Friends of Wisconsin State Parks

Challenge Prize Drawing Announcement

The contest ended on September 22, 2022!

The Wisconsin Friends Explore - Challenge of The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks announces the final random drawing. The prizes to be awarded are:

(1) $100 Merrell Gift Card
(2) $250 Walmart Gift Cards
(10) $100 Walmart Gift Cards

The final September drawing is limited to those who are at least 16 years old and have registered one or more challenges during the contest.

There is no fee to enter the drawing.
Winners are selected from a randomly generated computerized list.
The drawing results will be announced around September 30. Winners will be posted here and receive the gift cards via USPS.

The contest ended on September 22, 2022!

The Wisconsin Friends Explore - Challenge of The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks announces the final random drawing. The prizes to be awarded are:

(1) $100 Merrell Gift Card
(2) $250 Walmart Gift Cards
(10) $100 Walmart Gift Cards

The final September drawing is limited to those who are at least 16 years old and have registered one or more challenges during the contest.

There is no fee to enter the drawing.
Winners are selected from a randomly generated computerized list.
The drawing results will be announced around September 30. Winners will be posted here and receive the gift cards via USPS.

Friendly and Unique Places

Wisconsin is filled with a variety of fun-filled destinations that would make for the perfect family vacation. With such diverse regions and landscapes, the Dairy State has a lot to choose from when it comes to picking out the perfect trip. If you’re on the lookout for unique places to stay in Wisconsin for families, we’ve created the friendly and unique places that will make for a family vacation your kids will never forget.

Wisconsin currently has 49 state park units, covering more than 60,570 acres, 44 State Trails open to the public, covering more than 1,700 miles, and more than 6,000 campsites in the Wisconsin State Park System.

All of us have a favorite. Whether it’s a state park along the bluffs of the Mississippi River or along the shores of Lake Superior, or the Southern Kettle Morraine, or near the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Wisconsin has so many choices.

Each month, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks Friendly and Unique places will introduce a trail, a state park, a forest, or a recreation area that may become a family favorite.

Pattison state park

Yellowstone state park

Blue Mound state park

Sparta/Elroy trail

Friendly and Unique Places

Friendly and Unique Places Wisconsin is filled with a variety of fun-filled destinations that would make for the perfect family vacation. Wi...

by Maureen Potter

After living the past two decades in Wisconsin, where I enjoyed and volunteered for the Wisconsin State Parks, I’m now traveling the country full-time in an RV, discovering the amazing beauty of our nation’s countless wild places. While each of my stops is entirely unique, I have noticed some universal truths. From Maine to South Dakota to Oregon, park employees, volunteers, and visitors have shared stories with me of their love for the land. Natural areas across the nation are part of their childhood memories, and they delight in sharing those same places with their children and grandchildren. And as I travel from city to city, it’s clear to see which natural areas are appreciated by the communities surrounding them, because they’re clean, safe, protected, full of native plants and animals, and enjoyed by many people. Unfortunately, there are also some areas that, having been abused or neglected, struggle against continuing decline and really need help. To this end, I can’t stress enough how important it is to seek out and support whatever natural areas are near where you live. Can you volunteer your time, even once a year, or make a donation? Anything you can do to support your ‘little corner of the world really does make a difference. So, how do I like being a traveling adventurer? I love it! Every week I have new environments to hike, new trails to bike, new rivers to paddle, and so much to learn. Our country is breathtaking, astounding, awe-inspiring, and undoubtedly a lot more adjectives than I even know. But you don’t need to live a life like mine to have incredible adventures. Wisconsin is home to gorgeous state parks, trails, waterways, and so many special places that can be enjoyed year-round - with a wonderful diversity that makes the state truly unique. Make a plan to discover a new natural area near you this week and start creating some memories of your own. Discover it, enjoy it, cherish it.

~Maureen Potter

Friends of Wisconsin State Parks, former board member

Notes from a Past FWSP Board Member

by Maureen Potter After living the past two decades in Wisconsin, where I enjoyed and volunteered for the Wisconsin State Parks, I’m now tra...

FWSP depends on the generosity of donors for the funds required to carry out its mission of preserving, protecting, promoting and enhancing Wisconsin State Parks, Trails, Forests and Recreation Areas.
ln collaboration with over 80 local Friend's chapters, we seek to enrich 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 treasures in the future.
Each year, FWSP sponsors Work*Play*Earth Day events across the park system that draw hundreds of volunteers who remove invasive species, clean up campgrounds, plant trees, build benches and help with other essential projects.
We also educate lawmakers and citizens on issues that impact their parks. And each year, we support local Friends groups by providing funds for education-related activities such as hiring park naturalists, developing interpretive exhibits, hosting wildlife demonstrations and outdoor skill training sessions, and improving key infrastructure in our parks.
We are continually seeking to grow our capacity to positively impact Wisconsin parks. if you or your business would be interested in partnering with FWSP, please contact us.

