Conservation in the Parks

Our Conservation in the Parks program is focused on working with our communities to promote environmental stewardship, provide research and educational opportunities, and create healthier natural areas throughout Waukesha County.

Waukesha County has worked to acquire natural areas of regional and statewide ecological significance containing a diversity of ecotypes and rare flora and fauna found within the area.

The natural areas within the park system contain a variety of habitat types including, oak savanna, oak woodland, maple-basswood forest, fens, prairie, southern mesic forest, lowland hardwood swamps, and wetlands.

Effectively protecting and managing these diverse and unique natural resources is important in preserving the ecological integrity and function of these green spaces for the enjoyment of generations to come. Our staff, volunteers, and corporate sponsors work together to restore and monitor the natural areas and species within them throughout the Park System. 

Citizen Science Volunteer Opportunities

Help gather data on wildlife species within the Park System to assist in making sure that common species remain common, and that rare, threatened, and endangered species are protected.

  • Data helps our staff plan and prioritize their land management and habitat restoration efforts.
  • Monitors are trained to use protocols to gather and record data in the field.
  • For some projects, monitors may work independently or with trained personnel.
  • All equipment provided
  • No prior experience required
  • Required: Attendance to a training program

Register for a Citizen Science Program

Bat Monitoring

Join Wisconsin Master Naturalist Carrie Frantz to conduct bat surveys with high-tech detectors that identify bats by recording their ultrasonic calls!

Recommended for ages 8+. 

  • What to wear: Dress for the weather and being outdoors! Surveys may occasionally wander off trail into natural areas and tall grass. Close-toed shoes and long pants are recommended.
  • What to bring: Water and bug spray
  • Required: A Parks Annual Membership or Daily Permit is required for each vehicle entering a fee-based park. 
  • Cancellation or rescheduling plan: If the survey is cancelled, an email will be sent to the address that you registered.

View schedule and register.

Bird Conservation

Want to learn how to identify Wisconsin’s birds? With over 300 species observed and 70+ eBird hotspots, Waukesha County is just the place to start! Join our staff on a breeding or migratory bird survey to document which bird species are using the park system’s vital natural areas during spring, summer, and fall! Great for beginners looking to build their confidence as birders and experienced birders that want to refine their skills!

What to wear: Dress for the weather and being outdoors! Surveys may occasionally wander off trail into natural areas and tall grass. Close-toed shoes and long pants are recommended.

What to bring: Water, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, and a camera for taking pictures! The Parks Department has binoculars to lend out to participants during surveys as well.

View schedule and register.

Invertebrate Monitoring Programs

Butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, bumble bees, moth, freshwater mussels, beetles and more!

Join our staff and learn more about these essential invertebrates.

Topics include:

  • Bumble Bee Survey Program
  • Annual Butterfly Survey
  • Dragonfly & Damselfly Survey Program
  • Asian Clam Survey
  • Freshwater Mussel Monitoring Training
  • Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Program - Raising Beetles

View schedule, more information & register.

 

Wildlife Nestbox Monitoring

Do you love birds? 

You can be one of our volunteers that monitor songbird nest boxes across Waukesha County Parks and greenspaces.

A volunteer visits each box once a week March 15 - Sept 30 and determines which species is using it; counts eggs, hatchlings, and fledglings; and performs minor maintenance. 10 or more boxes per location.

View schedule and register.

Parkland Conservation Fund

Help protect Waukesha County's Natural Areas and Parklands

The Parkland Conservation Fund was created in 2019 to help protect, restore, and enhance greenspaces throughout the Waukesha County Park System. This stewardship fund focuses on wildlife habitat conservation, restoration and improvements to natural areas.

The dedicated fund is an opportunity to invest in local natural resources, public lands and parks for generations to come. Your financial gift will support important projects and will help preserve the diversity of ecotypes found throughout the park system.

Projects are evaluated and selected annually by the County Park System’s Ecology Team.

Donate Today

Donation Information

Make a Donation

Each donation makes a difference and has the option to be recognized with a Certificate of Commitment.

  • Stewardship or Tribute Donation: Give an individual gift or a gift to celebrate a special occasion or pay tribute to a friend.
  • No Recognition Donation: You would prefer to remain anonymous and/or do not want a Certificate of Commitment

Options to Donate:

  • Donate online
  • Donate by mail
    • Please make checks payable to the Parkland Conservation Fund
    • Enclose this completed form with your check.
    • If you would like a Certificate of Commitment, please identify what type of wording you would like

Mail completed form and check to:
Waukesha County Park System
515 W. Moreland Blvd., AC 260
Waukesha, WI 53188 

Charitable contributions given directly to Waukesha County are tax-deductible under section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Current Projects Supported by Parkland Conservation Fund

Examples include:

  • Monches Property Restoration
    • Planting a diversity of shrubs and trees along the Oconomowoc River Greenway to reduce pollution from agricultural land and improve water quality. A partnership with the Oconomowoc Watershed Protection Program. Please donate to help us complete the next phases.
    • Thanks to the generous donations to the Parkland Conservation Fund and volunteer tree planting events, over 300 trees and shrubs have been added. Approximately 800 more native trees over 16 acres remain!
  • Brown's Fen Restoration
    • Brown’s Fen is classified by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission as an NA-3 natural areas. NA-3 sites represent native biotic communities judged to have been substantially altered by human activities, but which are of local significance, often containing good wildlife habitat or providing refuge for a number of native plant species which no longer exist in the surrounding area.
    • These proposed activities would not only bring the fen back to a more manageable state for our existing staff and volunteers to maintain, but they would improve the hydrological function provided by the fen ecosystem and increase the unique species diversity that is present there.

Habitat Restoration Workdays

Stewardship Projects

Register for a Habitat Restoration Workday

Habitat Restoration Workday:

These volunteer projects are done alongside our park staff at predetermined parks on weekends and select weekdays. Depending on the time of year the focus will be on pulling invasive weeds, cutting invasive woody brush, or tree planting.

Work with our staff and volunteer Site Stewards to remove invasive species from our natural areas. Our habitat restoration workdays have a particular focus on the globally imperiled oak ecosystems that occur within Waukesha County. You can take part in recovering these habitats of regional importance.

What to wear: Dress for the weather (long sleeves and pants are recommended) and wear clothes that are OK to get beat up, closed-toe shoes, gloves (extra will be provided), safety glasses (extra will be provided).


What to bring: Water, sunscreen, bug spray, loppers (optional).


Cancellation or rescheduling plan: If the workday is cancelled, an email will be sent to the address that you RSVP’d from.

Register for a Habitat Restoration Workday.

Citizen Science Data Collection

Enter your data here

Please select the data entry form(s) for your Wildlife Monitoring session. 

The data that is collected on wildlife species within the Park System will help staff plan and prioritize land management and habitat restoration efforts.

Thank you for volunteering!

Thank you for being a Frog & Toad Call Monitoring volunteer.

Complete the form linked here. 

Thank you for being a Macro-Invertebrate Monitoring volunteer.

Complete the form linked here to submit data.

Thank you for being a Wetland Monitoring volunteer.

Complete the form linked here to submit data.

Thank you for being a Songbird Nest Box volunteer.

Complete the form linked here to submit data.

Thank you for being a Wood Duck/Merganster Nest Box Monitoring volunteer.

Complete the form linked here to submit data.

Thank you for volunteering to pull Garlic Mustard.

Complete the form linked here to submit data.

Discover and report sightings of unique plants and wildlife in Waukesha County using iNaturalist.

Learn More Here

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