Tag: continuing education

Summer Plant ID and Management

July 18 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm & 4:15 pm – 7:15 pm

Summer Plant ID and Management Daytime and Evening Options

Get to know native and non native plant species in their natural settings and leave with a good understanding of how to and how not to manage them. In this short half day course students will tour Riveredge’s high quality and low quality habitats alongside Matt Smith. Matt serves Riveredge as the Director of Research and Conservation. He has over 22 years of experience as a restoration ecologist and is the primary manager for this project responsible for monitoring, project implementation and reporting. He has worked throughout the great lakes region as both a technician, project manager, and consultant on projects small and large scale covering a wide range of disturbance and habitat type. These classes are rain or shine, please dress accordingly.

Choose the class time that works best for you: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm or 4:15 pm – 7:15 pm.

Ages 14+ | Member: $30 | Non-member: $35
Pre-registration is not required, but highly recommended.

Register Here

*MEMBERS: Riveredge has a new registration system. Please login (for the member discount) by following these instructions.

Members:

Follow the instructions using the button below to login to your member account for member discounts on programs and events. You can use this login to check your membership status, see your expiration date, and renew your membership as well.

If you don’t see the member price after logging in, need help checking your membership status, or you are unsure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us or call the Riveredge office at 262-375-2715.

To become a member, click here

How to Register as a Member
Cancellation Policies

July 18, 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 7:15 pm

Riveredge Nature Center

4458 County Hwy Y
Saukville, WI United States + Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Willow ID with Zach Kron

June 6 @ 9:00 am – 2:30 pm

Willow ID with Zach Kron

Expand your restoration skillsets by getting past the genus Salix to further your understanding of willow species identification and their habitat needs. Follow Zach Kron and Matt Smith into off-trail areas of Riveredge’s uncommon habitats to find willow populations, identify species and discuss management. We will start our day in the lab to review herbarium specimens and end it in the field.

Dress for all forecasted weather, bring your knee-high boots, and pack a lunch!

Ages 18+ | Member: $45 | Non-member: $55
Pre-register by June 4 at 11:55 pm.

Register Here

*MEMBERS: Riveredge has a new registration system. Please login (for the member discount) by following these instructions.

Members:

Follow the instructions using the button below to login to your member account for member discounts on programs and events. You can use this login to check your membership status, see your expiration date, and renew your membership as well.

If you don’t see the member price after logging in, need help checking your membership status, or you are unsure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us or call the Riveredge office at 262-375-2715.

To become a member, click here

How to Register as a Member
Cancellation Policies

June 6, 2025 @ 9:00 am – 2:30 pm

Riveredge Nature Center

4458 County Hwy Y
Saukville, WI United States + Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Riveredge Bioblitz

July 12 @ 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Riveredge Bioblitz

Riveredge welcomes all to our first annual Bioblitz at the new Riveredge Sandhill Property! (Sandhill is located @  4630 St.Finbars Road, Saukville, WI 53080  – park on the East side of St. Finbars Road.)

The Bioblitz is a free event where participants actively contribute to the historic monitoring and inventory of plants, birds, insects, fish and more within a fixed acreage of land and water. We’ll use photo documentation and data collection with the easy-to-use iNaturalist app. (If you’re new to iNaturalist, we’ll show you how to use it.) See below for a guide to the day–come for all or just drop in for your favorite activity.

GUIDE TO THE DAY

Anytime 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | Registration and App Orientation (Downloading iNaturalist on your phone is the first step to contributing to this citizen science community effort. We will be on-hand to give you a short tutorial to the app if you haven’t used it before! If you would like your observations to count towards this BioBlitz, you will join the Riveredge Bioblitz through the iNaturalist application on your smart device.) Our Registration and App Orientation Table will be located on the trailhead into Sandhill and open from 8:00am to 3:00pm.

Anytime 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | Bioblitz! (Once registered, simply use the app to help you identify and record everything from grass, flowers, insects, trees, birds and mammals!  Your contributions will be added to our total species list, help to inform management, and track change over time. 

