Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Celebrate the Conservancy Expansion at Capital Brewery
2019-06-21 17:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Capital Brewery Bier Garten, 7734 Terrace Ave, Middleton, WI, 53562
Dane County has just closed on the purchase of 160 acres from the Acker Family. This will add a large extension onto the northern border of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy are thrilled to be able to partner with Dane County in returning the property to prairie. Please join us to celebrate!
Come to the Capital Brewery Bier Garten and see us at the Friends’ Table at 5 PM. Trailhead Ale (part of the proceeds will benefit the Friends) will be on tap, Live music will be provided by The Jimmys and Fish Fry by TnT’s Catering & Event Services.
Tickets for the Fish Fry dinner that evening can be purchased here: https://www.capitalbrewery.com/events/event/friday-fish-fry-tnts-catering/. Please note that tickets for the Fish Fry must be purchased in advance. Food will be served starting at 4pm with live music going from 6-10pm.

Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor Restoration & Improvements Master Plan Public Input Session
2019-06-20 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Kromrey Middle School Cafetorium, 7009 Donna Drive, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy are working closely with the City of Middleton staff and City Council as the City moves forward to restore the Creek Corridor between Parmenter and Century Avenue.

The City is hosting the first listening session on Thursday June 20, 2019 from 7 to 8 PM at Kromery Middle School. This public input session will be a chance for people to share their concerns about the damage to the creek corridor and express their desire for improvements in this important area. The session is being designed to receive input from all interested parties.

We encourage interested members in the Friends to attend this event and provide input. Please join us to share concerns and desired improvements for this important corridor! The format of the session will be a workshop where everyone has an opportunity to provide input and feedback on the future of the creek corridor.

Conservancy Day: Pheasant Branch Flood Recovery
2019-06-20 18:00 - 19:00 UTC | Amphitheater behind Kromrey Middle School (bad weather location is KMS room 510), 7009 Donna Drive, Middleton, WI, 53562
Matt Amundson will take participants on a walk and talk in the Pheasant Branch Conservancy corridor. This area sustained extensive damage from flooding that occurred last August. Find out the state of the creek corridor and where the City is in the planning process for restoration. We will walk the creek corridor from Kromrey heading west towards the detention pond behind the Police Department and then head east to Park Street.
Matt Amundson is the Director of Public Lands, Recreation and Forestry for the City of Middleton. He has held this position since November of 2016. He has a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management from UW-LaCrosse and is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional. Matt has an extensive background in parks and recreation management.
RSVPs appreciated, but not required.

Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Thank you for your generous gifts and participation. You make it possible and you make it great! We welcome you to join us and help spread the word! Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Master Naturalist Volunteer Training
2019-06-20 16:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Middleton, WI, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
A 40-hour course combining classroom and field experiences about Wisconsin’s natural resources. Check out the course page for exact dates and details!

Tunes on Tuesday
2019-06-18 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd, Middleton, WI, 53562
Join your neighbors in an evening stroll through the northern part of the Conservancy while enjoying acoustic music played by local musicians. No RSVP needed, but please check our facebook page for cancellation notification if the weather looks iffy.
Tonight’s musicians:
Orchid Heights Park
6-8 PM: Heidi Forney & Friends
The Springs
6-7 PM: Hayward/ Hartman
7-8 PM: Happenstance
The Homestead Site
6-8 PM: Jeanna & Friends
Not sure where all the music locations are? Check out this map!

Special Planting Workday
2019-06-15 09:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event, The instructor will send along a Zoom link two days in advance., WI
Please join us in helping create a special new Conservancy feature. Our Land Manager Rob Schubert wrote a successful grant for a plant propagation nursery. It will have about 1,100 plants this year and we need your help to plant them.
On June 15 we will have two three hour sessions with up to 15 people in each session. The first session will be 9 am until noon. The second session is noon until 3 pm or we finish planting. People may sign up for both sessions if they are interested in helping all day. Please RSVP to and tell us which session you will be able to work.
We hope those of you with previous planting experience will be able to help. Holes will already be prepared but careful handling and planting will be critical to success this season.
Plan to park in the gravel parking lot and walk into the homestead site. In addition to the usual long pants and shirts, you might want to bring your knee pads.
Thank you for helping launch this major effort to expand the diversity of plants in the Conservancy.

