Fall is my favorite time of year at Wehr Nature Center. The buses arrive filled with students eager to discover the wetlands, forests, and wildlife that make Wehr so special. As the leaves begin to change, our trails take on an almost enchanted feel—and we’re gearing up for some of our favorite fall traditions, including Friends of Wehr’s Cider Sunday and our three-night Halloween Haunts.

This fall, we’re also excited to offer several new free programs made possible through community partnerships. Add something new to your fall routine with our Nature Journal Club or Tai Chi Walking Club—two wonderful ways to slow down, get outside, and experience Wehr from a fresh perspective. Don’t forget about our other clubs who have been featured all year such as Camera Club, Metro Audubon, Wild Ones, and the Astronomical Society. 

Attending a Wehr program or event is one of the best ways to support the nature center. You get to try something new, connect with others, and spend time in nature while helping us continue to provide meaningful experiences for our community.

Looking for a few more ideas for your fall bucket list? Consider:

* Gathering your scout or youth group, family, or friends for an Owl Prowl

* Joining our Intro to Native Gardening Workshop and getting a head start on planning next spring’s garden

* Giving yourself the gift of forest bathing

* Celebrating the winter solstice at Wehr

* Joining us for a full moon walk, and more!

Expanding Access to Nature

In the spirit of partnership and accessibility, I’d also like to highlight an important collaboration that is helping bring outdoor experiences to more than 1,000 Milwaukee-area students through our Kids in the Park Scholarship Fund.

For the second year, Wehr is partnering with The Nature Conservancy to give Milwaukee youth the opportunity to participate in hands-on outdoor learning experiences they might not otherwise have access to. With a shared mission to inspire current and future generations to love and value the natural world, The Nature Conservancy has generously contributed $5,000 to the program in 2026—funding nearly half of its cost—as well as supporting the Teen Conservation Club.

With your help, we can do even more.

Give Early. Give to Wehr.

This holiday season, please consider giving early to Wehr Nature Center. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to help expand access to the outdoors and ensure more young people have the opportunity to experience the benefits of nature.

Our Early Giving Campaign launches November 1 on the Friends of Wehr page. Watch for more information about how you can help make these experiences possible.

Planning for Wehr’s Future 

There’s more happening behind the scenes, too. Since 2024, Wehr has been working to advance its Site Improvement Plan. In partnership with Friends of Wehr and Milwaukee County Parks, we hope to break ground on a new Stewardship Garage and Service Yard by the end of this year. Be sure to take a look at the plans and learn more through the link provided.

And finally, in case you missed it, the results are in from the 2026 BioBlitz, held in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Museum! Land Manager Jeff Veglahn shares the story in a recent blog post, highlighting some of the exciting and unexpected discoveries made during this year’s event.

There’s always something new to discover at Wehr. This fall, we hope you’ll join us on the trails, try a new program, bring someone along, and help us make sure that everyone has an opportunity to connect with nature.