8:00 am – 12:00 pm | Songbird Capture and Banding Research Observation (Mist-nets and a banding table will be set up with an ability to approach and engage researchers recording data and banding wild songbirds. The Riveredge Research Manager Jana Gedymin will lead this effort.  Jana is a Master Bander certified through the Institute for Bird Populations)

9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm | Tour Woody Plant Identification and Community Orchard Demonstration Area (Matt Smith, research and conservation director, will lead groups on a tour of wild native woody plants and the native agroforestry plantings Riveredge has established with the Savanna Institute and Great Lakes Protection Fund.  Matt has been a restoration ecologist for the last 24 years and is well-versed in teaching native species identification and ecology.  Tours will be 30 minutes long and run on the hour at 9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm

8:30am, 9:30am, 11:30 am, 1:30pm | Tour Birding by Sight and Song (Nathaniel Reinartz, conservation manager, will lead groups on an educational hike to discover the area’s songbirds by sight and song.  Nathaniel is a professional atlaser and bioacoustic technician that annually monitors birds in their habitats, conducts Wisconsin breeding bird atlas field surveys, and speciates birds through audio recordings and spectrograph analysis.  Nathaniel also leads the Friday morning bird walks at Riveredge.  If you don’t have binoculars we have enough to lend for the tour 🙂  Tours will be 45 minutes long and run at: 8:30am, 9:30am, 11:30 am, 1:30pm  

8:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Interactive Youth Activity Table (Riveredge Environmental Educators will host fun nature-based activities t<hroughout the day in the shade)

 

All ages welcome | Children must be accompanied by an adult
This event is free for everyone!
Pre-registration is not required, but highly recommended so you can be notified of any changes due to weather.

Register Here

View or print the instructions for the iNaturalist app ahead of time by clicking the green button below!

Instruction Sheet for Getting Started with iNaturalist

July 12, 2025 @ 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM November 15, 2025

Student Research Symposium 2025

Saturday, November 15 2025 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Accepting abstracts for poster and oral presentations through October 24!

We are excited to showcase new academic talent! Uncover insights into the natural world and support the next generation of scholars by attending the Student Research Symposium on November 15th. Undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities in our region will present their research with posters and oral presentations. The day includes a keynote from a distinguished speaker and a catered lunch. Come for all or part of the day.

There will be cash prizes up to $300 awarded for the best oral and poster presentations. Plus, all student presenters will receive a FREE Riveredge Membership just for participating!

Student Presenter: Free! Abstracts submission deadline extended to October 24th.
Current Student Non-presenter: Free
Supporter by November 10: $5
Supporter after November 10: $7
Children under 12: Free (must be accompanied by an adult)
All registrations include a catered lunch! Please indicate dietary restrictions/allergies on the registration form.

Student Presenters – Submit Your Abstract Here by Oct 24th
Supporters & Presenters – Register Here
High School Groups – Register Here
a college student giving a presentation in a Riveredge classroom

Call for Student Presenters!

How to submit your abstract:

We invite college students to submit an abstract of a current or recent year’s research project to present in oral or poster form at our Student Research Symposium. Submissions are welcome in the categories of biology, environmental science, chemistry, geology, and other sciences. The abstract submission deadline has been extended to October 24th! There will be cash prizes up to $300 awarded for the best oral and poster presentations. Plus, all presenters will receive a FREE Riveredge Membership just for participating!

Submit Your Abstract Here by Oct 24
Register Here After Submitting Your Abstract

Please see below for important presentation information.

Presentation Information for Student Presenters

Poster Presentation

  • Posters should be a maximum size of 44″ X 36″
  • We will have a tripod easel and poster board set up for you. Posters will be attached to the display boards using binder clips that will be provided.
  • Poster set-up will be 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 15th, 2025 (the morning of the event).
  • Alternativity, students are welcome to drop off their posters to Riveredge Nature Center weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. before November, 15th.
  • Presenters should be available to discuss their posters at the event during the poster session (time TBD)


Oral Presentation

  • Presentations are scheduled for a 15 minute block (10-12 minute presentation with an additional 3-5 minutes for a question-and-answer period).
  • Sessions will be moderated and the time limit enforced.
  • Computers attached to digital projectors will be equipped with USB ports for flash drives. It is best to have multiple copies of your presentation saved in the cloud and on physical media. All rooms will be equipped with a computer, projector, and screen.
  • If additional equipment, including audio, is needed, please indicate this when you submit your abstract.