Prairie Chase Run/Walk
2019-06-15 08:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd, Middleton, WI, 53562
The fifth annual Prairie Chase event will take place on June 15, 2019. The All-Terrain 10K and 5K Run begin around 8:00 am with the walk starting just after. Stick around after for the kids race, refreshments and music. Parking and a restroom is available at Orchid Heights Park. We’ll be making some tweaks to the schedule of events in 2019, but the race routes are pretty set. This is not a chip-timed event but we will provide a timing clock at the finish line. The Prairie Chase will go on regardless of weather, unless deemed unsafe by race officials or park staff. Sorry, no refunds.
For more information or to register for this event, please check out the Prairie Chase website.

Tunes on Tuesday
2019-06-11 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd, Middleton, WI, 53562
Join your neighbors in an evening stroll through the northern part of the Conservancy while enjoying acoustic music played by local musicians. No RSVP needed, but please check our facebook page for cancellation notification if the weather looks iffy.
Tonight’s musicians:
Orchid Heights Park
6-8 PM: Jackie Ernst
Base of Fredricks Hill:
6-8 PM: The Artesians
The Springs
6-7 PM: Katie Frye and Mia Chapman
7-8 PM: Paul Stiegler
The Homestead Site
6-7 PM: Paul Stiegler
7-8 PM: Shagbark Hickory

Tunes on Tuesday
2019-06-04 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Orchid Heights Park, 3960 Valley Ridge Rd, Middleton, WI, 53562
Join your neighbors in an evening stroll through the northern part of the Conservancy while enjoying acoustic music played by local musicians. No RSVP needed, but please check our facebook page for cancellation notification if the weather looks iffy.
Tonight’s musicians:
Orchid Heights Park
6-7 PM: Abby Evans
7-8 PM: Evergreen Collective
The Springs
6-7 PM: Chris Roberts
7-8 PM: Matt Cushman
The Homestead Site
6-8 PM: Chad Moritz

2019 National Trails Day
2019-06-01 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor, Middleton, WI, 53562
Middleton experienced a significant flood event in August 2018 that impacted much of the trail system. A major area of devastation included the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor between Parmenter Street and Century Avenue.
Join city staff, elected officials, and the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy to learn about the flooding, recovery efforts, and planned improvements.
A full listing of speakers and locations is available on this event flyer.

Bock Prairie Workday
2019-05-30 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Bock Community Garden, 5606 Highland Way, Middleton, WI, 53562
Join in tending the new prairies at the John C. Bock Community Forest, just off Highland Way. The prairies are a great example of high quality restoration on public lands.
We’ll meet at the garden shed in the middle of the enclosed garden. It’s on Highland Way, just off Century Avenue, at the crest of the hill east of Allen Blvd. There’s a stop light at the intersection of Century and Highland – turn at the light and follow the road until you see the garden area on the left at the end of the open field. There’s lots of on-street parking.
Dress for the weather, and wear long pants, socks and sturdy shoes. Long sleeves and hats are also recommended – along with insect repellent and sunscreen. Bring your favorite work gloves if you have some.
Please RSVP if you’re planning to come to help with planning enough supplies for everyone. Hope you can join in on the 30th.
This is a work session for members of the Bock Community Garden lead by Adaptive Restorations. Each year, the Bock Gardeners invite the Friends to join them. This session will be the first of four this summer.

Conservancy Day: Effigy mounds of the PBC
2019-05-16 18:30 - 19:30 UTC | Virtual Event, The instructor will send along a Zoom link two days in advance., WI
In honor of Wisconsin Archaeology Month, join Dr. Amy Rosebrough of the Wisconsin Historical Society on a walking tour to the Springs and then to the top of Fredricks Hill to view the Native American effigy mounds found in Pheasant Branch Conservancy. This will be a slow walk with a number of stops to discuss the history of mound building in Wisconsin and the archaeology of the Native population of Wisconsin.

Dr. Amy Rosebrough is a staff archaeologist with the State Archaeology and Maritime Preservation Program of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and an alumnus of UW-Madison. She is a specialist in Wisconsin’s effigy mounds, and assists Wisconsin’s citizens with issues of archaeological and burial sites preservation.

