For 39 years, MIWP has preserved Island lands, helped manage invasive plants and explored environmental issues important to Island residents. Our 2026 education series invites you to experience and learn the wonders of our natural world. Please join us this summer to hear about our storied wilderness and immerse yourself on this special place that is Madeline Island. All programs are free and open to the public, except the Annual Meeting & Evening Reception. Classes and hikes will be held rain or shine. Programs at the museum theater have a 70-person capacity.
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Free and open to the public!
A hike for beginners and experts alike.
You never know what we are going to see or hear!
Bring binoculars and wear good waterproof footgear.
The Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve is a non-profit land trust dedicated to the protection and preservation of natural areas on Madeline Island. The nature preserve lands are open to the public for hiking, skiing, berry-picking and hunting. MIWP is committed to education and advocacy — each summer we sponsor field trips and evening programs. Madeline Island is adjacent to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on the South Shore of Lake Superior in Wisconsin.
Fabulous fall hike on the north end of Madeline today, October 3rd! Good for people and their dogs. We had 15 people. Participants admired and greatly appreciated all the trail improvements.
It was a fabulous hike on Saturday, with 31 people joining Samantha Dobson seeking mushrooms. Since it has not rained in a while, there weren’t many mushrooms but we all had a good time on a beautiful day on the North End trails.
The Big Bang, evolution, natural selection, population dynamics, adaptations, reproductive strategies, animal behavior, wildlife management— we learned Wildlife Ecology 101 in 50 minutes through the comic lens of Far Side, Calvin and Hobbs, and others!
Great first MIWP Wednesday Evening lecture at the museum! We learned a lot about dragonflies at the July 1 lecture at the museum, and even more from answers to the questions after the presentation!
Geology, ecology, botany, biology and people all came together for a fantastic master naturalist class on Madeline Island.
The class was a fantastic three days of immersion into the geology, plant life and hydrology of Madeline Island: from billion year old rocks and sea caves — to carnivorous plants, mosses, birds and trees — with daily teachings of indigenous wisdom. We learned that earth is a living entity intertwined with the human soul.
Our 2026 Annual Meeting SOLD OUT early! The catering table was a work of art, the guests enjoyed catching up with friends and meeting new people, and the guest lecturer Jeff Rennicke gave an inspiring presentation to an enthusiastic audience. We are now prepared to go out into our favorite familiar landscapes with new eyes every time! Thanks again to Madeline Island School of the Arts for a perfect venue. Click image or Read more to see the pictures.
We have an exciting lineup of events, lectures and hikes coming this season!
Go to the Coming Events page for more information.
Free and Open to the Public!
Meet at the Big Bay Town Park Pavilion.
A hike for beginners and experts alike.
You never know what we are going to see or hear!
Bring binoculars and wear good waterproof footgear.
© 2014 Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve (content and photographs)
PO Box 28
La Pointe, WI 54850
info@miwp.org