Keynote Speaker

Marissa Jablonski, PhD
Executive Director, Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin

Dr. Marissa Jablonski is the executive director of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. She is an accomplished water engineer, environmental advisor, and plastics-reduction expert who has worked in more than 45 countries on Earth. Her way of understanding and engaging in complex interactions between human beings and environmental systems, combined with her skills in storytelling and systems processes, make her a much sought after consultant and public speaker.

Marissa lives her life as part of a global community. She is a founding member and mentor to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student chapter of Engineers Without Borders, and advises on the design and implementation of projects in Guatemala. She also serves as International Coordinator of a Guatemalan-led NGO that builds infrastructure with indigenous communities’ to meet the needs of five groups involved in each project.

Marissa Jablonski headshot

After earning a PhD in Environmental Engineering and serving as an instructor of Peacebuilding, Engineering, and Physics at numerous institutions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin she moved to Washington, DC to work in policy. During her time as a 2017-19 AAAS Science Technology and Policy Fellow at USAID, she was both a Public Diplomacy Fellow in the Office of American Schools and Hospitals Abroad and also an Environmental Advisor to the Office of Food For Peace. During this time, she was also asked by the US Embassy of Thailand and the Phuket Hotels Association to serve as an Embassy Science Fellow to design and lead a 5-point model to help reduce their single-use plastics by more than 6 million in 2018.

Marissa is an advocate for minorities and women in STEM fields and served as coordinator of NSF’s FORTE program during 2009-2015. During that time, she also designed an internationally recognized project that engaged with informal dye industries in rural India to affordably clean their wastewater. Marissa’s innovative outlook on research, business, and life has won her many awards and praise from groups that include the National Science Foundation, Philanthropic Education Organization, Mondialogo, and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

Proudly sponsored by

UWM School of Freshwater Sciences Logo

Dennis Miller

North Shore Academy of Gymnastics

Southeastern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited

questions?

We’re happy to help! Give Riveredge’s Research Manager, Jana Gedymin, a call at 262-375-2715 or email her at jgedymin@riveredge.us.

Email Jana
a college student with a white cane smiles at the camera while standing next to their research poster
3 Riveredge staff stand with 8 students holding certificates and smiling at the camera
a college students showing a guest their research poster in the Riveredge Visitor Center

November 15, 2025 @ 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Riveredge Nature Center

4458 County Hwy Y
Saukville, WI United States + Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Chainsaw Startup and Maintenance: Open to All (Ages 18+)

May 8 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Chainsaw Startup and Maintenance: Open to All (Ages 18+)

Do you want to become more informed on chainsaw operation and maintenance? Join us for this all adults class and study with chainsaw experts. This workshop will:
– Introduce various saw models and sizes, helping find your best fit for the job ahead. We will see a wide variety of Stihl brand gas and electric saws.
– Showcase accessories and personal protective equipment
– Practice starting saws safely (without a toothed chain)
– Review chainsaw anatomy and maintenance (cleaning, diagnostics, disassembly, common troubleshooting, seasonal maintenance, gas treatments, specialty bar oils, bar conditioning,
– Reading chains and filing demonstration

Please bring a chainsaw if you have one. If you don’t have a saw to bring, we can provide one.

Ages 18+ | Member: $55 | Non-member Adult: $65
Pre-registration is required by May 6 at 11:55 pm.

Register Here

*MEMBERS: Riveredge has a new registration system. Please login (for the member discount) by following these instructions.


  • Registration

    Ages 18+
    Member: $55
    Non-member: $65

    Register Here


  • Become a Member

    Take advantage of member benefits and discounts!

    Join Now


  • More Events

    Explore other upcoming events!

    Event Calendar

Members:

Follow the instructions using the button below to login to your member account for member discounts on programs and events. You can use this login to check your membership status, see your expiration date, and renew your membership as well.

