The Friends of FWSP

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 39 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.