Wednesday, April 8, 2026
5 - 7pm
Menomonee Valley
Registration required

Event Description
Discover how even small spaces can support healthy ecosystems. This hands-on workshop explores the power of native plants in seasonal container gardening, with a focus on balconies, patios, and other urban settings.

Led by Felicia Stelsel, small business owner of Pollinator Patios and a UEC Land Steward, participants will learn how to assess site conditions, choose appropriate native plants, and care for containers throughout the growing season. We’ll compare plugs versus seeds, explore pairing plant types for extended bloom and visual interest, and discuss options including flowering plants, shrubs, and vines.

Together, we’ll plant a real container at the Menomonee Valley branch, leaning into thrifty and upcycled approaches where possible. Felicia will also share container examples from home to inspire creative, accessible gardening ideas. Registration includes a voucher for a free $8 plant from the Urban Ecology Center plant sale.

This workshop is ideal for adults interested in sustainable gardening, supporting pollinators, and caring for the land—no yard required.

For questions about this program, please contact Director of Community Programs, Cassie Bauer, at cbauer@urbanecologycenter.org.

For help with the registration process, please contact Program Systems Manager, Augie Rodenbeck, at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org or (414) 626-8518.

Registration required

Pick your price
Personal financial situations vary widely so we provide multiple pricing options to make our programs accessible. The highest listed price fully covers the cost of the program. Lower prices reflect the generosity of our supporters who help us ensure programs are available to everyone. Please choose the option that best fits you, your family, and your guests.

Confirmation/Cancellation Policy:
If you sign up for a program and your plans change, we kindly request that you let us know at least 10 business days in advance so we have the opportunity to offer a program to others. We will provide refunds as follows: 10 business days or more: full refund, 5-9 business days: 50% refund, 0-4 business days: no refund.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026
5 - 7pm
Riverside Park
Registration required

Event Description
Move beyond turf grass and learn how to design your backyard or green space to better support pollinators and local wildlife. This interactive workshop focuses on selecting trees, shrubs, and flowers that provide continuous blooms throughout the growing season.

Participants will explore how to use a pollinator calendar to map bloom times by month and create a personalized planting plan. We’ll work through a draft pollinator calendar together and demonstrate tools you can use at home. The program includes a short outdoor walk to observe where pollinators are active right now, followed by a visit to nearby community garden spaces to see pollinator-friendly design in action.

Discussion will cover projects at multiple scales, from small yards to shared and managed spaces, along with concepts of ecological reconciliation and neighborhood-level impact. This workshop is designed for adults, homeowners, and property managers looking to make meaningful, place-based changes. Bring your questions and curiosity.

For questions about this program, please contact Director of Community Programs, Cassie Bauer, at cbauer@urbanecologycenter.org.

For help with the registration process, please contact Program Systems Manager, Augie Rodenbeck, at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org or (414) 626-8518.

Registration required

Pick your price
Personal financial situations vary widely so we provide multiple pricing options to make our programs accessible. The highest listed price fully covers the cost of the program. Lower prices reflect the generosity of our supporters who help us ensure programs are available to everyone. Please choose the option that best fits you, your family, and your guests.

Confirmation/Cancellation Policy:
If you sign up for a program and your plans change, we kindly request that you let us know at least 10 business days in advance so we have the opportunity to offer a program to others. We will provide refunds as follows: 10 business days or more: full refund, 5-9 business days: 50% refund, 0-4 business days: no refund.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026
5 - 7pm
Washington Park
Registration required

Event Description
This one-time, two-hour workshop at the Urban Ecology Center’s Riverside Park location is led by Wisconsin Master Naturalist educator and artist Kathy DeVries. Participants will explore foundational nature journaling techniques that blend art, science, and reflection. The workshop builds observation skills using words, pictures, and numbers; encouraging curiosity, creativity, and deeper connection to nature in your own background. No art or science background necessary. We will balance spending some time outdoors while practicing techniques indoors. 

Registration includes: A simple Nature Journal (to take with you when you go), access to rulers, hand lenses, pencils, and coloring tools to enhance your experience. 

Bring your questions! 

For questions about this program, please contact Director of Community Programs, Cassie Bauer, at cbauer@urbanecologycenter.org.

For help with the registration process, please contact Program Systems Manager, Augie Rodenbeck, at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org or (414) 626-8518.

Registration required

Pick your price
Personal financial situations vary widely so we provide multiple pricing options to make our programs accessible. The highest listed price fully covers the cost of the program. Lower prices reflect the generosity of our supporters who help us ensure programs are available to everyone. Please choose the option that best fits you, your family, and your guests.

Confirmation/Cancellation Policy:
If you sign up for a program and your plans change, we kindly request that you let us know at least 10 business days in advance so we have the opportunity to offer a program to others. We will provide refunds as follows: 10 business days or more: full refund, 5-9 business days: 50% refund, 0-4 business days: no refund.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026
5 - 7pm
Washington Park
Registration required

Event Description
Take a closer look at the living legacy growing all around us. Join Elton Rogers, Urban Forester with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and a board-certified master arborist, for a fascinating deep dive into Milwaukee’s urban forest: past, present, and future.

Discover the historically important tree species that helped shape the city, along with fruit and nut trees that will continue to nourish Milwaukee’s neighborhoods for generations to come. The program begins with a one-hour indoor presentation, followed by a one-hour guided walk through Washington Park, where you’ll see these stories rooted in the landscape itself.

Learn how urban forestry and reforestation efforts are strengthening Milwaukee’s ecosystems, improving resilience, and enhancing everyday life in the city. 

Come curious, ask questions, and leave inspired!

For questions about this program, please contact Director of Community Programs, Cassie Bauer, at cbauer@urbanecologycenter.org.

For help with the registration process, please contact Program Systems Manager, Augie Rodenbeck, at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org or (414) 626-8518.

Registration required

Pick your price
Personal financial situations vary widely so we provide multiple pricing options to make our programs accessible. The highest listed price fully covers the cost of the program. Lower prices reflect the generosity of our supporters who help us ensure programs are available to everyone. Please choose the option that best fits you, your family, and your guests.

Confirmation/Cancellation Policy:
If you sign up for a program and your plans change, we kindly request that you let us know at least 10 business days in advance so we have the opportunity to offer a program to others. We will provide refunds as follows: 10 business days or more: full refund, 5-9 business days: 50% refund, 0-4 business days: no refund.