If you don’t see the member price after logging in, need help checking your membership status, or you are unsure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us or call the Riveredge office at 262-375-2715.

To become a member, click here

How to Register as a Member
Cancellation Policies

May 8, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Riveredge Nature Center

4458 County Hwy Y
Saukville, WI United States + Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Chainsaw Startup and Maintenance: Women Only Class

May 6 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Chainsaw Startup and Maintenance: Women Only Class

Do you want to become more informed on chainsaw operation and maintenance? Join this women’s only class and study with chainsaw experts. This workshop will:
– Introduce various saw models and sizes, helping find your best fit for the job ahead. We will see a wide variety of Stihl brand gas and electric saws.
– Showcase accessories and personal protective equipment
– Practice starting saws safely (without a toothed chain)
– Review chainsaw anatomy and maintenance (cleaning, diagnostics, disassembly, common troubleshooting, seasonal maintenance, gas treatments, specialty bar oils, bar conditioning,
– Reading chains and filing demonstration

Please bring a chainsaw if you have one. If you don’t have a saw to bring, we can provide one.

Ages 18+ | Member: $55 | Non-member Adult: $65
Pre-registration is required by May 4 at 11:55 pm.

Register Here

*MEMBERS: Riveredge has a new registration system. Please login (for the member discount) by following these instructions.


  • Registration

    Ages 18+ | Women Only
    Member: $55
    Non-member: $65

    Register Here


  • Become a Member

    Take advantage of member benefits and discounts!

    Join Now


  • More Events

    Explore other upcoming events!

    Event Calendar

Members:

Follow the instructions using the button below to login to your member account for member discounts on programs and events. You can use this login to check your membership status, see your expiration date, and renew your membership as well.

If you don’t see the member price after logging in, need help checking your membership status, or you are unsure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us or call the Riveredge office at 262-375-2715.

To become a member, click here

How to Register as a Member
Cancellation Policies

May 6, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Riveredge Nature Center

4458 County Hwy Y
Saukville, WI United States + Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Hook-ology: Knot The Best

April 26 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Hook-ology: Knot The Best

The best place to start is understanding line and knots. Work with experienced anglers to become familiar with essential knots and when to use them. We will start with large rope, work our way towards fishing lines of various types and discuss their application.

Ages 8+ | For kids and adults!
Member Adult (age 12+): $25 | Non-member Adult (age 12+): $30 | Child (age 8-11): $15
Pre-registration is required by April 24 at 9:00 am.

Register Here

*MEMBERS: Riveredge has a new registration system. Please login (for the member discount) by following these instructions.


  • Registration

    Ages 8+
    Member Adult: $25
    Non-member Adult: $30
    Child (age 8-11): $15

    Register Here


  • Become a Member

    Take advantage of member benefits and discounts!

    Join Now


  • More Events

    Explore other upcoming events!

    Event Calendar

Members:

Follow the instructions using the button below to login to your member account for member discounts on programs and events. You can use this login to check your membership status, see your expiration date, and renew your membership as well.

If you don’t see the member price after logging in, need help checking your membership status, or you are unsure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us or call the Riveredge office at 262-375-2715.

To become a member, click here

How to Register as a Member
Cancellation Policies

April 26, 2025 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Riveredge Nature Center

4458 County Hwy Y
Saukville, WI United States + Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Agroforestry: Apple Tree Grafting with Dan Bussey

April 12 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Agroforestry: Apple Tree Grafting with Dan Bussey

Apple Historian Dan Bussey is widely known for his expertise as the author of The Illustrated History of Apples In the US and Canada and his previous work as Orchard Manager for Seed Savers Exchange. Dan has been dedicated to the preservation and management of heirloom species, and has brought many of them back from the brink of extinction. Although his work chronicles 16,350 apple varietal listings, he will be working with us to share the diversity of apples at the Riveredge Farm. Participants will learn how to graft 3 species of apples, currently growing at our permaculture Farm, onto M-2 semi-dwarf root stock. Registered participants get to take home 3 grafted apple trees in 7-gallon felt pots.

Ages 18+
Member: $100 | Non-member: $110
Pre-registration is required by April 10 at 12:00 pm (noon).

