Parks, Land & Water Volunteer Portal

Seed Collection at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Join our Natural Areas staff for a joint workday with Holy Wisdom Monastery staff and volunteers. We will spend the mornings collecting seeds in various habitats – prairie, woodland, and oak savanna on this beautiful site. Seeds are collected to plant and enhance lands in other natural areas for pollinators, wildlife, and land restoration. Join us for what will be a unique and rewarding experience. No prior experience is needed. All tools and training will be provided. Children under 16 are welcome if chaperoned. Groups (students or other) need to contact staff directly to register and talk over logistics.

Location:

Meet at Holy Wisdom Monastery - 4200 Co Hwy M, Middleton

• We will gather in the parking lot by the kiosk uphill from the Monastery building.
• We begin promptly at 9am, those arriving late can call Shane, Lars, or Leah for directions to our working area.

How to Prepare: 

What to Know:

• All tools and training are provided.
• Bring drinking water (extra if hot out)
• A snack if you'd like
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray (if bugs bother you)
• In case of cancellation due to weather, a notification will be made via email and/or phone to participants who have signed up.

What to Wear: 

Wear clothing suitable for walking off trail in tall (hip-height or higher) vegetation. 

• Close-toed shoes (boots or sneakers are good choices).
• Breathable, loose-fitting clothing is best in the summertime.
• long pants and long sleeves are recommended.

Accessibility:

• Volunteers should be comfortable with walking on uneven terrain.
• Restrooms are available onsite. 
• Our department is committed to providing meaningful access to our programs and resources to all individuals, regardless of primary language or ability. If you need language assistance services or an accessibility modification for this program, please submit this request form a minimum of 10 business days before the program to make the request. Please note, it is not possible for all programs to be modified. 

Questions?

• Lars Higdon, Botanist/Naturalist
• (608) 286-9497 higdon.lars@danecounty.gov
• Shane Otto, Botanist/Naturalist
• (608) 575-0396 otto.shane@danecounty.gov
• Leah Kleiman, Land Restoration Specialist
• (608) 843-1863 kleiman.leah@danecounty.gov