We're Thankful for Our Community
As threats like urban sprawl and climate change increase, demand for land conservation as a solution is increasing too - and thanks to YOU, our amazing community, we're working hard to meet that demand! 2023 saw our land protection team grow and our project pipeline move steadily forward. We're so grateful that your support and passion made that happen. Wait 'til you see all the amazing land we're going to protect in 2024!
If you haven't had the chance to donate yet in 2023, consider making a gift before the end of the year so we can hit the ground running in 2024! Plus, a donation for land conservation makes a GREAT last-minute present!
New Driftless Trail Segment Opening January 1st
We're starting the New Year on a high note with the opening of the Knobs Road Trail! This 2.7-mile trail meanders across a beautiful grass-fed beef farm and includes a spring-fed stream, stunning vistas, and much more! The trail guide for this segment will be posted next week on our Driftless Trail page. Many thanks to trail testers who provided great feedback on this segment during our trial phase this fall (photo by Mike Hedemark).
Don't Miss the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Conference
Learn more about prescribed fire and how to implement this vital natural process on your own land with the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council! Their yearly conference is coming up February 2-3, 2024, at UW-Platteville. Register for one or both days. Find more details and get your tickets today by visiting the event page.
Dale and Doris Moody are Wisconsin's Bluebirders of the Year
We're delighted to share that our board president Dale Moody and his wife Doris have received the 2023 Bluebirders of the Year Award from the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin! They've been tending dozens of nest boxes for over 25 years, which have fledged nearly 6,000 young bluebirds. Read more about this amazing accomplishment here!
Volunteer Opportunities
Welcome in the New Year by making a difference at our beautiful nature preserves! Join our bi-weekly volunteer workdays:
Weekends at Wild Oaks: 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. Upcoming dates: 1/6, 1/20
Sundays at Sardeson: 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. Upcoming dates: 1/7, 1/21
Wednesdays at the Wetland: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Upcoming dates: 1/3, 1/17
Find more details and let us know you're coming at our Volunteer page.
Notes From the Field
The days are short, the sky is gray, there's not even a wisp of snow on the ground - but it's a beautiful time of year anyways! For one thing, the Driftless is always stunning, and with the leaves off, our ancient hills truly stand out in all their water-carved grace. For another, it's wonderfully satisfying to look back at the rest of the year, and see how far we came and how much we got done. Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing some tremendous accomplishments from 2023 - keep an eye on your email and on our Facebook and Instagram!
And finally, during this holiday season, it's beautiful to see the way people come together for one another and for the good of the world. Our DALC community is a shining example of this. I'm so grateful to everyone who's sent us a gift or a kind message, shared their excitement about our projects, or spread the word about protecting our amazing Driftless. I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful rest of December and a very happy New Year!
Emilee Martell
Development Associate