For Immediate Release: May 29, 2026
Contact:
Ruth Ann Lee, OHEC Executive Director
ruthann@ohecyes.org
608-358-1708
Growing again this year, the Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo (MOHEE) reached an impressive 5,013 students, teachers, and chaperones. Connecting participants with activities that bring awareness and interest in Wisconsin’s natural resources and Wisconsin’s outdoor heritage MOHEE provides engaging outdoor activities and outdoor skills training with hands-ons opportunities.
Designed to support classroom learning through interactive experiences, MOHEE gives students the chance to engage directly with Wisconsin’s natural resources, conservation efforts, wildlife, and outdoor recreation
with conservation mentors and professionals.
Students participated in educational activity stations where they learned wildlife calling, fishing skills, archery and BB gun safety, fly tying, wildlife identification, trapping, ATV/UTV/Snowmobile safety, forestry concepts, aquatic ecology, fire prevention, fish cleaning, bowfishing, and more. Many activities aligned with science, environmental education, physical education, and career exploration goals schools seek to incorporate into their curriculum.
Teachers and school leaders continue to praise MOHEE for offering students experiences that many classrooms cannot replicate on their own due to cost, staffing, transportation, or access to outdoor equipment and trained instructors.
“Thank you Ruth Ann, and ALL of the station volunteers and grounds crew for your time, effort and passion in putting this event together and sharing the great outdoors with kids across Wisconsin! Our Winneconne 5th graders had an absolute blast once again! I heard nothing but positive feedback from our students, teachers and parent chaperones! While gathering to get the kids back on the buses I heard several comments such as ‘this was the best field trip ever’ and ‘do we have to leave?’ We actually had several students that were riding home with their parent chaperone go back into the event for some extra time at the stations after our buses left! Haha! We already look forward to putting this event on the calendar for next year’s 5th graders! Thank you again for creating such a memorable event!” -Pat Kolbe & Winneconne 5th Grade (2026)
“MOHEE creates opportunities for 4th-7th grade students to learn by doing,” said Ruth Ann Lee, Executive Director of the Wisconsin-based nonprofit Outdoor Heritage Education Center (OHEC), which owns and operates MOHEE. “Teachers tell us their students stay engaged because they are actively participating, asking questions, and trying new things in a positive outdoor environment. We are proud to provide these experiences at no cost to schools.” In an effort to help schools participate despite growing transportation
costs and ongoing bus driver shortages, OHEC also continues to provide transportation stipends with the help of donors.
The original MOHEE event launched in 2014 at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ MacKenzie Center in Poynette with 1,420 participants over two days. OHEC expanded the program to Milwaukee in 2023 at Havenwoods State Forest to increase access for urban schools and students. With support from dozens of sponsors and more than 150 volunteers, OHEC continues to build momentum in coordinating MOHEE annually in both locations.
“OHEC would like to share their gratitude for the many sponsors and organizations that make MOHEE a success,” noted Lee. “These volunteers, professionals, conservation groups and sporting organizations are an integral part of introducing students to safe, lifelong outdoor skills and opportunities while sharing information about future mentored experiences, safety classes and programs.”
Longtime major supporters include the WDNR, Friends of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, Wisconsin Division of the Izaak Walton League of America, National Wild Turkey Federation, Dane County Conservation League, Ducks Unlimited WI, Safari Club International Wisconsin, Badgerland, and Northeast Wisconsin chapters, Wings Over Wisconsin Beaver Dam, Black River Falls, Coulee Region, Denmark, Fox River, Kettle Moraine, Northeast, Ozaukee, and TriCounty chapters, Wisconsin Bowhunters Association, Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, Friends of the MacKenzie Center, Friends of the Poynette Game Farm, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Wisconsin Trappers Association, Wisconsin Hunter Education Instructor Association, Pheasants Forever, NRA Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, plus local sportsmen’s clubs, conservation alliances, businesses, and many individual donors committed to outdoor education and conservation.
Teachers, school administrators, and educational partners interested in participating in the 2027 MOHEE youth events in Milwaukee on May 5 or Poynette on May 12-13 can email ruthann@ohecyes.org for additional information.
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About Outdoor Heritage Education Center OHEC, a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization based in Wisconsin, was founded in 1998 by Mark LaBarbera to connect people and resources to the outdoors. OHEC volunteers and donors have helped launch archery and clay target teams in a number of Wisconsin schools along with scholarships, nature trail signage, and FFA career development. OHEC is an active leader in recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) efforts that fit with its mission to help pass along our outdoor heritage to future generations who are losing touch with the natural world, and to increase the public’s understanding, appreciation, and sense of stewardship for natural resources and related activities like fishing, hunting and other shooting sports. For information about its youth expos, scholarships, Touch of the Wild education trailers, OHEC Mobile Closet, and other conservation and education programs, visit www.OHECyes.org or email questions to ruthann@ohecyes.org.