The Prairie Enthusiasts

 The Prairie Enthusiasts (TPE) is hosting a field based course at Mounds View Grasslands, a 530 acre property owned by TPE located south of Blue Mounds. Site includes remnant prairies, prairie plantings, prairie seed production beds, woodlands, streams and wetlands. Our classroom base will be the rustic Shurch-Thomson barn, a working barn for research and prairie restoration. Topics of the course will include geology, soils, plant communities, watersheds, mammals and prairie pollinators.  A wealth of guest experts will join us. In addition to exploring our site at Mounds View, we will visit nearby spectacular oak savanna, short grass prairie and Lower Wisconsin River floodplain areas.  Come join us and enjoy the gorgeous spring flowers and birds of the prairie (Baptisia, violets blooming, Upland Sandpipers calling, bobolinks setting up territories, northern harriers nesting)!

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program is a network of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within Wisconsin communities.  The Master Naturalist Volunteer Training Course provides 40 hours of coursework in natural history, interpretation, and conservation stewardship.  Trainings combine classroom instruction with field experiences and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists.  Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalist Volunteers provide 40 hours of service and take 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain their certification and receive a recognition pin.