Black River State Forest | Black River Falls, Wis.
Prescribed Fire in Action: How Fire Benefits Forests, Wildlife, and Oak Regeneration
Sat. Aug. 22, 2026 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Join forestry professionals, researchers, and land management experts for an engaging field-based workshop exploring the role of prescribed fire in Wisconsin’s forests. Participants will travel by bus to active management sites for a guided outdoor tour featuring discussions on how prescribed fire is planned and implemented. We will discuss fire’s historical and modern uses in forest management, focusing on how it provides oak regeneration, wildlife habitat, native plants, and pollinators.
During the field tour, experts from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, UW-Madison Extension Forestry, UW-Stevens Point, and the American Bird Conservancy will share real-world examples and answer questions about incorporating prescribed fire into sustainable forest management plans. Following the tour, participants will return for a provided lunch and a presentation from the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council, along with discussion of key lessons learned and opportunities for future fire management.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Registration Fee: $25, lunch included
Space is limited. Registration closes August 14, 2026 or when full.
Workshop Information
This field workshop will begin inside; however, there will be long periods of walking outside on trails. Trail conditions can be unpredictable and trail surfaces may be uneven. Dress for the weather, wear sunscreen and bug protection, and bring your water bottle. In case of severe weather, please check your email for additional information; however, we plan to hold this workshop rain or shine! The proposed workshop agenda may be subject to change.
Wisconsin Tribal Members
Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (WTCAC) will reimburse Wisconsin Tribal Members and Staff for costs associated with registration and travel. Please use WTCAC’s internal travel form to receive the reimbursement. For additional questions, please contact Jeff Mears or Paul Koll.
Please note that the workshop agenda may be subject to change.
Participants will walk away with:
- An increased awareness and knowledge of the role of prescribed fire in oak ecosystems.
- An increased awareness and knowledge of how prescribed fires are conducted.
- The confidence and motivation to take a next step in prescribed fire engagement.
This workshop is designed for landowners, conservation volunteers, and nature enthusiasts. This workshop will be especially helpful for those in the Eau Claire/Black River Falls and the Driftless Region.
Cancellation Policy
If you are unable to attend the workshop, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing wfc@uwsp.edu. Requests must be received in writing no later than Friday, August 14, 2026, to be granted a full refund. No refunds will be granted on or after Saturday, August 15, 2026. To receive a refund a written request must be made via email to the Wisconsin Forestry Center.
Dietary Needs
We work hard to communicate all special meal requests and allergies to the venue. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we cannot guarantee all special dietary needs can be met. If you have dietary needs (i.e., kosher, low salt, low carb, keto, etc.), you may wish to make alternative meal arrangements. Registration fees cannot be adjusted due to special dietary needs.
Workshop Instructors
Brad Hutnik
Forest Ecologist/Silviculturist, Division of Forestry – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Brad Hutnik is a forest ecologist / silviculturist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Since 2012, Brad has served as a member of the WDNR Silviculture Team. As such, Brad currently works statewide on forest ecology and silviculture issues and has been involved with prescribed fire as a management tool throughout his career. Brad previously served as the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway forester (2002-2012) and worked as a staff forester at Clark Forestry, Inc. (1997-2002). Brad received a bachelor’s degree in forest management at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1997. He is a Certified Silviculturist (USDA-FS) and co-host of UWSP’s SilviCast podcast.
Carly Lapin
Great Lakes Public Lands Manager, American Bird Conservancy
Carly is the Great Lakes Public Lands Manager for American Bird Conservancy located in Rhinelander, WI. Carly collaborates with public land agencies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to increase capacity for habitat management that promotes forest health and benefits birds. Prior to joining ABC, Carly worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a State Natural Areas Ecologist in north-central Wisconsin. She attended UW Madison for undergrad and completed a Master’s Degree in Biology from the University of Minnesota Duluth, researching Connecticut Warbler distribution and habitat associations in Minnesota.
Paul Napierala
Field Ecologist, Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Paul Napierala is a Field Ecologist for the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation within the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Based in the La Crosse WDNR Service Center, Paul covers seven counties throughout the Driftless Area. As a Field Ecologist, Paul helps protect and restore Wisconsin’s rare plants, animals and state natural areas. During his WDNR career, job duties and locations have changed but prescribed fire remained the one constant in Paul’s work. Developing prescribed burn plans, leading burns as a burn boss and evaluating fire impacts are all some of Paul’s favorite work responsibilities.
TBA
Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council
Bio coming soon.
Keith Phelps
Working Lands Forestry Educator, Natural Resource Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
Keith is a Natural Resources Educator in Forestry located in Appleton, WI. Keith develops statewide programs and outreach to improve forest resilience, promote ecological stewardship, and increase awareness of forest carbon markets in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Prior to joining UW-Madison Extension, Keith worked in ecological restoration and wetland consulting and holds a master’s in forest resources from Clemson University. In his free time, Keith enjoys hiking, cooking, drawing, writing poetry, and playing guitar.
Ian Remus
Forester, Black River State Forest, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Ian grew up near Black River Falls and is a 2009 graduate of UW-Stevens Point. He has a variety of professional experience, including four years in the timber industry, four years in the county forest system, and nine years with WI DNR. He’s been a Forester on the Black River State Forest since 2020. Ian cut his teeth learning oak management techniques while working on the Clark County Forest using a combination of methods including prescribed fire, scarification, timber harvesting, and mechanical/chemical release. He is concerned about the conversion of oak forests to other forest types and what that may mean for the future. Ian’s job duties include timber sale establishment and administration, forest reconnaissance, and wildfire suppression. Ian is also a certified burn boss. Outside of work Ian is an avid turkey hunter, which dovetails into his interest in oak management.
Jordan Winkenbach
Forester, Great Lakes Oak Ecosystem Coordinator, American Bird Conservancy
Jordan Winkenbach is a forester with the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) where her work focuses on oak ecosystem restoration on private lands in the Great Lakes Region. Jordan received her bachelor’s degree in Forest Ecosystem Restoration from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and continued to get her Master’s degree at the University of Kentucky. Her research focused on two long-term prescribed burning projects in the Daniel Boone National Forest looking at how repeated fire, midstory mastication, and a prolonged fire-free interval impacted the development of oak regeneration. Prior to joining ABC, Jordan has worked with a variety of federal, state, county, and private agencies to implement ecological restoration and return fire back to the landscape.
Thank you!
This workshop has been made possible thanks to the generous financial support of Tallgrass Prairie & Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium. TPOS is a member of the Fire Science Exchange Network in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
PROGRAM PARTNERS
