Women of WWOA

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The Women of WWOA offers educational activities and a supportive atmosphere for women landowners to learn more about caring for their woodlands. The group gathers two to three times a year to spend a day learning from each other and natural resource professionals.

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Benefits of joining Women of WWOA (WOWWOA)

    • Increase your woodland knowledge and gain personal satisfaction

    • Learn the basics of caring for and improving your land

    • Challenge yourself to try something new

    • Hear from other women what they are doing on their woodland

    • Make new woodland friends from around the state

    • Find new ideas and learn about activities to involve family members

    • Grow your understanding of good land stewardship

    • Private Facebook group of all women

Gatherings cover a variety of topics such as forest health, tree and wildflower identification, creating wildlife habitat, safety in the woods, planning your projects, fire prevention, and woodland activities for children. You input is important in helping us select topics for each gathering. Come join us to meet other women and learn more about your woodlands.

If you would like to be added to our email distribution list for upcoming gatherings, please contact the WWOA office.

If you would like to stay in touch with the women in the group, please request to join the Women of WWOA Facebook group.

Do you have an idea for our spring/fall gatherings? Let us know! All are welcome to join the Women of WWOA steering committee to help us plan and organize our biannual gatherings. Send an email to volunteer.wwoa@gmail.com or call us at 715-346-4798 for more information.

Upcoming 2024 WOWWOA Events

Saturday, April 27, 2024 – REGISTRATION is OPEN

Join us for a gathering in the west central part of Wisconsin in Chippewa County.
We will gather for a fun morning presentation and then after lunch we will tour TM Culbert & Family LLC woodland near Holcombe.

 

Save the Date – Saturday, October 19, 2024

Join us for a gathering in the central part of Wisconsin.
We will be touring REGI in Antigo to learn more about raptors and then spend the afternoon taking a walking tour of the Zdanovec’s Outback (National Tree Farmers!) woodland.
Registration information and more details will be available as we get closer to the date, but mark your calendar NOW!

Past WOWWOA Events

 

Saturday, October 21, 2023
We enjoyed a day at the historic Woodside Ranch near Mauston.  We learned about school forests, youth activities, and after a delicious lunch, enjoy a tractor and wagon ride through their southern fields, pastures, and woods.
At the end of the day, a number of us went for an enjoyable horseback ride through the northern side of the property.

In October 2022, we visited the Boston School Forest in Plover, WI. We were able to hear the background history of the property from Kayla Lockman, the Program Leader at the Boston School Forest, as well as how the forest is utilized in curriculum throughout all grades in the Stevens Point School District. We went on a walk throughout the school forest with Kayla where she pointed out forest management techniques being implemented, and invasive species control methods being used. Jeremy Natzke, UW-Stevens Point Graduate Teaching Assistant, presented on useful nature apps that are great for use in the outdoors. To finish off the day Nancy Bozek, WWOA’s Executive Director, and Violet Thielke, WWOA’s Office Assistant, lead a walk through the forest speaking on tree and invasive ID, forest professionals, and addressing any concerns and questions about the current state of the forest industry in Wisconsin. We were blessed with great weather, terrific speakers, and wonderful group of women!

In June 2022, we visited WOWWOA member Jacki Hoffman’s property near Black River Falls. With lots of women in attendance to this event we did brief introductions. Kerry Burnside, Jacki’s physical therapist, taught us breathing exercises and routine exercises to limber your body up before working in your woods to prevent injuries. Ellen Wynkoop shared her experiences about all things Monarch butterflies and Milkweed. Following lunch, the women had the opportunity to show-and-tell their favorite hand tool that they regularly use in their woodland. Then there were two workshop style stations women could choose from one of which being the opportunity to test lighter weight electric and gas-powered woodland tools, with Don Hoffman and Brian Borreson. The other workshop was creating a simple leaf print notecard with Jacki Hoffman that you could take home. The Hoffman’s woodland was a beautiful place to host this Women of WWOA event!

