Most events are free, with no registration required, unless otherwise noted.

Outdoor public walks are subject to cancellation due to the following weather conditions: 10 degrees Fahrenheit or less with a wind chill factor; excessively snowy, icy, or muddy conditions; thunderstorms; a heat index above 100 degrees Fahrenheit; air quality index above 200.

  • Sunday, November 16

    Family Nature Program: Patterns in Nature

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    This program is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Nature walk: 1:30–2:30 p.m., activities: 2:30–3:30 p.m. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, November 22

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, November 22

    FULL – Class: History of the Arboretum’s Lost City

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Explore the history and mysteries of the failed Lake Forest development project and the land that became part of the Arboretum. More than a century has elapsed! This indoor class will cover the personalities involved, why the project didn’t succeed, and the current status of the area. Instructor: Kathy Miner, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by November 18. Meet at the Visitor Center. CLASS IS FULL.

  • Sunday, November 23

    Nature Walk: The CCC and the Arboretum

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    In 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up its only camp on a university campus. More than 200 men served at Camp Madison before it closed in 1941. Learn how they contributed to the restoration of native Wisconsin ecosystems and walk through the landscape they helped create. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, November 27

    Visitor Center closed

    All day

    The Visitor Center will be closed Thanksgiving Day. Arboretum grounds remain open.

  • Sunday, November 30

    Scenic Stroll

    1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

    This gently paced walk explores ecological communities near the Visitor Center. Themes may include the land, plants, animals, other organisms, phenology, and ecology. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Routes are wheelchair accessible when weather allows. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, December 6

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Wingra Oak Savanna

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. (No restroom facilities at Wingra Oak Savanna.) Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, December 7

    Family Nature Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    This walk is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, December 13

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, December 14

    Nature Hike

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, this walk may cover sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, December 20

    Winter Solstice Night Walk

    4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

    Experience the transition to night near the shortest day of the year on this naturalist-led walk. (Solstice is the morning of December 21.) Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, register through Eventbrite by December 16: uw-madison-arboretum.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, December 21

    Family Nature Program: Winter Solstice

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    This program is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Nature walk: 1:30–2:30 p.m., activities: 2:30–3:30 p.m. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Wednesday, December 24

    Visitor Center closed

    All day

    The Visitor Center will be closed December 24 through January 3 for the winter holiday break. Arboretum grounds remain open.

  • Wednesday, December 31

    Visitor Center closed

    All day

    The Visitor Center will be closed December 24 through January 3 for the winter holiday break. Arboretum grounds remain open.

  • Saturday, January 3

    Visitor Center closed

    All day

    The Visitor Center will be closed December 24 through January 3 for the winter holiday break. Arboretum grounds remain open.

  • Sunday, January 4

    Family Nature Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    This walk is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, January 11

    Nature Hike

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, this walk may cover sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, January 15

    Quantifying Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Michelle Probst, Land and Water Scientist, Dane County. Restoring or converting land to permanent perennial vegetation can enhance soil's ability to store carbon, playing a vital role in reducing greenhouse gases. This session will summarize the Dane County Land & Water Resources Department’s effort to quantify the climate benefits achieved by establishing perennial cover in Dane County Parks and on private lands. Fee: $10. Register by January 11.

  • Sunday, January 18

    Family Nature Program: Animal Signs

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    This program is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Nature walk: 1:30–2:30 p.m., activities: 2:30–3:30 p.m. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Monday, January 19

    Visitor Center closed

    All day

    The Visitor Center will be closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Arboretum grounds remain open.

  • Thursday, January 22

    How Reciprocal Restoration Fosters Cultural Revitalization
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Ferin Davis Anderson, Natural Resources Manager, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Join Davis Anderson (Ojibwe) to learn about fire as an ecological and cultural tool to achieve beneficial and healing outcomes. We will discuss our relationship with fire and how we must find balance. It can be destructive but also revitalizing – it’s our duty to learn how to live with fire and be responsible stewards. Fee: $10. Register by January 18.

