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Your Contribution Counts

/ January 23, 2021

Make a Difference
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.
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:

Join Us

Donate Now!

Stock Donations

Corporate Sponsor

Make a Difference
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.
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:

Join Us

Donate Now!

Stock Donations

Corporate Sponsor
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2021 Gift Packages:
“Gifts that keep on giving – Give the Gift of Recreation!”



Welcome to The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks online store for 2021
Ordering online makes shopping very easy. Orders are processed and shipped within 1-2 business days via USPS.
The 2021 state park vehicle admission stickers and trail passes make great gifts. They are gifts that can be used every day, all year long, all around the state at our beautiful Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas.
The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks online store uses PayPal. You can shop with or without a PayPal account. It's easy: 
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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, photography contest, and Gold Seal and HERO awards. It also provides grant opportunities for the state parks.
  • 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 volunteers, 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.
  • Read our Strategic Plan



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    The Friends of FWSP

    by on November 25, 2020
    Since its inception in 1996, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks has worked with state park, forest, trail, and recreation area Friends Gr...
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    The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks are working on behalf of Friends Groups and state land users. Key priorities and action items are listed below. Please share with your Friends Group, legislators and other decision-makers. Find your legislator here https://legis.wisconsin.gov/. Consider contacting members of the powerful Joint Finance Committee. Read More about our positions.

    Legislative Issues

    by on November 25, 2020
    The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks are working on behalf of Friends Groups and state land users. Key priorities and action items ar...
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    The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks mission is:
    Preserving, Promoting, Protecting, and Enhancing Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas. (Click to view video)

    Friends of Wisconsin State Parks supports the work of 87 local Friends chapters around the state and the work that they do at the park, forest, trail or recreation area that they are associated with. 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

    by on November 25, 2020
    The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks mission is: Preserving,  Promoting,  Protecting,  and Enhancing  Wisconsin state  parks, forests, t...
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    The Natural Resources Foundation.

    The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks works closely with The Natural Resources Foundation. Specifically, we introduce our Friends Groups to grant opportunities offered by The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin funds projects that have a significant and positive impact on Wisconsin’s lands, waters, and wildlife, and that connect people to Wisconsin’s natural wonders.

    The Natural Resources Foundation have invested nearly $7 million in public and private conservation efforts—from funding statewide wildlife monitoring programs to creating butterfly gardens at local schools, and from building trails at state parks to helping recover the federally endangered whooping crane.
    Please click the following link for information:

    Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grants to Nonprofit Conservation Organizations (NCOs) applications will be due March 15, 2021

    Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grants to Nonprofit Conservation Organizations (NCOs) applications will be due March 15, 2021, for the following grant subprograms:
    • at Area grants
    • Natural Area grants
    • Stream Bank Protection grants
    • State Trail grants
    Application material for the fiscal 2021-2022 NCO grant cycle is available online:

    This application cycle is open to nonprofit applicants for land acquisition projects. Please direct any questions to DNR Grant Project Managers for the appropriate region. You can find their contact information on DNR's website.

    On behalf of DNR's NCO grant team, we look forward to working with you and the next round of Knowles-Nelson Stewardship successes.

    Sincerely,
    Pam Foster Felt
    Stewardship Nonprofit Grant Manager


    The David and Joyce Weizenicker Fund for State Parks

    The David and Joyce Weizenicker Fund for State Parks was established to support projects on Wisconsin State Park properties that facilitate accessibility for senior citizens, especially trail development, maintenance and restoration, and the development and maintenance of rest stops, including benches, overlooks, and interpretive signage. Grants range from $500 to $5,000.

    Photo:  David and Joyce Weizenicker pictured at Kinnickinnic State Park at the unveiling of a new trail funded in part by the David and Joyce Weizenicker Fund for State Parks. Photo by Caitlin Williamson

    Eligibility:
    Applicant must be a Friends group of a Wisconsin State Park property, with a formal agreement in place with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
    A 1:1 match is required. Match may include cash or in-kind support such as volunteer hours or donated materials.
    Project expenses may not have been incurred prior to submitting the application.  More information....

    Grant Information

    by on November 24, 2020
    The Natural Resources Foundation. The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks works closely with The Natural Resources Foundation. Specifically, w...
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     "Everyone needs a friend..."
    The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is transitioning WI-GO Camping to Wisconsin Friends Explore. During March of 2020, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks premiered WI Go Camping. Beth Goeppinger was the park naturalist for Bong Recreation Area and the driving force for WI GO Camping. Beth contacted members of the FWSP Board and the Outreach Committee. Together, through many online meetings, WI GO Camping came about.

    The mission of Wisconsin Friends Explore is to present the natural wonders of Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and natural areas through short videos mostly created by Wisconsin Master Naturalists and guest presenters.

    Jonathan Ringdahl, a member of the FWSP outreach committee, is the emcee for Wisconsin Friends Explore. The show is written, planned, and directed by a planning committee representing the FWSP and Wisconsin master naturalists.

    "During the challenges of 2020 and 2021, everyone needs a friend", Ringdahl says with a smile. "This is one way our friends can share their passion for our Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreational areas."

    "During the first year, the programs we presented continued to grow our viewers. We still have a few more programs to go before the end of the season." Randy Paske, outreach committee chair, says. "We constantly strive to reach our audience in new ways." (More...)

    Wisconsin Friends Explore

    by on November 23, 2020
      "Everyone needs a friend..." The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is transitioning WI-GO Camping to Wisconsin Friends Explore. D...
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    Friends of Wisconsin State Parks
    Patricia Loosen

    Executive Director FWSP

    P.O. Box 2271
    Madison, WI 53701-2271
    Patricia.Loosen@fwsp.org
    608-294-0810