In October 2021, we visited Levis/Trow Mound Recreational Area near Neillsville.  In the morning we learned the history, uses and management of the area and then hiked up a sandstone bluff or mound with Steve Meurett of Neillsville Trails Association for a beautiful view.  After lunch, Diane Lueck taught us the basics of using a compass and we learned how to calculate our pace.  We then took a nature walk and stopped to discuss things such as the difference between an aspen and a birch tree, why some trees grow in clumps and what is important when harvesting them, and of course how to use our new compass and pace skills for exploring.

In July 2021, we went back to WOWWOA member Diane Lueck’s property near Coloma to see the changes and updates since we visited in 2016.  She had selected the site for her cabin (with a few changes after attending the April 2019 session on wildfire prevention) and the very space efficient building had been completed.  Diane covered the geology of the area.  Then we took a walk to see her native prairie restoration.  We learned about the various plants that are returning to the area that was cleared of brush a few years ago.  After lunch we discussed safety in the woods or rural areas, especially for women who are alone.  Each participant received a tick prevention safety kit and special safety whistle.

In October 2019, the Women of WWOA  headed to Wheeler, Wisconsin, along with fellow Minnesota Women’s Woodland Network for a visit to WOWWOA member Sally Conklin’s Tree Farm. We toured Sally’s tree farm along with her forester, Jay Jordan of Jordan Forestry, to learn about converting plantations to a natural forest and special ornamentals that Sally has planted. We also learned about the reestablishment of native prairies, pollinators and preventing invasives and even helped spread prairie seeds! We wrapped up the day making porch pots for everyone to take home to display on their front porch.

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Spring is in the air (even if it isn’t on the ground) and so are Wisconsin wildfires.  In April 2019, The Women of WWOA learned how to make our woodlands and buildings more FireWise with Amy Luebke of WI DNR.  Mary and Judy Kucksdorf  brought out the kid in each of us with ideas on how to engage the “next generation” such as an egg carton scavenger hunt and twig letter art.   Marcia Frost Vahradian of V’s Forestry Consulting LLC lead a walk to learn more about Wisconsin’s pines, where they grow, and how to keep them healthy. Helen Moberg shared with us her experiences with a sweet spring tradition – maple syruping in which we poured over ice cream for a end-of-the-day treat!

The Women of WWOA had a great time at the Aldo Leopold Center in October 2018 learning more about Aldo Leopold and his legacy. We enjoyed tours of “The Shack” which is a rebuilt chicken coop along the Wisconsin River where Leopold and his family would spend weekends at.  Although it was a blustery day, we wrapped up the tour with with warm soup for lunch at the Center. Helen Moberg and Diane Humphrey Lueck taught us all about nature journaling, learning more about our land,  just like Leopold used to do!

Other Resources & Activities for Women

 

Becoming An Outdoors Women (BOW) 

Becoming An Outdoors Woman offers year round activities and trips for adult women of any age or fitness level in a hands-on, supportive atmosphere.  They offer international and Wisconsin based programs to learn more about outdoor skills.

  • Check the BOW Calendar page for  local and international trips offered throughout the year.

Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC)

Wisconsin Women in Conservation is a state-wide collaborative effort led by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in partnership with Renewing the Countryside, the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), and Wisconsin Farmers Union. A three-year multi-faceted project funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), WiWiC brings together Wisconsin women landowners to connect and learn about conservation practices, resources, and funding opportunities.

Women’s Environmental Institute (WEI)

The Women’s Environmental Institute is an environmental research, renewal, and retreat center designed to create and share knowledge about environmental issues and policies relevant to women, children, and identified communities affected by environmental injustice; to promote agricultural justice, organic and sustainable agriculture and ecological awareness; and to support activism that influences public policy and promotes social change. [Located in Minnesota]

Select Current WEI Activities.  Check their Calendar of Events for numerous classes throughout the year.

Women Owning Woodlands (WOW)

The Women Owning Woodlands web project strives to bring topical, accessible, and current forestry information to woodland owners.

-Additional resources from the national Women Owning Woodlands Virtual Conference held March 3rd-5th, 2022

Other Resources for Women 

 

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