.
Program is free, but Park entry requires a daily permit or annual membership.
Join our team and invertebrate enthusiasts for a fun, hands-on bumble bee survey! Learn all about these fuzzy pollinators while helping us spot and ID them in the field.
Join us for a hands-on invertebrate survey! Help track dragonflies and damselflies.
Did you know that more than half of Wisconsin's 52 native mussel species are in trouble? Habitat changes and invasive zebra mussel are putting the squeeze on these underwater gems. Join us in the water to help search for these rare freshwater clams!
With 300+ species and 70+ eBird hotspots, Waukesha County is a birder's dream! Join our staff for seasonal bird surveys and help track which feathered friends are calling our Parks home. Perfect for experienced birders.
Join us for a walk in the woods and learn about the mushrooms you see along the way - part of our ongoing efforts to monitor fungi in the Park System!
Do you love birds? You can be one of our volunteers that monitor songbird nest boxes across Waukesha County Parks and greenspaces.
A volunteer visits each box once-a-week from March 15 through September 30. The volunteer determines which species is using it; counts eggs, hatchlings, and fledglings; and performs minor maintenance. There are ten or more boxes per location.
Dress for the weather, as surveys take place outdoors. In poor weather, surveys may be cancelled or rescheduled. Surveys may occasionally wander off-trail into natural areas and tall grass. Close-toed shoes, long pants, water, sunscreen, and bug spray are recommended. For water surveys, wading shoes are recommended and hip waders will be available.
Habitat Restoration Workday:
These volunteer projects are done alongside our park staff at predetermined parks on weekends and select weekdays. Depending on the time of year the focus will be on pulling invasive weeds, cutting invasive woody brush, or tree planting.
Work with our staff and volunteer Site Stewards to remove invasive species from our natural areas. Our habitat restoration workdays have a particular focus on the globally imperiled oak ecosystems that occur within Waukesha County. You can take part in recovering these habitats of regional importance.
What to wear: Dress for the weather (long sleeves and pants are recommended) and wear clothes that are OK to get beat up, closed-toe shoes, gloves (extra will be provided), safety glasses (extra will be provided).
What to bring: Water, sunscreen, bug spray, loppers (optional).
Cancellation or rescheduling plan: If the workday is cancelled, an email will be sent to the address that you RSVP’d from.
Parkland Conservation Fund
Help protect Waukesha County's Natural Areas and Parklands
The Parkland Conservation Fund was created in 2019 to help protect, restore, and enhance greenspaces throughout the Waukesha County Park System. This stewardship fund focuses on wildlife habitat conservation, restoration and improvements to natural areas.
The dedicated fund is an opportunity to invest in local natural resources, public lands and parks for generations to come. Your financial gift will support important projects and will help preserve the diversity of ecotypes found throughout the park system.
Projects are evaluated and selected annually by the County Park System’s Ecology Team.
Donation Information
Make a Donation
Each donation makes a difference and has the option to be recognized with a Certificate of Commitment.
- Stewardship or Tribute Donation: Give an individual gift or a gift to celebrate a special occasion or pay tribute to a friend.
- No Recognition Donation: You would prefer to remain anonymous and/or do not want a Certificate of Commitment
Options to Donate:
- Donate online
- Donate by mail
- Please make checks payable to the Parkland Conservation Fund
- Enclose this completed form with your check.
- If you would like a Certificate of Commitment, please identify what type of wording you would like
Mail completed form and check to:
Waukesha County Park System
515 W. Moreland Blvd., AC 260
Waukesha, WI 53188
Charitable contributions given directly to Waukesha County are tax-deductible under section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Current Projects Supported by Parkland Conservation Fund
Examples include:
- Monches Property Restoration
- Planting a diversity of shrubs and trees along the Oconomowoc River Greenway to reduce pollution from agricultural land and improve water quality. A partnership with the Oconomowoc Watershed Protection Program. Please donate to help us complete the next phases.
- Thanks to the generous donations to the Parkland Conservation Fund and volunteer tree planting events, over 300 trees and shrubs have been added. Approximately 800 more native trees over 16 acres remain!
- Brown's Fen Restoration
- Brown’s Fen is classified by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission as an NA-3 natural areas. NA-3 sites represent native biotic communities judged to have been substantially altered by human activities, but which are of local significance, often containing good wildlife habitat or providing refuge for a number of native plant species which no longer exist in the surrounding area.
- These proposed activities would not only bring the fen back to a more manageable state for our existing staff and volunteers to maintain, but they would improve the hydrological function provided by the fen ecosystem and increase the unique species diversity that is present there.
Citizen Science Data Collection
Enter your data here
Please select the data entry form(s) for your Wildlife Monitoring session.
The data that is collected on wildlife species within the Park System will help staff plan and prioritize land management and habitat restoration efforts.
Thank you for volunteering!
Thank you for being a Frog & Toad Call Monitoring volunteer.
Thank you for being a Macro-Invertebrate Monitoring volunteer.
Thank you for being a Wetland Monitoring volunteer.
Songbird Nest Box Monitoring Data Form
Thank you for being a Songbird Nest Box volunteer.
Wood Duck/Merganster Nest Box Monitoring
Thank you for being a Wood Duck/Merganster Nest Box Monitoring volunteer.
Thank you for volunteering to pull Garlic Mustard.