Register Here

*MEMBERS: Riveredge has a new registration system. Please login (for the member discount) by following these instructions.


  • Registration

    Ages 18+
    Member: $100
    Non-member: $110

    Register Here


  • Become a Member

    Take advantage of member benefits and discounts!

    Join Now


  • More Events

    Explore other upcoming events!

    Event Calendar

Members:

Follow the instructions using the button below to login to your member account for member discounts on programs and events. You can use this login to check your membership status, see your expiration date, and renew your membership as well.

If you don’t see the member price after logging in, need help checking your membership status, or you are unsure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us or call the Riveredge office at 262-375-2715.

To become a member, click here

How to Register as a Member
Cancellation Policies

April 12, 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Riveredge Nature Center

4458 County Hwy Y
Saukville, WI United States + Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Agroforestry: Pruning, Coppicing and Tree Release

March 13 @ 9:00 am – 2:30 pm

Agroforestry: Pruning, Coppicing and Tree Release

Join Matt Smith, a professional Restoration Ecologist with over 22 years of experience, for an entirely outside hands-on field demonstration in the arts of pruning, coppicing and tree release for restoration and landscaping. Please dress for the weather and bring a lunch.

Ages 18+
Member: $65 | Non-member: $75
Pre-registration is required by March 12 at 9:00 am.

Register Here

*MEMBERS: Riveredge has a new registration system. Please login (for the member discount) by following these instructions.

Members:

Follow the instructions using the button below to login to your member account for member discounts on programs and events. You can use this login to check your membership status, see your expiration date, and renew your membership as well.

If you don’t see the member price after logging in, need help checking your membership status, or you are unsure what email address we have on file, please reach out to our Membership Manager, Renee Buchholz at rbuchholz@riveredge.us or call the Riveredge office at 262-375-2715.

To become a member, click here

How to Register as a Member
Cancellation Policies

March 13, 2025 @ 9:00 am – 2:30 pm

Riveredge Nature Center

4458 County Hwy Y
Saukville, WI United States + Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Riveredge Birdathon & Bandathon

May 10 @ 6:30 am – 1:00 pm

Riveredge Birdathon & Bandathon

A day filled with opportunities for bird enthusiasts!

Interested in birding out on the land with the Birdathon team? (Meets at 6:30am at main Visitor Center lot)

Birdathon: Join birders in the main Visitor Center parking lot at 6:30 a.m. to be part of a team that will attempt to cover all of Riveredge, searching for as many species as possible throughout the morning and early afternoon. To participate, contact Carl Schwartz cschwartz3@wi.rr.com

Donations are appreciated to help support the Noel J. Cutright Bird Club since this is the club’s only fund-raising yearly event. If you can’t donate at the event but still wish to, please contact Carl (email listed above) to submit a donation!

Are you an early bird who is excited to look for owls? (Meets at 4:00 am)

Early Morning Owling: If you want to help with the early morning owling at 4:00 am, contact Carl Schwartz at cschwartz3@wi.rr.com

Interested in observing bird banding? (Drop in during 7:30am – NOON window, West parking lot)

Bird banders will be working out of Connie’s Classroom, the building just to the left of the West (River Outpost) parking lot. From 7:30am – noon, please feel free to drop by to observe the process and learn from the banding team. Find us out on the porch! We’re happy to show you how banding works, and talk about how the data gained contributes to Riveredge’s 30+ year legacy of avian research. Just be sure to approach quietly to avoid stress to the birds. 

The Bandathon rain date is May 11th.

All ages | Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.


  • Registration

    Ages 12+
    Contact Carl Schwartz to help with the count, join 4am owling, or donate.
    cschwartz3@wi.rr.com


  • Become a Member

    Take advantage of member benefits and discounts!

    Join Now


  • More Events

    Explore other upcoming events!

    Event Calendar

May 10, 2025 @ 6:30 am – 1:00 pm

Riveredge Nature Center

4458 County Hwy Y
Saukville, WI United States + Google Map
(262) 375-2715

Become a Member

Take advantage of all the benefits of a Riveredge membership year round!

Learn More