OUR VISION

The Friends of Wehr believe that every person deserves to have access to nature year round. As the nonprofit partner of the Wehr Nature Center, the Friends of Wehr supports Wehr’s mission of inspiring current and future generations to explore and value the natural world.

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OUR HISTORY

THE IMPACT

Our over 1000 members help us provide financial support to every aspect of the Wehr Nature Center.

We Support

a volunteer corps that donates over 14,000 hours of service each year

building and trail enhancements

educational programming for all ages

education animals

exhibits and electronic and print media

natural areas stewardship

programming and infrastructure for access and inclusion

public events

scholarships for school field trips

summer interns

Annual Report

The board meets monthly to make decisions about the operations and projects of the Friends of Wehr.

Cindy Lorentzen

Cindy Lorentzen, President

Cindy’s love of nature brought her to the Wehr Nature Center as a volunteer and board member. With diverse communications and marketing experience, she has worked in the corporate and non-profit industries. She holds an undergraduate degree from Alverno College and a master’s degree from Marquette University. Cindy has lived in Franklin with her husband for over 20 years.

Paul Brings

Paul Brings, Director

Paul has served as a director on the Friends of Wehr Board for 13 years and president of the board for ten years, stepping down in 2019. He started as a naturalist at Wehr in 1974 and served as the University of Wisconsin Extension nature education agent at Wehr for 13 years. In addition, Paul served as the chairman of the Milwaukee County Extension Office and Southeast Wisconsin District Director before retiring in 2002. Since retiring, he has coached high school tennis for 12 years. Paul is married with two children and five grandsons.

Tim

Tim McCollow

Director

Tim comes by his love of nature honestly: he began his bug collection at age 7 and owned a professional microscope by age 9. Tim is a lifelong Milwaukeean. He received his BS in Zoology from UW-Madison. He stayed at Madison for his Masters coursework, but switched field to Energy Analysis during the Carter energy crisis.

Tim worked for We Energies for 23 years in the areas of natural gas procurement, rate cases, power plant contract administration and risk management. In 2020, he pivoted and began working for the City of Milwaukee in Mayor Barrett’s Environmental Collaboration Office - the City’s team of eco-activists. In 2012, Tim created the program called HOME GR/OWN - repurposing vacant City-owned lots to pocket parks, gardens, orchards and healthy green spaces in challenged neighborhoods. Tim ran the HOME GR/OWN initiative from 2012 - 2020, winning numerous local, national and international awards.Tim brought together disparate groups such as neighbors, water engineers, public health advocates, foundations and numerous City departments to create 34 unique public spaces.

Taking early retirement, Tim focuses on his wife Tracy, the new puppy and his yard -man expression of Tim’s love for nature and landscaping. Tim and his dog have walked scores of area parks, nature reserves and forests in the last three years. Tim also serves on the Board of Groundwork Milwaukee.

Melissa

Melissa Deutsch

Member

Melissa has worked in education for over 20 years and is currently the Director of Instruction at Indian Community School in Franklin, WI.  During her career, she has also been a 5th grade classroom teacher, Instructional Coach, Project-Based Learning specialist, and Curriculum Coordinator. She received an Undergraduate Degree from UW-LaCrosse, a Masters Degree in Education from Viterbo University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Edgewood College.

Melissa spends much of her free time in nature on hiking trails. She has hiked several hundred miles of the Ice Age Trail and climbed eleven of the Colorado “14ers” (peaks that exceed 14,000 feet).  She has enjoyed walking on the trails at Wehr for many years.  Melissa is also an active member of the Ice Age Trail Alliance and has volunteered many hours to land restoration projects, such as trail development and maintenance, boardwalk building, and invasive species removal.  Melissa lives in Franklin with her husband and two children.

 

Ted Bosch

Ted Bosch,

Vice President

After retiring in 2009 from the Department of Natural Resources, Ted began taking his grandson to the Little Wonders and NatureNauts classes at Wehr Nature Center and volunteered for the Wheel and Chip Society. Serving as a Friends of Wehr board member, he participates in the finance committee and helps make updates to the website. Ted has routinely worked to support the major fundraising events: Plant Day, Cider Sunday, Maple Sugar Days, and Halloween Haunts.

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Liz Terasek

Secretary

 

Greg

Greg Joers, Director

 

Greg is retired and volunteers at the Milwaukee Art Museum, Greendale School system as a “reading buddy,” past volunteer at Discovery World, member of Suburban Singers Chorus and church choir. He enjoys golf, reading, cooking, among other things. He is widowed with two daughters and two granddaughters in college.

Lucas Arnell

Lucas Amell,

Member

As a tax advisor/financial advisor at Focused Tax Solutions/Choice Advisors, Lucas helps families define and achieve their financial goals. Born and raised in the Milwaukee area, he has developed a strong desire to give back to his community. As a graduate of Carroll University, Lucas values education, respect, integrity and involvement, which applies to both his practice and daily life. In his free time Lucas can be found hiking, camping, kayaking, reading, painting, playing piano, traveling, cooking, or doing yoga.

Paul Kohlmann

Paul Kohlmann

Director

Paul is a project management and communications professional, working with organizations across diverse industries in enhancing operational mechanisms and growing their professional brands. He helps Friends of Wehr by creating communication strategies and quality promotional initiatives. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Project Management and an Associate of Science Degree in Visual Communications from ITT Technical Institution in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Jim W

James Wroblewski, Treasurer/Store Manager

Jim’s background is a combination of business and banking. Jim was an international and corporate banker with Bank One in Milwaukee as a vice president and division head of international banking. He also was a college instructor for 17 years. He retired from banking and teaching in 1995 and became president of two successful corporations. He finally retired in 2015. He volunteered at Wehr Nature Center in 2015 and became its Treasurer, a board member and Nature Store manager. His past awards include the Milwaukee Archdiocese Chancellor’s Award, Milwaukee County Family of the Year, Scouting awards, American Rental Association business of the year, and the Chamber of Commerce business of the year. He dedicates his time to the Friends of Wehr.

jennifer head shot

Jennifer Lazewski, Director

Jennifer joined the board of Friends of Wehr in 2021 after volunteering and presenting programs at Wehr for several years. She is a Master Naturalist and Master Gardener Volunteer who enjoys educating others about native plants, birds, and native bees. After earlier careers as an attorney and an international business operations manager, she feels fortunate to work in conservation professionally as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. May is her favorite time at Wehr with the return of warblers and bumble bees, but fall on the prairie is a close second with the backdrop of beautiful colored trees.

Rebecca

Rebecca Lane

Director

Joe Roubik

Joe Roubik,

Director

Joe joined the board of Friends of Wehr in 2021. He was born and raised in West Allis, WI and currently lives in Muskego, WI. He has been a frequent visitor of the Wehr Nature Center and enjoys many nature activities including camping, hiking, biking, boating, and fishing. Joe works as an Independent Wealth Advisor and Tax Preparer, owning and operating two businesses, MoneyWise Planning Group LLC and Focused Tax Solutions of Greenfield.

Wehr Nature Center- Director
Carol Howard
Friends of Wehr Executive Assistant
Jan Alexander,    Jessica Del Toro,    Rachel Ingrasci
Part time help

We are Hiring!

Are you...

  • Passionate about the environment?
  • Like to work outside?
  • Studying or wish to study a career in natural resources?

The Friends of Wehr in partnership with Milwaukee County Parks are hiring two positions for Summer 2024. Don't be shy, go on and apply!

Land Steward Intern

Environmental Education Intern

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