The trip will be held even if the weather is cool, windy, or if there is a light drizzle of rain. Cancellation will be in the event of heavy rain at the meeting time or thunderstorms within five miles. Please dress accordingly. A limited number of wireless headsets will be available for use.

RSVPs are appreciated, but not required.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Thank you for your generous gifts and participation. You make it possible and you make it great! We welcome you to join us and help spread the word! Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Dinner Lecture: The Virtues of Natural Land Management
2019-04-23 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562
We are partnering with the Friends of Wisdom Prairie to offer this dinner and panel discussion on the Virtues of Natural Land Management.
More information or registration, click here. Please register by April 9, 2019.
Speakers
Jeffrey Sledge will discuss the issues related to the health benefits of Natural Lands for volunteers and visitors who experience being in an ecological community. He is the Research Scientist and Director of the Health and Built Environment Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Susan Carpenter will address the benefits of restoring a whole ecological community for sustaining biological diversity and restoring ecological services to an area. She is the Native Plant Gardener at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum.
Randy Hunt will address the benefits of managing natural lands for the health and functioning of a watershed and its waters. He is the Chief Science Officer, Research Hydrologist for USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center, in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Schedule

5:30 pm
Wine, Beer & Conversation

6:00 pm
Dinner

7:00 pm
Panel Discussion

8:00 pm
Event Ends

Conservancy Day: Bird Migration - How it's Done
2019-04-18 18:30 - 19:30 UTC | Kromrey Middle School Room 510, 7009 Donna Drive, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Whether the American Robin is making its leisurely way from Illinois wintering grounds or a Bobolink is making its cross-hemispherical journey from Argentina to Wisconsin, both trips require a sense of direction. Orientation and navigation skills beyond those of Sacagawea, Merriwether Lewis, and William Clark are needed for these aerial treks. Learn the many ways we think birds are able to complete the wonder of migration.

About the speaker: Abe Lenoch grew up on the west side of Madison where he attended Crestwood Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School, and James Madison Memorial High School. In 2015 he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Studies from UW-Madison. Abe has worked in the Forestry Division of the Wisconsin DNR as a research technician for multiple field seasons. Abe is the Community Project Coordinator for 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. He is an active volunteer with Madison Audubon.

RSVPs to conservancyday@pheasantbranch.org are appreciated, but not required.

Directions to the room: enter through Door 3 in the eastern wing of Kromrey Middle School.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse topics — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues

Thank you for your generous gifts and participation. You make it possible and you make it great! We welcome you to join us and help spread the word! Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Board of Directors Meeting
2019-04-15 17:15 - 19:15, 2019-03-18 17:15 - 19:15 (America/Chicago) | Kromrey Middle School Room 600, 7009 Donna Drive, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
All FOPBC members are welcome to attend the meetings of the board of directors. Meetings are generally held the third Monday of each month at 5:00 PM at Kromrey Middle School room 600, entrance at door #18. Time and place are subject to change. Please note later start time for this meeting.

Restoration Work Day
2019-04-06 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event, The instructor will send along a Zoom link two days in advance., WI
Our 2019 plan for workdays has changed. We are planning two “regular” workdays in April, May, September and October. They are planned for the first and third Saturdays. This better coincides with typical workload needs and allows for easier scheduling of special workdays typically in the summer and affiliated with employers or organizations. All regular workdays are from 9 AM – noon.
Work will consist of pulling invasives, cutting brush, or gathering seed. Specific work will be announced by email before the work date.
Volunteers should meet at the Pheasant Branch Dane County Parking lot (fire number 4864, labeled “County lot” on this online map) 1.2 miles north of Century Avenue on Pheasant Branch Road, unless instructed otherwise.
Workdays are weather dependent; let us know you are coming at restoration@pheasantbranch.org, we will let you know if we have to cancel.
We hope you can join us!

