Valley Stewardship Network

06/17/2026

Our friends at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge have a lot going on this summer!

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge invites you to enjoy the beauty of summer by joining in on one of these events.

A Visit They’ll Never Forget from a LIVE Eagle Ambassador!
Enjoy a Live Eagle Program. A naturalist from the National Eagle Center will provide an engaging and entertaining presentation. Get a unique look at how we care for the National Eagle Center’s ambassadors! You have not experienced the true beauty of an eagle until you’ve met one face-to-face. Get to know our eagle ambassadors. The program is approximately 45 minutes in length and features a live eagle ambassador!
When: Saturday June 13, 2026, 6:30 pm
Where: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
*This program is sponsored by the Friends of Trempealeau Refuge.
*The National Eagle Center from Wabasha, MN will be doing a presentation at the Outdoor Wonders Learning Center.

Family Archery Program
Would you like to practice a new skill? Come join us in this fun and informative course and spend a morning learning the archery basics. This course is for the whole family, allowing beginners to build their skills, is a basic introduction to
When: Friday July 10, 2026, 9:00 am
Where: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
*Equipment will be provided for all the participants.
*Spaces are limited and reservations are required.
*Participants must be at least 8 years old.

Summer Storytime at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
Storytime at the refuge, sounds super fun! We have partnered together with the Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library to join the "Unearth a Story" Summer Library Program. The statewide Summer Library Program focuses on discovery, dinosaurs, nature, and community. Join us as we read, ‘Skunk's Spring Surprise’ by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. We will be incorporating music and movement and will also have an activity for participants to learn about skunks. Participants will have the opportunity of touching a skunk pelt and seeing a skunk skull.
When: Friday July 17, 2026, 10:00 am
Where: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
* This program occurs at the Outdoor Wonders Learning Center.

Monarch Butterfly Journey
Have you heard about the amazing and perilous journey of the Monarch butterfly? Hundreds of Monarch butterflies travel through Wisconsin each year on their way to spend the cold months of winter in Mexico. Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge is a great stopping point for these small creatures. Come out and help tag Monarchs. Your assistance in the tagging process will help track the migration down to Mexico. Stop in at the refuge contact station during the designated days and times to get your equipment and instructions from a Refuge Ranger, then head out to the designated field to catch Monarchs. Participants must bring back Monarchs to the Contact Station to be tagged by a Refuge Ranger.
When: August Thu. 20, Fri. 21, Sat. 22 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
August Thu. 27, Fri. 28, Sat. 29 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
September Thu. 3, Fri. 4, Sat. 5 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
*Nets, butterfly ID guides and butterfly cages will be provided.
*Groups of more than 6 people must call ahead to be accommodated.

Purple Loosestrife Presentation
Join Mara Lince, Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator of Golden Sands RC&D, to learn more about Wisconsin’s statewide purple loosestrife biocontrol program. During this program, you will learn about the history of purple loosestrife biocontrol in Wisconsin, how to identify both the plant and the Galerucella beetle, and how biocontrol success is monitored. Before Mara's presentation we will head out for a short hike, participants will have the opportunity to search for beetles on the refuge.
When: Friday August 28, 2026, 5:30 pm
Where: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
* This program will start at the Outdoor Wonders Learning Center.
*Spaces are limited and reservations are required. Please call the contact station to reserve your spot.

Photo: Monarch butterfly feeding on nectar from a flower by Jean Bohlinger

06/16/2026

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released a draft regional master plan for the Western Coulees and Ridges, covering hundreds of public lands across western Wisconsin, and they are accepting public comments through July 2026.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GHW99SW

The plan will guide long-term decisions on recreation access, habitat restoration, forestry practices, and future improvements to parks, trails, and wildlife areas. Because it sets management direction for decades, this is a key opportunity for residents, outdoor users, and local stakeholders to weigh in on priorities from conservation and water quality to trail expansion and public access. If you care about how these landscapes are used and protected, now is the time to review the draft and submit feedback.

More Info: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fl/PropertyPlanning/WesternCouleesAndRidges

06/16/2026

06/16/2026

That's a lot of garlic mustard!

This spring, Mississippi Valley Conservancy staff, interns, and dedicated volunteers removed 2,380 pounds of invasive garlic mustard from protected lands across the Driftless Area.

That's roughly the weight of a full-grown bison or a small car!

After pulling, the plants were sealed in black garbage bags where they were left to "cook" in the sun, ensuring the plants and any developing seeds were dead before being taken to the landfill to avoid causing more spread of these nasty plants.

Left behind after all of this work is a healthier habitat for native wildflowers, trees, pollinators, and wildlife. Thank you to everyone who spent time helping protect these special places close to home.

Garlic mustard season is done, but there are still plenty of ways to volunteer at our nature preserves. Visit MississippiValleyConservancy.org/events to find the complete list of activities!

06/15/2026

Will you be at the NACCR 2026 conference in Milwaukee this July?

If so, join us for a free, one-day interactive workshop: Community Conservation in Theory and Practice

📅 July 12, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
💲 Free
👥 Limited to 20 participants

Whether you're a student, early-career professional, conservation practitioner, or simply curious about how communities can play a vital role in protecting biodiversity, this hands-on course will provide both theory and practical skills.

Together, we'll explore:

✅ The foundations of community conservation
✅ Why community-driven conservation works
✅ Real-world examples from around the globe
✅ How to build meaningful partnerships with communities
✅ How to co-design conservation projects that create lasting impact

Participants will also have the opportunity to develop and workshop their own conservation project ideas.

The course will be led by Dr. Teri Allendorf, Executive Director of Community Conservation.

Space is limited to ensure an interactive learning experience.

More information can be found here: https://scbnorthamerica.org/index.php/naccr-2026-workshops-short-courses/ -id-4

06/12/2026

Only 3 weeks before registration closes on our Kickapoo Valley Field Trip! Open until June 30, families can sign up to join McIntosh Memorial Library on a field trip to the Kickapoo Valley Reservation on Thursday, August 13. Open to ages 8+, participants will get to go on a field and nature hike, alongside learn survival skills like how to build a fire and create a shelter in nature. For all registrants, bussing and tickets are provided! We are also seeking 2-3 additional adults who would be able to join library staff as chaperones. Hope to see you there!

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

🦋🐛 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲'𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹: 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 🐛🦋
Big Wings - Big Impact!
The Tiger Swallowtail is a symbol of summer in Wisconsin and one of our largest butterflies. These big-winged beauties rely on clean, healthy waterways to thrive. From the trees along our rivers to the native plants near our lakes, water quality shapes the habitats they depend on.
💧𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀.💧

06/09/2026

Join Valley Stewardship Network for an on-farm dinner fundraiser at Willow Creek Ranch on the evening of Friday, June 19. Tickets include a three-course meal and an optional pre-dinner pasture walk by regenerative farmer Rod Ofte, including info from Valley Stewardship Network about on-farm ecological monitoring. With a live performance from local musicians Sweet Milk and Peaches, this event also features fresh local products from Harmony Valley Farms, Driftless Mycology, Nordic Creamery, Little Bird Plants, Organic Valley, Pearl Street Brewery and more!

Tickets can be found here https://www.tixtree.com/e/vsn-june-2026-pasture-walk-and-dinner-376e10ebeeec?fbclid=IwY2xjawSVGsxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFYcDQzRVEzOXBtaFZMSW9Hc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHp8x5TtGsLYlWuOdRRmgkqMAcfZiUwJUndaPFtdMTly0OLczodz5JgL2hX1u_aem_fVRQ9d0WOIyUYMCFnqVUVw

For additional information, email us at [email protected] or call 608-637-3615