Raise Funds for Your Local Group by Pulling Invasive Plants
It’s time to pull together and raise funds during our annual Garlic Mustard Pull-A-Thon. Now in its seventh year, the event encourages folks across southeastern Wisconsin to protect their local woodlands by pulling this invasive plant. More people are participating each year, so spread the word and join us to help stop the spread of garlic mustard!
This is a great opportunity to raise funds for your own organization as well as our regional efforts to fight invasive species. You can form a team, join a team and donate. Our 2019 goal is to collectively pull 20,000 lbs. (10 TONS!) and have a great time together while protecting natural areas from invasive plant damage. Securing pledges is easy; sponsors can donate directly through our website. Pullers are encouraged to ask friends, family and others to support their efforts in caring for the land.
The pull-a-thon is also a competition, so the team that collects the most pledges and pulls the most garlic mustard by June 30, 2019 will earn bragging rights and our legendary traveling trophy. Our natural areas will only avoid damage from invasives with long-term sustained commitment to control of invasives. Half of all proceeds go to participating organizations that raise funds, and half go to SEWISC. All funds will be used for invasive species education, prevention and control in southeastern Wisconsin. Contributions are tax-deductible.
Pull-A-Thon Objectives:
- Promote repeated control and proper disposal of garlic mustard and dame’s rocket in our parks and natural areas.
- Promote public awareness of invasive species issues.
- Share control methods and best management practices with landowners and managers and strengthen local volunteer efforts.
- Raise operational funds for SEWISC and our partner organizations.
Visit 2019 Garlic Mustard Pull-A-Thon for more information. Register a team, join a team and donate to a team.
Even modest efforts can make a big difference toward reducing the impact of invasive species. Urban landowners as well as those who own and manage larger acreages can now encourage good stewardship and backyard conservation practices by posting these signs. Whether you have rural acreage, a suburban yard, or a city lot, you can help protect the environment by controlling invasive species and promoting that stewardship practice to others.
In partnership with Johnson’s Nursery, Inc. we are proud to present a full day event featuring nationally-known author and speaker Doug Tallamy on September 25, 2019 at Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee.
Brad Steckart graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Conservation Biology. After graduation, he spent 5 years as the Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for Washington and Waukesha Counties in Southeastern Wisconsin. It is here that Brad developed core relationships and partners throughout the region while teaching communities how to maintain healthy water bodies. While in his role as the AIS Coordinator, Brad enrolled and completed a Master’s of Public Administration Degree from the UW-Milwaukee in January 2019. Shortly before completing his Master’s requirements, he accepted a job as the Budget Supervisor for Washington County. He has recently started recording initial episodes of a podcast called “Wisconservation” that will air later this year.
Mandie Zopp graduated with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the UW-Green Bay, in 2007, where she studied the impacts of the invasive round goby in Green Bay. After graduation, she worked as a restoration ecologist for a small consulting firm in Green Bay, followed by a three-year appointment as a biology lecturer at UW-Platteville in conjunction to working with UW-Extension and the WI DNR in the Watershed Bureau. In her current role, as the Director of Research & Conservation at Riveredge Nature Center, she oversees all land management, research, buildings and grounds activities on the sanctuary’s 379 acres, in addition to coordinating the annual Student Research Symposium and the Community Rivers Program. She lives in Beaver Dam with her husband and two children and enjoys camping, scuba diving, and nature-based spirituality.
Ryan Wallin graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management. After graduation, he worked for the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society educating and training tribes on wildlife disease sampling. Ryan then moved to Washington State to work as a DNR Wildlife Biologist. While working in Washington State, Ryan pursued and earned a Master’s with honors in Environmental Policy and Management with an emphasis in Fish and Wildlife Management. In January of 2016 Ryan was offered a job at the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT) and a chance to come back home. As Stewardship Director, Ryan oversees all land, facility, and equipment related activities and stewardship on OWLT’s 1700+ acres of land. Ryan is a Milwaukee area native, currently lives in Newburg, and takes every chance he can to go up north to his place near Mountain, WI.