Conservancy Day: Remembering Rachel
2019-03-21 18:30 - 19:30 UTC | Kromrey Middle School Room 510, 7009 Donna Drive, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
In 1958, Bette Duff had a memorable summer job between her junior and senior year in college. She assisted Rachel Carson who was gathering information for her upcoming book about the dangers of pesticides. After graduation, Bette kept in touch with Rachel and worked briefly for her again in 1960. Bette finds that Rachel Carson’s life and work often provide encouragement for those today who face discouraging challenges as they seek to protect the environment. She recalls the way they did library research in the days before the internet and xerox machines. She describes the quiet yet determined manner with which Rachel Carson faced both personal and professional challenges. Bette’s observations have been quoted in Paul Brooks’ biography of Rachel Carson, The House of Life (1972) and in Linda Lear’s biography, Rachel Carson, Witness for Nature (1977).
About the speaker: Bette Duff worked as a biologist doing research and instructing in the labs at both Case Western Reserve and Yale. She moved to Madison in 1975 with her husband and two sons. She got her Master’s degree in English Literature at the University of Wisconsin. Then, at age 53, she went to McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. She served as Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church here in Madison for 10 years until her retirement.
RSVPs appreciated to conservancyday@pheasantbranch.org
Photo credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images. Rachel Carson examining a specimen.
Directions to the room: enter through Door 3 in the eastern wing of Kromrey Middle School.

Winter Restoration Workday
2019-03-02 12:00 - 15:00, 2019-02-16 12:00 - 15:00, 2019-02-02 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event, The instructor will send along a Zoom link two days in advance., WI
Help to rejuvenate the wetlands at this special winter workday. Work will consist of cutting brush in the wetland and burning piles. Wear sturdy boots and winter gear. No experience needed! RSVPs are appreciated to Schubert.Robert@countyofdane.com.

Conservancy Day: The Nature Cure: An Antidote To Our Stressful Lives
2019-02-21 18:30 - 19:30 UTC | Kromrey Middle School Room 510, 7009 Donna Drive, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Many of us have known intuitively for a long time that a walk in the woods or the prairie, a visit to a park, some time paddling on water or walking along a stream or even time spent in a backyard with grass, flowers and trees can have a calming and refreshing effect on us. This intuitive sense has a long and worldwide history. Cyrus the Great built gardens for relaxation 2,500 years ago in the busy capital of Persia. Paracelsus, the 16th-century German-Swiss physician, gave voice to this intuition when he claimed, “The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician.” William Wordsworth marveled at how “an eye made quiet by the power / Of harmony” and countless others have followed such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Muir. Our intuition about the healing power of nature has now been reinforced by empirical science and how exposure to nature has a curative effect on our brains and bodies. Come and explore this fascinating relationship between ourselves, nature and our health.
Dr. Gary Sater is a retired clinical and sport psychologist living in Middleton. He recently completed the Master Naturalist course and is a member of the Restoration and Management Committee with the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. He also provides some of the nature photography used by FOPBC for their website and promotional activities.
Directions: Enter the school driveway at the main entrance on Donna Drive.Then drive past the entire front of the building and park in the eastern most parking lot. Enter the building at Door 3 in the east wing of the building.
RSVPs are appreciated to conservancyday@pheasantbranch.org.
Every Conservancy Day is:

Free — thanks to your donations and membership as a Friend
Open to the public
For all ages unless a specific age group is given in the program description
Diverse — More than 400 participants each year enjoy topics ranging from wildlife, science, resource management, natural and cultural history and current community issues.

Thank you for your generous gifts and participation. You make it possible and you make it great! We welcome you to join us and help spread the word! Mark your calendars for these inspiring and special events the third Thursday of each month, from January through November.

Family Photo Mini Sessions in the Conservancy
2018-12-08 09:00 - 16:00 UTC | Branch Street Entrance of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy, 4864 Pheasant Branch Rd, Middleton, WI, 53562
Profits will be donated to FOPBC for flood restoration! 1-2 professional photos delivered digitally with print release and sharing rights. Use your photos for holiday cards, or just to simply update your photo collection! $50 per family/individual. The sessions will be quick, 10 minutes long, and are open to families, friends, individuals, kids and pets alike. To book your spot or for more information email klarsonphotography@outlook.com or call/text Kris at 608-669-3538.
This family photo session fundraiser is put on by KL Photography. Kris is a resident of Middleton and frequent user of the Conservancy. He wanted to try and do something to help! He is offering discounted mini photo sessions to as many people as are interested! All participants will also receive a thank you bag that will include coupons and special offers from our local business sponsors including Red’s Pizza and Life Assist USA!
