Group Visits

Gathering spaces
Educational programming
Special considerations

As a public, community natural area, Schmeeckle Reserve is a perfect place to bring a group for a visit. The Reserve offers 5 miles of trails and boardwalks for exploring, a visitor center with live animals and hands-on exhibits, an open-air picnic shelter (when not reserved), and an all-gender restroom building near the parking lot. Buses and other large vehicles can park in the gravel overflow lot, which is connected to the paved lot at the visitor center.

Gathering Spaces

Several spaces in Schmeeckle are set aside for group gatherings. While some can be used on a first come, first-served basis, we highly recommend reserving facilities prior to your visit to ensure there is space available.

The following spaces can be reserved ahead of time. Click the links below to learn more about reserving:

Other spaces are only available on a first come, first-served basis. These include:

  • Parkway Shelter: An open-air picnic shelter with seasonal restrooms near campus for gatherings of up to 30 people
  • Ross Amphitheater: A rustic tiered stone seating area near campus for up to 30 people
  • Back deck of the visitor center: A shaded picnic spot with views of the bird area for up to 20 people
  • Picnic Tent: A seasonal tent set up adjacent to the amphitheater offers rustic tables and benches for up to 50 people (if the amphitheater isn’t reserved)

Educational Programming

Schmeeckle offers numerous programs and events throughout the year that groups are welcome to join. See our Programs & Events Calendar (links to Friends of Schmeeckle website) for a schedule of upcoming programs.

Due to limited staffing, we are typically unable to provide customized programs or tours for groups. For school and youth groups, we recommend contacting the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, which specializes in providing environmental education programs and experiences.

During the summer, student educational staff may be able to accommodate special requests. Contact us at schmeeckle@uwsp.edu to make a request.

Teachers and other group leaders are always welcome to lead their own educational outings in the Reserve. Please fill out an Teaching and Research Use Application to help us track educational use of the Reserve and prevent conflict with other groups.

Special Considerations for Group Visits

While major improvements have been made in the past few years, most facilities and spaces in Schmeeckle were not designed for large group use. Large groups should keep the following considerations in mind when planning a visit to the Reserve:

  • Parking for Large Vehicles: An overflow gravel parking lot near the visitor center typically has enough space for buses or larger vehicles. Please do not block the asphalt parking lot, as this is used by most of our other visitors.
  • Accessible Parking: The paved parking lot near the visitor center has 4 accessible parking spaces. Each can accommodate a wheelchair van.
  • Restrooms: Limited restrooms are available around the visitor center and in the Parkway Shelter near campus. All restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
    • A dedicated restroom building adjacent to the parking lot offers two separate lockable all-gender restrooms. The building is open daily year-round. Each restroom can accommodate 1 user at a time.
    • The Schmeeckle visitor center offers a men’s and a women’s restroom during regular open hours. Each restroom can accommodate 1 user at a time.
    • The Parkway Picnic Shelter off of Maria Drive (near campus) offers a men’s and a women’s restroom seasonally. Each restroom can accommodate 1 user at a time.
  • Visitor Center: The gift shop, exhibit hall, and bird viewing area in the visitor center have limited space. We highly recommend breaking large groups into smaller groups of about 10-15 before entering the visitor center. This will avoid too much crowding and congestion.
  • Picnic Spaces: Picnic tables are available at the following locations:
    • Menzel Pavilion: open-air shelter located near the visitor center (room for 60 people); this can be reserved ahead of time or used on a first come, first-served basis (if not already reserved)
    • Picnic Tent: A seasonal tent located next to the Friends Amphitheater, available on a first-come, first-served basis (room for 50)
    • Back deck of the visitor center: Uncovered deck with views of bird area, available on a first-come, first-served basis (room for 20)
    • Parkway Shelter: Open-air shelter with seasonal restrooms, located off of Maria Drive near campus, available on a first-come, first-served basis (room for 24)
  • Notification: For large groups, we highly recommend notifying Schmeeckle Reserve prior to your visit to ensure there are no other group conflicts