  • Saturday, January 24

    Class: Winter Woody Tree Identification

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    With the vibrancy of leafy growth gone, the winter quiet invites closer inspection of Wisconsin native trees. Learn how the curious clues found in tree buds, bark, and branches can assist with tree identification. Indoor and outdoor class. Instructor: Micah Kloppenburg, Arboretum ecological restoration outreach coordinator. Fee: $20. Register by January 20. Meet at the Visitor Center.

    Register for this event ($20)

  • Sunday, January 25

    Scenic Stroll

    1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

    This gently paced walk explores ecological communities near the Visitor Center. Themes may include the land, plants, animals, other organisms, phenology, and ecology. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Routes are wheelchair accessible when weather allows. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, January 29

    State Natural Areas at 75 Years: Charting a Meaningful Future in Challenging Times
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Matt Zine, Conservation Biologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Wisconsin State Natural Areas program is the oldest and largest such program in the nation. Zine will speak about how this successful program aims to work through unprecedented challenges in pragmatic ways and still meet goals to support natural areas for education, research, and protecting biological diversity. Fee: $10. Register by January 25.

  • Sunday, February 1

    Family Nature Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    This walk is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, February 5

    Arboretum Research Symposium

    10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

    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.

  • Sunday, February 8

    Nature Hike

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about the land, plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Geared for adults, this walk may cover sloping terrain. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, February 12

    The Invasive Golden Oyster Mushroom Is Affecting Local Fungi – Now What?
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Aishwarya Veerabahu, PhD Candidate, UW–Madison Department of Botany. Now that the ecological impacts of invasive golden oysters have been published and entered the public conversation, what happens next? Veerabahu, the Arboretum’s Leopold Research Fellow, will weave together the social, evolutionary, and ecological aspects of managing golden oyster mushrooms moving forward. Fee: $10. Register by February 8.

  • Sunday, February 15

    Family Nature Program: Winter Birds

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    This program is a fun, fascinating way for families with children elementary age and younger to explore the natural world. Nature walk: 1:30–2:30 p.m., activities: 2:30–3:30 p.m. Adults must attend. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, February 19

    Re-kindling Old Flames: Fire, Plant Reproduction, and Population Dynamics in Tallgrass Prairies
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Jared Beck (he/him), Research Ecologist, UW–Madison Arboretum. Why are prairies losing plant diversity? And what can we do about it? In this talk, Beck will explore how habitat fragmentation and fire combine to influence plant reproduction and plant populations in fragmented tallgrass prairies. Fee: $10. Register by February 15.

  • Saturday, February 21

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Grady Tract

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. (No restroom facilities at Grady Tract.) Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, February 22

    Scenic Stroll

    1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

    This gently paced walk explores ecological communities near the Visitor Center. Themes may include the land, plants, animals, other organisms, phenology, and ecology. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Routes are wheelchair accessible when weather allows. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Thursday, February 26

    State Parks: Valuing the Invaluable in a Time of Austerity
    Winter Enrichment Lecture

    10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Steven Davis, Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies, Edgewood University. Davis’s new book, The Other Public Lands, is the first comprehensive account of the natural resource lands owned and managed by the fifty states. Davis will explore how policymakers underestimate or ignore the spectacular real value found in our state parks in favor of a strategy of neglect and austerity. Fee: $10. Register by February 22.

  • Saturday, February 28

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. Event capacity is limited, please arrive by 9 a.m. More information: (608) 265-5214 or mkloppenburg@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, March 7

    Madison Reads Leopold: Voices of a Land Ethic
    Community Event

    1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

    Join us for a community reading of selections from A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold and writings by other environmental thinkers. Listeners may come and go throughout the event. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, March 8

    Nature Hike: Walking in Leopold's Footsteps

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Visit key sites and learn about Aldo Leopold’s early phenological research and experiments to restore Wisconsin ecosystems during his time as the Arboretum’s first research director. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and come prepared for weather. Walks canceled for unsafe conditions. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.