Recent happenings around the marsh
The Prairie Partner interns have completed 10 of their 12 Tuesday workdays with us. These hardworking young folks have cleared enormous quantities of garlic mustard, Japanese hedge parsley, sweet clover, and other invasive plants from the woods and prairies in Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park's three units, Meadow Ridge Conservation Park, and Yahara Heights County Park. The work the interns do is making a real difference in our natural areas.
Thank you to our contributors who have donated to support the Prairie Partners.
Donate to support the Prairie Partners
Thanks to Jeff Steele for leading our annual moth walk at North Cherokee. Thanks also to Chet's Car Care for their donation of a battery, which meant Jeff was no longer limited to locations accessible by extension cord!
The organization Get Kids Outside brought children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County to Cherokee Marsh in early July for a Wetland Wonders hike.
We tabled at the Northside Farmers Market in July. Join us there again on Sept 11, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, in the Northside TownCenter near Willy Street Co-op.
The prairies are alive with flowers and butterflies. Be sure to get out and pay them a visit!
|
|
Our mission and vision
Most nonprofits have mission and vision statements that help guide the group's activities. Our mission is our purpose, or what we do, and our vision is what we are working toward.
This year our board reviewed our mission and vision statements and made a change to our mission to include the importance of appreciation and enjoyment of the marsh.
Our mission
We work to protect, restore, and foster appreciation and enjoyment of Cherokee Marsh's lands, waters, and living beauty.
Our vision
Cherokee Marsh is vital to the ecology of the Yahara lakes and waters. The marsh is a place of great beauty, a natural treasure alive with diverse native plants and animals, and a refuge for the renewal of the human spirit. People value Cherokee Marsh for its educational and recreational opportunities, filtering of stormwater runoff, tempering of flood surges, and other wetland functions.
|
|
Upcoming events
Unless otherwise indicated, events are free with no registration required.
Sign up to receive notices about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities including announcements for last-minute events and volunteer opportunities that don't make it into the newsletter.
See the full calendar for latest information.
Bird and Nature Adventures
Sunday August 7, 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Learn Prairie Plant ID with naturalist guides Lynn Persson and Eva Roos
Sunday Sept 4, 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Summer feasting with Master Naturalist Kathlean Wolf
AND
first Sunday of EVERY month, year-round, ALWAYS 1:30 pm – 3 pm
Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park - North Unit, 6098 N Sherman Ave. Follow N. Sherman Ave. north to the parking area at the end of the gravel road.
Contact: Paul Noeldner, paul_noeldner@hotmail.com, 608-698-0104
Madison Parks bird and nature adventure page
Beginning Birders at Cherokee Marsh with Madison Audubon (waitlist)
Saturday August 6, 9:00 am – 10:30 am
More information and to join the waitlist
Paddling - Intro to Canoe, with MSCR. MSCR provides instruction, lifejackets, boats, and paddles.
Saturday August 6, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
More information and to register
Birding by Boat with Madison Audubon (waitlist)
Sunday August 7, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Join Madison Audubon and the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin for a slow paddle exploring the incredible diversity of Cherokee Marsh at sunset. Get a great experience looking for birds, insects, and aquatic plants by boat; we expect to see species like Green Heron, Kingfishers, swallows, Sora, and more!
More information and to join the waitlist
Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day 2022
Saturday, August 20, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
See story above in this newsletter.
Paddling - Intro to Kayak, with MSCR. MSCR provides instruction, lifejackets, boats, and paddles.
Saturday, August 20 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
More information and to register
Paddle Cherokee Marsh with State Senator Melissa Agard
Wednesday August 31 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join State Senator Melissa Agard and her staff for a paddle with the Friends of Cherokee Marsh on the upper Yahara River at Cherokee Marsh. Launch at the paddlecraft landing at the corner of Burning Wood Way and Mosinee Lane in the Cherokee Park neighborhood. If you want to participate but need a boat, please contact Jan at 608-215-0426. Event will be canceled if thunderstorms threaten, if it is raining, or if winds are greater than 15 mph. See web calendar at Cherokeemarsh.org for cancellation information, will be posted by 8 am on day of event.
Meet the Friends at the Northside Farmers Market
Sunday, Sept 11, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
We'll be tabling at the market. Stop by and say hi!
Northside TownCenter, 1865 Northport Dr, near Willy St Co-op.
Beyond Backyard Birding with Madison Audubon
Sat, Sept 24, 7:30 am – 9:30 am
More information and register
Help remove invasive phragmites (giant reed grass)
We'll be continuing our ongoing project to keep the high-quality wetlands in the Cherokee Marsh State Natural Area free from phragmites and invasive cattails. We'll have work parties from mid-August through September.
To be informed of volunteer events, be sure you are signed up to receive event notices.
Sign up to receive event notices.
Board meetings
Wed, August 17, 5:30 – 7 pm
AND
Wed, September 21, 5:30 – 7 pm
Our board of directors is responsible for planning, coordinating, communicating, and managing our activities. Everyone is welcome to attend board meetings. We've resumed in-person meetings in the Warner Park Community Recreation Center or outdoors at the Warner Park rainbow shelter. Contact janaxelson@gmail.com to confirm location.
Save the dates
Sun, Oct 2, 1:30 pm: Fall Colors at Cherokee, with naturalist guide Sean Gere, Cherokee Marsh, North Unit
Wed, Oct 12, 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Tour the North Unit with Parks staff
Sat, Oct 15 Hayrides and hikes
Self-guided nature adventures
Get ideas for your own self-guided nature adventures at Cherokee Marsh and other locations.
tinyurl.com/selfguided-adventures
|
|
|
|
