Heckrodt Happenings Blog
Beyond the Lesson
What It Really Takes to Create a Meaningful Field Trip When most people think about a field trip, they picture a group of students walking…
Through a Naturalist’s Lens
Wildlife Photography as Connection, Calm, and Responsibility Every time I pick up a camera, something inside me shifts. The world slows down. My breathing steadies.…
Heather’s Journey to Heckrodt
With my 27 years of experience as a naturalist at Heckrodt, and 32 total years in the naturalist field, I would like to share with…
Survival in the Sub-Zero: How Plants Brave a Wisconsin Winter
As I sit in my house on this winter day too cold to go to work, listening to the crackle of the fireplace on my…
2025: The Best Year Yet by Chester the Turtle
2025—what a whirlwind! (Well, as much of a whirlwind as life can be when your top speed is 0.2 miles per hour.) Hi there, I’m Chester. I’ve called Heckrodt Wetland Reserve…
Let’s Go Leaf Peeping!
Let’s go Leaf Peeping! Did you know that there is actually a technical term for people who travel specifically to see the changing colors of…
What’s the Buzz About Bumblebees?
What’s hairy, black, yellow, maybe a little rusty and sounds like a buzzsaw when it flies by your nose? The bumblebee, of course. Bumblebees showcase…
Diving Deep Into Heckrodt: An LTE’s POV
I survived my first month at Heckrodt—and what a wild, wonderful ride it’s been! Hi there! My name is Sophia Lehner, and I’m thrilled to…
Spring at Heckrodt: A Season of New Life
One of the things I love most about Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is its thriving wildlife—and every spring, I eagerly await what I like to call…
Spring Jewels of the Reserve
Heckrodt is home to many spring ephemerals, which are wildflowers that bloom before the forest leaf canopy blocks much of the sunlight from reaching the…