Awesome Trailside Botany Hike with John Bates
/Seventeen people learned trailside botany from John Bates on this awesome hike!
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Seventeen people learned trailside botany from John Bates on this awesome hike!
Click image for an enlarged slideshow…
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.
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.
Decades of research have revealed the physical, emotional, and mental health benefits derived from spending reflective time in nature.
Joan Vorderbruggen shared a powerful message about nature and its effect on people.
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Speaker: Joseph Rohrer, Emeritus Professor of Plant Biology at University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire.
Summary: Like amphibians, mosses are tied to water in ways that conifers and flowering plants are not. Understanding their relationship to water and light is essential as we talk about various moss habitats (forests, fens, backyards) and substrates (forest floor, tree bark, rock). We will look closely at some Madeline Island species and discover that although small, they are not all the same.
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Meet at the Sowl Trailhead, Fire # 3547 North Shore Road
Hiking Guide: Joseph Rohrer, Emeritus Professor of Plant Biology at University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire.
Summary: Hike will focus on various moss habitats (forests, fens) and substrates (forest floor, tree bark, rock). We will look closely at some of Madeline Island’s species.
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Speaker: Emily Stone is a naturalist by birth, training, profession and passion. She holds degrees in outdoor education, geology and field master naturalist. She is director of Cable Natural History Museum.
Summary: A shimmering web of relationships connects everything. Through stories of scientists studying hungry plants, wandering warblers, and ghost pipe’s surprising value, you’ll find that all Beings are endlessly connected in life and beyond death.
Free and Open to the Public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Speaker: Haley Selen, Naturalist at Cable Natural History Museum. Trainer and educator of live animals including raptors, reptiles and amphibians. She is also a specialist in training human family members at home.
Summary: The science of behavior has come a long way since Pavlov’s experiments with salivating dogs. We’ll discover why a bear returns to the same backyard night after night, how raptors learn to stay calm in front of school groups, and the best ways to teach your pets. We’ll even try training each other to see the science in action.
Great program for families!
Free and Open to the Public!
Hike Location: Meet at the North End Forest, Schoolhouse Road Trailhead. Fire #2865 Schoolhouse Road
Leader: Samantha Dobson: naturalist, educator and year long Island resident.
Summary: Our local expert will guide and teach about trees, edible mushrooms and how to find them. Finding mushrooms is not guaranteed but likely.
Free and Open to the Public!
Hike Location: We will choose best hiking site depending on trail conditions. Please check back!
Following the footsteps of outdoor journalist Sarah Morrison, we invite you to embrace the “off the beaten path” of Madeline Island.
MIWP has invested much time, toil and finances to improve our north end trails. Help us celebrate ambitious trail improvements: duck boards, reroutes, trail signage and small bridges.
Join us this fall embracing the wild heart of Madeline! The trails are rustic so good hiking boots and an adventuresome spirit are required.
Free and Open to the Public!
Hike Location: We will choose best hiking site depending on trail conditions. Please check back!
Following the footsteps of outdoor journalist Sarah Morrison, we invite you to embrace the “off the beaten path” of Madeline Island.
MIWP has invested much time, toil and finances to improve our north end trails. Help us celebrate ambitious trail improvements: duck boards, reroutes, trail signage and small bridges.
Join us this fall embracing the wild heart of Madeline! The trails are rustic so good hiking boots and an adventuresome spirit are required.
Free and Open to the Public!
Hike Location: We will choose best hiking site depending on trail conditions. Please check back!
Following the footsteps of outdoor journalist Sarah Morrison, we invite you to embrace the “off the beaten path” of Madeline Island.
MIWP has invested much time, toil and finances to improve our north end trails. Help us celebrate ambitious trail improvements: duck boards, reroutes, trail signage and small bridges.
Join us this fall embracing the wild heart of Madeline! The trails are rustic so good hiking boots and an adventuresome spirit are required.
Free and Open to the Public!
Hike Location: We will choose best hiking site depending on trail conditions. Please check back!
Following the footsteps of outdoor journalist Sarah Morrison, we invite you to embrace the “off the beaten path” of Madeline Island.
MIWP has invested much time, toil and finances to improve our north end trails. Help us celebrate ambitious trail improvements: duck boards, reroutes, trail signage and small bridges.
Join us this fall embracing the wild heart of Madeline! The trails are rustic so good hiking boots and an adventuresome spirit are required.
Free and Open to the Public!
Hike Location: We will choose best hiking site depending on trail conditions. Please check back!
Following the footsteps of outdoor journalist Sarah Morrison, we invite you to embrace the “off the beaten path” of Madeline Island.
MIWP has invested much time, toil and finances to improve our north end trails. Help us celebrate ambitious trail improvements: duck boards, reroutes, trail signage and small bridges.
Join us this fall embracing the wild heart of Madeline! The trails are rustic so good hiking boots and an adventuresome spirit are required.
Free and Open to the Public!
Hike Location: We will choose best hiking site depending on trail conditions. Please check back!
Following the footsteps of outdoor journalist Sarah Morrison, we invite you to embrace the “off the beaten path” of Madeline Island.
MIWP has invested much time, toil and finances to improve our north end trails. Help us celebrate ambitious trail improvements: duck boards, reroutes, trail signage and small bridges.
Join us this fall embracing the wild heart of Madeline! The trails are rustic so good hiking boots and an adventuresome spirit are required.
© 2014 Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve (content and photographs)
PO Box 28
La Pointe, WI 54850
info@miwp.org