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is pleased to offer the following options to make a contribution:

Option 1:
Mail cash or check directly to Friends of Wisconsin State Parks

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks kindly requests that donations are sent to the following address. Send to:
Friends of Wisconsin State Parks
P.O. Box 2271
Madison, WI 53701

Option2:
Print a Form, complete it, and mail along with a check.
Click on this (Link) to download and print a PDF.

Option 3:
Make a donation via PayPal (Link)

Option 4: Stocks

Email or call
Patricia Loosen
Executive Director FWSP
Patricia.Loosen@fwsp.org
608-294-0810
or
Mail Inquiry to:
Friends of Wisconsin State Parks
P.O. Box 2271
Madison, WI 53701

Support Your Parks

FWSP depends on the generosity of donors for the funds required to carry out its mission of preserving, protecting, promoti...

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks mission is:

Preserving, Promoting, Protecting, and Enhancing Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas.

FWSP is the official umbrella organization of the Friends groups for state parks, trails, forests, and recreation areas in Wisconsin. Friends of Wisconsin State Parks supports the work of 51 local Friends chapters around the state representing over 3750 individual members and the work that they do at the park, forest, trail, or recreation areas that they are associated with.

Our organization is made up of volunteers and people like you who have a love of our state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas and a desire to support their recreational, environmental, and economic value. Members of our organization promote the mission of the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks to preserve and protect our parks’ natural resources and to provide recreational opportunities for all.

The FWSP and the local groups work on projects and events at the state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas around the state that enhance the property and provide enjoyment for the many visitors each year. Our friends work to protect our natural resources and preserve Wisconsin's unique natural treasures for future generations.

In addition, FWSP carries out its mission through these examples:

Preserve
FWSP sponsors the annual Work*Play*Earth Day projects around the state in April each year — volunteers and Friends members complete projects and clean up at state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas.

Protect
FWSP advocates on state park system issues in an effort to protect Wisconsin’s beautiful state park, forest, trail, and recreation area properties. FWSP also hosts Friends Summit meetings around the state so that local Friends chapters are informed and supported in their local area.

Promote
FWSP funds projects and issues grants to local Friends chapters for educational programs and interpretive projects around the state at parks, forests, trails and recreation areas for visitors to enjoy. FWSP hosts an annual Photo contest to promote recreation at state park system properties.

Enhance
FWSP funds Tree and Flower projects at park offices and high visibility areas for the enjoyment of park visitors around the state. Friends chapters also use grant funding for projects that enhance parks, forests, and trails.

About FWSP

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks mission is: Preserving, Promoting, Protecting, and Enhancing Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, a...

FWSP depends on the generosity of donors for the funds required to carry out its mission of preserving, protecting, promoting, and enhancing Wisconsin State Parks, Trails, Forests, and Recreation Areas.

Make a monetary donation via PayPal

Monetary Donation - Download PDF (Print, fill out, and mail form)

Support an FWSP program

Stock Donations

Corporate Sponsor

ln collaboration with over 80 local Friend's chapters, we seek to enrich 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 treasures in the future.

Join a local friend's group

We also educate lawmakers and citizens on issues that impact their parks. And each year, we support local Friends groups by providing funds for education-related activities such as hiring park naturalists, developing interpretive exhibits, hosting wildlife demonstrations and outdoor skill training sessions, and improving key infrastructure in our parks.
We are continually seeking to grow our capacity to positively impact Wisconsin parks. If you or your business would be interested in partnering with FWSP, please contact us.

Patricia Loosen

Executive Director Friends of Wisconsin State Parks

Friends of Wisconsin State Parks

23 S. Main St. Suite O

Hartford, WI 53027

patricia.loosen@fwsp.org

608-264-8994

Support Your Parks

FWSP depends on the generosity of donors for the funds required to carry out its mission of preserving, protecting, promoting, and enhancing...

Since its inception in 1996, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks has worked with state park, forest, trail, and recreation area Friends Groups to improve state lands 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.

Click the map to enlarge. (Courtesy of WI DNR)

Believing that each generation is responsible for leaving behind a better legacy of conservation, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks was created to preserve, protect, promote and enhance Wisconsin’s state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas.
Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is a non-profit umbrella organization supporting over 80+ friends groups around the state. FWSP provides technical support, sponsors events such as Work*Play*Earth Day, an annual Volunteer Jamboree, a photography contest, and Gold Seal and HERO awards. It also provides grant opportunities for state parks.

Are you a member of a Friend's Group? The FWSP newsletter - Friend to Friend - is all about our friends. Click here to sign up for the newsletter for Friends.

Every year friends groups provide thousands of volunteer hours to help support the mission and activities of more than 70 Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas. Friends members: serve as campground hosts, visitor center hosts, naturalists, and nature center hosts, adopt a trail volunteer, and assist with other special projects at the property;
raise money to purchase playground equipment, interpretive displays, signs, shelters, kiosks, educational materials, and more;
organize annual park cleanups and regular trail work days;
plan and help with special events including Candlelight nights, Community campfires, festivals/concerts, educational programs, and other special events;
provide and assist with concessions; and assist with the construction of trails, shelters and accessible cabins, birdhouses, and more.