DNR Parks And Recreation News

What’s Happening In Wisconsin’s State Parks, Forests, Trails And Recreation Areas

Get involved and help your local property manage invasive species this weekend! / Photo Credit: Paul Skawinski

Get Involved In Invasive Species Education
And Prevention This Weekend

June is Invasive Species Action Month in Wisconsin, an initiative developed by the Wisconsin Invasive Species Council. This June 21-22, 2025, join in on the second annual Invasive Species Awareness Weekend!

Invasive Species Awareness Weekend aims to raise awareness of the many invasive species that threaten our natural habitats and encourage folks to learn and take action. Events include educational programs, invasive species control events and more.

More than 30 Invasive Species Awareness Weekend events will be held around the state to encourage folks to learn more and take action to protect our state properties from invasive species that threaten our natural habitats.

Volunteers attending fieldwork events are encouraged to wear gloves, closed-toed shoes, long sleeves and pants that can get dirty. Most events will take place outdoors, so attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of sunscreen and water (water refill stations may be available at some events).

You can find an Invasive Species Awareness Weekend event near you on the DNR’s Events calendar, or you can check out the Invasive Species Events and Volunteering webpage for a complete list of events.

Learn more about invasive species in Wisconsin on our Invasive Species webpage. Interested in more ways to volunteer? Below are several additional opportunities!

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Snapshot Day

Join the Water Action Volunteers for their annual statewide AIS Snapshot Day! This volunteer monitoring day will be held on Aug. 9, 2025. Registration is open for anyone interested in getting involved.

State Natural Area Volunteer Opportunities

Do you have a particular State Natural Area that’s close to your heart? Consider joining or starting volunteer workdays on your favorite property! The State Natural Area Volunteer Program webpage has upcoming workdays and more information. 

State Parks Volunteer Opportunities

The Wisconsin State Parks System is celebrating 125 years in 2025. Come celebrate and make a difference in your area by volunteering. Learn more about volunteering in state parks.

Community-Based Monitoring

Surveying and monitoring are key parts of invasive species management and are critical for our rare species. Learn how to get involved with monitoring efforts that interest you.

Tips To Slow The Spread Of Invasive Species

Campers

• Leave firewood at home. Buy it within a 10-mile radius of your campsite.
• Burn all wood during your trip.
• Inspect clothing and equipment for seeds, insects or other attached plant matter before leaving your camping area.

Landowners & Gardeners

• Use native plant species whenever possible.
• Dispose of seeds in the trash.
• Be on the lookout for invasive species.
• Respond aggressively to rid your land of new invasive species.
• Leave native trees and plants alone; natural landscapes offer the best defense.

Hikers, Bikers, ATV Riders & Trail Users

• Clean your clothes, bicycles, ATVs, etc., before leaving a site infested with invasive plants.

Boaters, Paddlers & Anglers

• INSPECT your boat, trailer, and equipment.
• REMOVE any attached aquatic plants or animals (before launching, after loading and transporting on a public highway).
• DRAIN all water from boats, motors and all equipment.
• NEVER MOVE live fish away from a waterbody.
• DISPOSE of unwanted bait in the trash.
• BUY minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer. Use leftover minnows only under certain conditions*

  *You may take leftover minnows away from any state water and use them again on that same water. You may use leftover minnows on other waters only if no lake water, river water or other fish were added to their container.

For more information on how to take action to prevent the spread of invasives, check out our Reporting, Control and Best Management Practices webpages.

Friends Of Wisconsin State Parks

Founded in 1996, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks are committed to preserving, protecting, promoting and enhancing Wisconsin’s state parks, trails, forests and recreation areas. With a network of over 50 local Friends groups representing more than 5,000 individuals across the state, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks provides incredible support to the Wisconsin State Park System.

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks work in collaboration with local Friends groups and the DNR to improve the park experience for the millions of people who visit each year and to ensure that millions more will be able to enjoy Wisconsin’s natural beauty in the future. Since its founding, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks has:

• Coordinated thousands of hours of volunteer efforts.
• Contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars for campground and trail improvements, interpretive displays, naturalist programming and accessibility projects.
• Provided a forum for local Friends groups to solve common problems.
• Served as a voice for educating the public and legislators about issues critical to our state’s outdoor treasures.

This year, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks aims to raise $125,000 to honor the 125th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System! Their website has more about their great work and how to get involved.

Juneteenth Celebration At Pike Lake!

Join us for a celebration of the Juneteenth holiday; we are hosting a fun-filled day with our partner Just Us of Washington County and co-hosts Friends, Inc. and Youth and Family Project.

Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated annually on June 19 in commemoration of the freedom of previously enslaved African-Americans in the United States.

In honor of the other celebrations occurring in the area, the event at the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit is being held on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The Juneteenth celebration will begin at noon.

In addition to the variety of outdoor recreation offerings at the Pike Lake Unit, the family-friendly event will also feature community organizations, a live DJ, games and other activities for visitors of all ages. Food trucks will provide refreshments and other treats available for purchase.

The Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit is located at 3250 Kettle Moraine Road in Hartford, Wisconsin. The property is approximately 30 minutes from the city of Milwaukee. This Juneteenth celebration is open to everyone and there is no fee to attend. A state park and forest vehicle admission pass is required to park at the Pike Lake Unit.

Visit the DNR Events calendar to learn more about the Juneteenth event. Learn more about the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit on the property webpage.

Event Details

What: Pike Lake Juneteenth Celebration
When: June 22, 2025, noon – 5 p.m.
Where: Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit
Amphitheater/North Shelter
3250 Kettle Moraine Road
Hartford, WI

Upcoming Events

There are so many events planned throughout the Wisconsin State Parks System this year, it’s impossible for us to list them all here!

Find events that fit your interests and schedule at a park near you on our DNR Events calendar, updated daily.

Here is one event series we’re especially excited about:

Shakespeare In The Park

Check out our friends at the Summit Players Theater, presenting Shakespeare in the Park for their 2025 season. Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost will visit 17 different Wisconsin state parks this summer for 17 fantastic shows!

All shows and workshops are presented free of charge. Seating is general admission on a first-come, first-served basis. A state park admission pass is required at most locations: view dates, locations and times on the Summit Players Theater website or our Events calendar.

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