The Urban Ecology Center’s Summer Internship progran is a dynamic employment opportunity for adults. It’s a win-win; The Center gains valuable help during our busiest months and Interns get a summer they’ll never forget!

We are overwhelmed by your support for the Urban Ecology Center's 7th annual Summer Solstice Soiree.  

The Riverside Park branch was full of energy as we celebrated nature in the heart of the city and we are grateful for the generosity of our guests, sponsors, board of directors, friends and volunteers!

Everyone, no matter their age, can teach, help and learn at the Urban Ecology Center! See for yourself how older adults through teens are mentoring Summer Campers and students who will in turn be the environmental leaders of tomorrow.

Research shows two things make a person environmentally aware – constant contact with nature early in life and a mentor who demonstrates positive behavior toward the environment. With this research in mind, we train interns to be mentors to high schoolers, who in turn become mentors to our Summer Campers.

Come in today to see how your whole family can learn, work and grow at our Center. 

Construction to rebuild and stabilize a section of bluff will be starting Monday May 12th around 7:30 a.m. The construction is expected to continue until the end of the month. The area that is being worked on is just south of the Locust St. bridge where the bluff washed out by flooding in summer 2010.

At the end of April, we conducted prescribed burns at both our Washington Park and Riverside Park locations. With the help from Dare Ecosystem Management and Urban Ecology Center staff, we were able to conduct a restoration by fire that took place over the prairie, savannah and oak woodland areas. This was the third burn in Riverside Park and the first burn in Washington Park. This successful technique knocked back the invasive species and allowed a more diverse range of native species to emerge.  Check out this video to see great photos and video footage of the burn and learn more about the benefits of a prescribed burn from an interview with Caitlin, one of our land stewards, who was on the scene to help!

Since we've declared April to be Earth Month, we're celebrating different earth-related themes all month long. This week, let's take a look at our Washington Park branch theme, FOOD.  Because who doesn't love food?  Read on for a fun perspective on Learning Gardens from Washington Park's branch manager, Willie. Additionally, Erick, Washington Park's Community Program Coordinator, provides some foolproof tips and tricks for how YOU can start up and maintain your own garden at home!  

Our Washington Park branch manager, Willie Karidis is leading an eco-travel trip to Alaska in September. Since he is there visiting friends right now he created this little video inviting you to come with him in September. Doesn't it look great?

Connecting people with both their community and their environment is at the heart of what we do. One of the ways we accomplish this is through sustainable food programs like these!

“Who knew potatoes could be so thrilling,” says Barb Finch, a member of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm from Milwaukee. “I grew up eating mashed or boiled potatoes every day, they weren’t that interesting. The potatoes I get in my CSA box are so full of flavor. The Yukon Golds and Reds are incredible. I could never go back to buying a potato from a grocery store again.”