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Aldo Leopold Celebration

2025 Aldo Leopold Celebration Schedule of Events

Thursday, Feb. 27

Location: Viterbo University Fine Arts Center Nola Starling Recital Hall

7–8:30 p.m. A Visit from Will Dilg, a Steve Marking Performance – Presented by the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership

Saturday, March 1

Location: The Nature Place in Myrick Park, La Crosse

9–10:15 a.m. “Water Ways in the Driftless: Leopold's Land (and Water) Ethics in a time of Deluge” – Marshview Room

  • Stephanie Hanna, The Nature Center – Welcome
  • Rick Kyte, Viterbo University – Reading from Leopold’s Sand County Almanac
  • Gretchen Pfeiffer, MVC – Leopold land ethic and water issues and the Coon Creek project legacy 
  • Bob Micheel, Monroe County – Dam removal proposals for the Coon Creek and West Fork watersheds 
  • Jason Freund, Trout Unlimited & UW La Crosse – Effects on dam decommissioning for trout streams 

9 a.m.–noon Tables and Displays – 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 the 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 and share information about the Friends Group.    
  • ORA Trails
    • Learn about steam 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.

9:30–11:30 a.m. Family Activities (Nature Saturday at TNP) 

10:45 a.m. "Driftless Water Issues and the Work of the Mississipi River Basin" by Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel – Marshview Room

Madeline Hein, 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. 

2–4:30 p.m. Afternoon Celebration – ORA Community Trail Farm, W5701–W5725 WIS-33, La Crosse

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