Groundswell Conservancy

We're #hiring a new Director of Major & Planned Gifts in Madison, Wisconsin. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Our summer newsletter is out! All of our newsletters can be found on our website. https://ow.ly/R1YI50TG7XF #groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #conservation #newsletter #summer #patrickmarsh

Come be a part of conservation where you live! We need your help in collecting prairie seeds at Westport Prairie. You can look out at the future restored prairie and say, "I helped make that!". We'll have a seed collecting event on Wednesday, October 9th from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. Let us know that you're coming so we can send you information closer to the event. You can register by visiting our events page. https://ow.ly/C16P50TEsBX ??: Ben Lam & BJ Byers #groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #conservation #prairie #prairieseed #seedcollecting #westportprairie #westport

??Did you hear our exciting news??? Heidi Habeger has been chosen as the permanent executive director of Groundswell! Here's an excerpt from the letter from Tracy Wiklund, Board of Directors President. "Heidi stepped in as interim executive director on August 1st and assumed the role of permanent executive director on September 5th. Heidi’s passion for Groundswell’s mission has been unwavering for the past 14 years. She’s played a leadership role in strengthening Groundswell’s relationships with supporters, volunteers, partners and landowners. Her institutional knowledge of the organization along with the board and staff’s trust allows her to hit the ground running. In addition, Heidi’s vision for Groundswell is strong and well-aligned with past and future goals. She wants the organization to be a leader in innovative land protection and equitable access to land; she wants Groundswell to continue to provide the many lasting benefits of open space to all; and she is ready to roll up her sleeves and dive into the hard work needed to achieve all this. Heidi started at Groundswell in April 2010 as the part-time membership coordinator. She then served as the membership & outreach manager before being promoted in 2015 to her most recent role as director of major and planned gifts. For the last 9 years she has led Groundswell’s private fundraising, outreach, and communication programs. Fundraising by staff and board tripled under Heidi’s leadership. “I’m honored that the board entrusted me to lead this organization that I love and have worked long and hard to help grow. I’m excited about the tremendous opportunities we have to protect our special places, forever.” Many people reached out to me to share their strong support for Heidi as Executive Director. Mike Foy, a former employee and current Groundswell volunteer, said something that captures, for me, a primary reason the Board unanimously selected Heidi for this role. “Heidi is the living, breathing heart of the organization. She exudes a personal warmth and professional passion for Groundswell and everyone associated with the organization. In turn, this engenders passion from the community to support and further the organization.” Read the entire letter here - https://ow.ly/z63e50TxjNF ??: Natalie Haglan #groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #conservation #executivedirector #danecounty

We had a great pollinator hike at Westport Prairie this weekend! Thank you to Micah Kloppenburg of Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation for being an amazing trip leader. We learned so much about pollinators and their habitat. Did you know that Wisconsin has over 400 species of wild bees?! Thank you to our field trip sponsors: Quercus Land Stewardship Services Veridian Homes First Business Bank Fontana Sports ??: Mario Quintana #groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #conservation #westportprairie #pollinators

Come be a part of conservation where you live! We need help in collecting prairie seed at Westport Prairie. These seeds will be used to restore even more prairie. You'll be able to look at the future prairies and know that you helped make it happen. Join us on September 25 and October 9 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. No experience necessary and we'll provide the tools. For more details, please visit our events page. https://lnkd.in/g5CTn65K ??: Ben Lam #groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #conservation #prairie #prairieseed #restore #danecounty

Last week, we had an amazing time with Roots4Change and REAP Food Group at our Westport Farm. It was a multilingual, multi-cultural, and intergenerational experience! Yimmuaj (Community Director) toured us around the farm and taught us about local produce. Events and collaborations like this make special places even more special. Check out the work that @roots4changecoop and @reapmadison are doing to make our community a better place. ??: Ben Lam #groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #conservation #westportfarm #farm #garden

Sign up for the Black Hawk Ridge Trail Run today! Join us for the Black Hawk Ridge Trail Run! This race is an annual trail run (8K and 16K) that benefits Groundswell Conservancy. There will be scenic views, great company, tasty food, prizes, and more.? Register here: https://lnkd.in/gQdJS-ih ??: Roberta Herschleb #groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #blackhawkridgetrailrun #savannaseries

We still have space on our Westport Prairie Pollinator Hike field trip! Join Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation WI Pollinator Habitat Specialist, Micah Kloppenburg, for a pollinator parade through Westport Prairie. We’ll learn about native bees, the basics of bee ID, habitat needs, and explore their integral relationship with the plants we find flowering. Sign up on the events page: https://lnkd.in/gvzx2nV4 ??: BJ Byers #groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #pollinator #westportprairie #danecounty

We had an amazing field trip to Cave of the Mounds this weekend! It truly is a special place above and underground. A must see. Thank you to Cave of the Mounds - National Natural Landmark for being such amazing hosts. Thank you to our field trip sponsors: Quercus Land Stewardship Services Veridian Homes Donde LLC This was a Gathering Waters: Wisconsin's Alliance for Land Trusts Land Trust Days event. Learn more about the other Land Trust Days events - https://lnkd.in/geE3NndX ??: Ben Lam #groundswellconservancy #conservationwhereyoulive #caveofthemounds #specialplaces #caves