Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Environmental education: the Center offers programs for people of all ages and abilities. We serve over 30,000 children and adults annually through on-site and off-site programs ranging from environmental education, summer camps, and Nature art classes, to our master naturalist course. The Center also offers programming for special needs individuals such as the visually impaired, young cancer survivors and older adults with cognitive challenges. In addition, we offer the most comprehensive raptor education program in the midwest, with 15 resident birds of prey; members of our permanent family who cannot be released back into the wild. Our feathered ambassadors reached over 83,000 people live and virtually during the year.

Land conservation: our 185 acres of forest, wetlands, prairie, ravines, bluffs, and shoreline are at the heart of our conservation activity and nature-based community programming. The land is our outdoor classroom and the foundation for our unique educational experiences. Guided by our comprehensive land management plan, our vision is to create a biologically and visually diverse 21st century landscape on this property, which is among the most ecologically important tracts of land in greater milwaukee. In 2023, we completed the central wetlands loop, which expanded wheelchair friendly trail offerings at the Center to over 2 miles. Work also commenced on the hardwood swamp restoration project phase 2, including removal of 450 ash trees, buckthorn, and other invasive plant control throughout the project area. Staff and volunteers also planted 19 honorary and memorial trees.

Nature preschool: this program gives early learners (up to age six) access to nature-based experiences. Our award-winning Nature preschool, founded in 2003, was one of the first of its kind in the nation. Housed in the Center's gold leed certified building, our preschool is deeply committed to environmental education and active learning for all students. Through outreach programming, our early childhood programs provide the Nature preschool experience to students from the most economically challenged areas of milwaukee.