Residential environmental education programs provide the backbone of Upham Woods. Residential programs are popular with school groups, home school groups, scouting programs, and youth groups. Programs vary in length but are typically two to five days long. Groups can choose from a wide variety of programming options and themes. Through a combination of Upham Woods staff and group leaders, environmental and outdoor education lessons are presented through experiential, hands-on activities.

Some of the programs offered at Upham Woods include:

• Interpretive geology and history hikes on Blackhawk Island and North Shore
• Living history with a French Voyageur or an 1850s Wisconsin lumberjack
• Water ecology exploration
• Raptor programs with a red-tailed hawk
• Team building challenge course and group initiatives
• The Conservation Challenge
• Canoeing and kayaking
• Live reptile programs
• Outdoor Survival
• Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and winter snow science
• Campfires

Groups have the choice to stay in rustic cabins or a dormitory. Family-style food service is available to groups comprised of 20 or more participants.

Guests utilizing Upham Woods for day or residential programs have a wide variety of environmental and outdoor education and recreation courses to choose from. Take a look at the full list of program offerings here.

If your group is interested in visiting Upham Woods, please contact us. We will be happy to discuss visitation options and to help plan your visit. We can be reached at 608-254-5744 or via email at uphamwoods@extension.wisc.edu.

To schedule a program, first visit the Upham Woods Calendar to identify available open dates. Once dates are found, please fill out an online application to reserve dates. You will receive an email confirmation of your reservation acceptance. When your dates are approved, you will receive a confirmation contract with a request for a deposit.

Paddling the barge to Blackhawk Island