Wesselman Woods

The Howell Wetlands prescribed burn took place last Friday and it was a great success! ???? Thank you to Eco Logic for lending your expertise and conducting a safe and thorough controlled burn in our prairie. As a reminder: this burn took place because it is a natural and necessary part of a healthy prairie ecosystem! But why is controlled fire good for prairies? It: ? Prevents the overgrowth of woody plants ? Returns nutrients to the soil, helping native plants thrive ? Helps control invasive species ? Clears space for new growth

Introducing our new Board President! ?? Payton Stewart is a Talent Development Specialist at Old National Bank and he has served on the Wesselman Woods board since 2023. We are excited for him to stretch his wings in this role and help Wesselman Woods soar ??

?? Coming Soon ?? Prescribed Burn at Howell Wetlands Wesselman Woods is working with Eco Logic LLC (@ecologicllc) to conduct a prescribed burn in the southern 1.6 acres of the prairie at Howell Wetlands this spring (late February–mid-March) ?? The exact date will be determined 24-48 hours in advance based on weather conditions but it could happen as soon as this week. ?? Why is controlled fire good for prairies? Fire is a natural and necessary part of a healthy prairie ecosystem! It: ? Prevents the overgrowth of woody plants ? Returns nutrients to the soil, helping native plants thrive ? Helps control invasive species ? Clears space for new growth ?? Is it safe? Absolutely! Eco Logic follows strict safety protocols, using detailed burn plans and monitoring wind conditions closely. Fire crews will have firefighting equipment on-site, and the fire will be extinguished if conditions become unsafe. Local authorities, including the Fire Department, have been informed. ?? Have you done this sort of thing before? Yep! The last controlled burn at Howell Wetlands happened in 2019. ?? Howell Wetlands Trail Closures: For public safety, trails in and around the prairie will be closed on the day of the burn. ?? Questions? Contact our Director of Natural Resources, Derek Walsh, at 812-479-0771 or [email protected]. ??: The Prairie Ecologist (https://lnkd.in/gAeyUYdt)

Can't make it to the Festival this weekend??? You can help keep the pancakes coming ?? Help us get new griddles! ?? ?? For 47 years, the Maple Sugarbush Festival & Pancake Breakfast has been the most impactful Wesselman Woods annual fundraiser. We have served up pancakes to tens of thousands of hungry guests over the years but here’s the sticky situation… ???? We've been flipping flapjacks on the same griddles for 30 years and they’re finally starting to call it quits. One is barely working and both are missing parts that we can’t replace. Without new griddles, it's hard to keep the pancakes coming quickly enough to meet the growing demand of the hungry crowds. That’s where YOU come in! We need to raise $11,000 to buy two brand-new, commercial-grade griddle setups from a local company -- Jarvis Food Equipment.? ?? Love pancakes? Love Wesselman Woods? Help us keep the tradition alive for another 50 years!! Make your contribution at [ gofundme.com/f/msbgriddles ] If you can’t donate, sharing this post is just as sweet! ??? #SaveThePancakes #maplesugarbush #wesselmanwoods

It's officially Maple Sugarbush Festival week! ????? That means we'll see over 1000 hungry guests come through our doors to experience the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast this weekend... and it takes over 100 volunteers per day to pull it all off! We are still in need of some volunteers both days so, if you're available for a few hours and would like a free breakfast, please consider signing up for a shift! Visit bit.ly/wwmsbvol25 to RSVP. ??: Mark Murry with Evansville Aerial

Have you purchased your 2025 Maple Sugarbush Festival tickets yet? ????? The pancake breakfast is only 12 days away and the 9 AM slots are almost sold out. ?? Get your tickets now and guarantee your spot in your preferred time slot ?? Tickets are sold at the door... but seating is limited. Priority is given to those with pre-purchased tickets! ?? Dates: Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2025 ??? Breakfast Time Slots: 7 AM, 8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM (noon) ??? Ticket Prices: Adults (Ages 13+) $15 ? Children (Ages 3-12) $10 ? Under 3 gets in free. [ Members receive $2 off each ticket! ] Ticket Link ?? bit.ly/wwmsb25 ?? Breakfast is all-you-can-eat pancakes, two sausage links and your choice of unlimited coffee, orange juice, chocolate milk, or white milk! (Extra sausage links can be purchased on the day of the event.) ?? Photos by Mark Murry (@evansvilleaerial)

Great trail news for you all on this cold, rainy day! Tomahawk Services is nearly finished with the final segment of the more accessible boardwalk trail to the Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape ???? Nature preserve guests will be able to use this new, smoother route out to the Nature Playscape starting this week. Sincerest thanks go to the supporters and donors who made this possible: Alcoa Foundation, Methodist Temple UMC, and The Pettijohn Family. Because of their generosity and commitment to the community, more guests can venture into the wonders of nature with greater ease! ??? This improved trail ensures that visitors of all ages and abilities can explore, play, and connect with the natural world. Come check it out and experience the difference for yourself!

Thank you to the Southwest Chapter Indiana Native Plant Society (SW-INPS) for their generous donation offered from the proceeds of their 2024 fall native plant sale! ?????? We support SW-INPS in their efforts to promote, educate, and make native plants accessible in our community. And Wesselman Woods is proud to be the home for both of SW-INPS Native Plant Sales in 2025! Save these dates and get to WW early to get your hands on great, home-grown native plants ?? Saturday, May 31 ?? Saturday, August 30 By creating native habitats, you too can become a champion for Indiana's pollinators and experience the joy of biodiversity! ??????????

?? Pancake Time is Here! 2025 Maple Sugarbush Festival tickets are on sale NOW ?? Get your tickets today so you can enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes with real, Indiana maple syrup the first weekend of March 2025. ?? Dates: Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2025 ??? Breakfast Time Slots: 7 AM, 8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM (noon) ??? Ticket Prices: Adults (Ages 13+) $15 ? Children (Ages 3-12) $10 ? Under 3 gets in free. [ Members receive $2 off each ticket! ] Ticket Link ?? bit.ly/wwmsb25 ?? Breakfast also includes two sausage links and your choice of unlimited coffee, orange juice, chocolate milk, or white milk! (Extra sausage links can be purchased on the day of the event.) ?? Get your tickets early to reserve your preferred time. (Tickets will still be sold at the door but seating will be limited. Priority will be given to those with pre-purchased tickets.) ?? NOTE: Wesselman Woods will be CLOSED on Friday, February 28, to prepare for the big event. We will only be open to the public during event hours on March 1-2 (7 AM to 1 PM) and all guests must pay event admission, whether they eat breakfast or not. ?? Photos by Noah Malin

The Maple Sugarbush Festival volunteer signup is LIVE and we can use your help this year to pull off our largest annual fundraiser ???? There are many slots over the course of two days, so take a look at our Signup Genius today and become a part of our greatest tradition! bit.ly/wwmsbvol25 ??: Andrew Layer