In partnership with local conservation organizations in the La Crosse Area, we are proud to be a part of the La Crosse Leopold days 2025 Celebration!

This year’s Aldo Leopold celebration of the renowned Wisconsin ecologist will explore “Water Ways in the Driftless: Leopold’s Land (and Water) Ethic in a Time of Deluge.” The observance includes activities and events on Thursday, February 27 at Viterbo’s Recital Hall and on Saturday March 1 from 9:00 a.m.- noon at The Nature Place in La Crosse’s Myrick Park and from 2:00-4:30 p.m. at the ORA Community Trails Farm. All events are FREE and open to the public.

EVENT ACTIVITIES TIMELINE

Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Viterbo Recital Hall, Viterbo University Fine Arts Center
929 Jackson St, La Crosse, WI 54601

“A Visit from Will Dilg” a Steve Marking performance presented by D.B. Reinhart Institute Steven Marking plays Will Dilg in an inspiring, one-man performance. An avid trout fisherman and Chicago advertising executive, Will Dilg and his wife spent their summers on a houseboat in Winona, Minn. After suffering from the drowning death of his son in the early 1920’s, Dilg rose from the depths of depression to save a 261 mile stretch of Mississippi River backwaters from drainage for agriculture. This stretch of river is now known as the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Through Dilg’s creation of the Izaak Walton League of America and successful engagement of private and public organizations, Dilg petitioned Congress for this stretch of the river to become the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The refuge is one of more than 500 national wildlife refuges offering high quality wildlife habitat and opportunities for public recreation.

Saturday, March 1 from 9:00 a.m. - Noon
The Nature Place in Myrick Park, La Crosse
789 Myrick Park Dr, La Crosse, WI 54601

9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. – Family Activities  

Meet our live critters, do some nature-themed activities, and create a nature-focused craft.

9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. – Speakers in the Marshview Room

• Welcome from Stephanie Hanna of The Nature Place
• Rick Kyte reading from Leopold's Sand County Almanac 
• Gretchen Pfeiffer of Mississippi Valley Conservancy – Leopold land ethic and water issues and the Coon Creek project legacy
• Bob Micheel, Monroe County Land conservation director on the dam removal proposals for the Coon Creek and West Fork watersheds
• Jason Freund – TU Coulee Region president and UWL Biology professor on the effects of dam decommissioning for trout streams

10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. – Break 

10:45 a.m. – Speaker in the Marshview Room

Madeline Heim, the Journal Sentinel and Mississippi River basin Ag & Water Desk reporter on her coverage of Driftless Water issues and the work of the Mississippi River basin Ag and Water Desk to make reporting on these issues free and available to any media outlets.

Reading from Sand County Almanac. Followed by a reading from Sand County Almanac.

9:00 a.m.-Noon – Tables and Displays in the Atrium

Valley Stewardship Network
Learn how you can become a Water Action Volunteer (WAV) and monitor water quality in a stream near you. Ben Johnston will tell you all about WAV, the statewide citizen-science program of UW Extension and the Wisconsin DNR.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Alicia Carhart will bring a poster highlighting changes in wild rice distribution on the river and the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program, as well as some herbarium specimens of wild rice and some other aquatic plants

Mississippi Valley Conservancy
Learn how land conservation helps prevent flooding and erosion in this time of climate change in SW Wisconsin. Volunteers from the Conservancy will share ways for you to get outdoors and get involved.

Friends of the Marsh
Members will describe marsh restoration efforts and share information about the Friends group.

ORA Trails 
ORA Trails will represent stream restoration plans and dreams for the Community Trail Farm, highlight native plant revegetation opportunities, and share research findings from recent stream sampling conducted at the site.

Saturday, March 1 from 2:00-4:30 p.m.
ORA Community Trail Farm, La Crosse
W5701–W5725 WIS-33, La Crosse, WI 54601

Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA) invites the community to extend the celebration at the Community Trail Farm with exploration and walking tours. Discover the connections between Aldo Leopold and Louis H. Pammel and their impacts on land ethics and conservation, and how these principles relate to the Community Trail Farm and surrounding areas today. Learn about stream ecology, understand the importance of restoration efforts, and enjoy engaging activities around a fire. 2-4:30 p.m.

Learn more about the Community Trail Farm here: https://www.oratrails.org/trail-farm/

CELEBRATION COMMITTEE

This local event is planned annually by the La Crosse Leopold Days Celebration Committee: a group of cooperating environmental and conservation organizations including The Nature Place, D. B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics and Leadership, Friends of the Marsh, Friends of the Blufflands, Friends of the Refuge – Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Brice Prairie Conservation Association, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, and Viterbo University.