History
Fifty years ago, Dorothy and Gordon Kummer of Milwaukee purchased some
rural acreage southwest of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and began a remarkable
legacy of stewardship and conservation education that continues today.
They called this land "Treehaven", and under their care and
supervision the Kummers planted nearly 140,000 trees on the property,
ultimately creating one of the nation's finest examples of sustainable
forest management by a private landowner. Following Gordon Kummer's death,
Dorothy remarried a Milwaukee school science teacher named Jacque Vallier,
also an avid conservationist. The Valliers eventually donated the land to
the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and helped mould Treehaven
into the leading natural resources education and conference facility it is
today. It now provides education and training to more current and future
natural resource managers than any other center in the United States.
Treehaven's facilities rest on an ancient glacial ridge that
overlooks 1,400 acres of forest and wetland habitat that hosts an abundance
of wildlife species including osprey, deer, black bear, wolf, coyote, and
fisher. Facilities include a large classroom/conference center, two
residential dormitory buildings that provide overnight accommodations for up
to 125 people, and full food service capability. Of course, the featured
"facility" is natures own handiwork 1,400 acres of outdoor classroom" space
with rustic trails.
Eight permanent employees and over 20 affiliated staff - mostly teachers
and educators - help
Treehaven serve over 25,000 people each year with courses, seminars,
workshops, Elderhostel's, school and youth programs, and business
gatherings. A public, non-profit facility operated by the
UWSP College of Natural Resources
- the nation's largest undergraduate natural resources program -
Treehaven relies on usage fees and donations for much of its
operating budget, with limited support from state tax dollars.
Treehaven's mission is guided by the Treehaven Board of
Advisors with support from the Friends of Treehaven, a group of
volunteers who raise funds to support programs, land management and
buildings of the center.
Staff
Treehaven hosts a wide variety of year 'round programming in
environmental and natural resource education. Programs range in scope from
working with school aged children in environmental lessons to adult weekend
workshops in topics such as snowshoe construction or wolf ecology. With our
1,400 acres of "north country" forest and wild lands, Treehaven is a great
place to work and meet new people.
Treehaven is always in need for Part time educators - Part time
educators are hired to work with full time staff on specific programs
throughout the year. Applicants should have experience as a formal or
non-formal educator, as a "naturalist", or have a particular skill or hobby
relating to our natural world that could be taught in a "workshop format" at
Treehaven. Some opportunities also exist for professional honorariums
for conducting programs. If you are interested, or have programming ideas,
contact John Heusinkveld, Assistant
Director by email or call
715-453-4106.
Come on out and join the Treehaven team of trained environmental
educators and volunteers, where the environment, lifestyle, and
leadership are integrated!
Treehaven's Current Staff
(Click on staff member name for contact information, bio
and picture.)