The Arboretum’s long-running Winter Enrichment series offers engaging talks and conversation for naturalists, volunteers, friends, and community members.

2025 Winter Enrichment Lectures

The 2025 lectures will take place on Thursday mornings in January and February, in person at the Visitor Center.

Lectures will have a new schedule! Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for social time and bookstore browsing. Lectures run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and will not be streamed or recorded. Lectures are $10 each and advance registration is required.

Registration is now open for the 2025 series.

Students can register for free using the student registration form (link opens in new tab).

The Arboretum Research Symposium will take place February 6, in person at the Visitor Center. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the program runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The symposium is a free event and no registration is required.

2025 Lectures

Thursday, January 16
FULL – Oak Origins: From Acorns to Species and the Tree of Life
Andrew Hipp, Director of the Herbarium, The Morton Arboretum

Hipp’s new book, Oak Origins: From Acorns to Species and the Tree of Life, delves into 50 million years of oak evolutionary history. Hipp will explore current worldwide oak genome research to understand the movement of genes between species and the evolution of oaks in real time. The talk will also consider how oak evolution shapes forests today and how it may shape them in the future. Fee: $10. REGISTRATION IS FULL.

Thursday, January 23
The Ho-Chunk People: Planning for the Future with Lessons from the Past
Molli Pauliot, PhD Candidate, UW–Madison Department of Anthropology

The Ho-Chunk people are closely connected with their ancestral homelands. In the twentieth century, the traditional practice of weaving baskets provided vital, stable income. Weavers now face an environmental crisis as emerald ash borer destroys black ash trees needed for basketry. They have partnered with Pauliot to preserve and revitalize the teachings of harvesting ash and making baskets. Fee: $10. Register by January 19.

Thursday, January 30
Saving Our Songbirds Together: Three Ways to Help at Home
Lisa Gaumnitz, Coordinator, SOS Save Our Songbirds

Thirty percent of North America’s birds have vanished since 1970, and warblers, finches, sparrows and blackbirds suffered the biggest losses. Gaumnitz will focus on three simple steps we can all take at home to help songbirds. She will also provide a display and giveaways to help people take those steps at home. Fee: $10. Register by January 26.

Thursday, February 6
Arboretum Research Symposium

Student, faculty, and other researchers will present findings from projects on Arboretum lands and in the Lake Wingra watershed. The research symposium is a free event, no registration required. Doors open at 9:30, program runs 10 to 12:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 13
Prospects and Perils for Pollinator Conservation in Cities
Patrick Bohlen, Director, UW–Madison Arboretum

Pollinators are in decline globally due to habitat loss. Urbanization is one of the fastest growing lands uses, which presents both opportunities and threats for pollinator conservation. Bohlen will provide a general overview of urban pollinator ecology conservation and present research on ways to improve pollinator habitat in urban landscapes. Fee: $10. Register by February 9.

Thursday, February 20
Mapping Teejop: Indigenous Histories of Madison
Kasey Keeler, Assistant Professor, UW–Madison Department of American Indian and Indigenous Studies

Using digital mapping technology, Mapping Teejop works to make Ho-Chunk and Indigenous past and presence in Madison accessible to all learners. Keeler will highlight the ongoing work of Mapping Teejop as a tool for place-based-learning, one that shares the history of this land with a broad audience to facilitate deeper knowledge and relationship with place. Fee: $10. Register by February 16.

Thursday, February 27
All that Buzz: Looking Back at the 2024 Periodical Cicada Emergence
PJ Liesch, Entomologist, UW–Madison Extension and Department of Entomology

In the spring of 2024, Wisconsin saw the emergence of Brood XIII periodical cicadas. These insects have a fascinating natural history and only emerge once every seventeen years. In this talk, we’ll take a closer look at the biology of these amazing insects and share findings of a recent community science project. Fee: $10. Register by February 23.