Welcome to the Urban Ecology Center!

The Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a little hard to define.

We're an urban nature center that teaches children and adults about the natural world using city greenspaces like public parks and waterways.

We're also a community center; a safe place for children to learn and grow and a great way to connect to your neighbors and community.

We educate and inspire people to understand and value nature as motivation for positive change, neighborhood by neighborhood. We want to be the nice folks at the end of the block. That's why we have two branches and are beginning a third in Milwaukee and have led others to build centers in their neighborhoods across the country.

We encouarge you to get to know us better. Explore our site, or better yet, stop by for a visit.

Forest County Potawatomi Foundation Solstice Soiree and Auction Title Sponsor!

The Forest County Potawatomi Foundation presents the Urban Ecology Center's 2nd Annual Solstice Soiree and Auction on June 20, 2009! Click here to check out our Urban Ecology Center "style" fundraiser!

Teen Adventure Challenge Title Sponsor!

We are proud to announce that Johnson Controls is our Teen Adventure Challenge title sponsor for the second year in a row!

The Teen Adventure Challenge on June 6th is an adventure race for teams of four coed teens and one adult. Thanks to Johnson Controls and our other amazing sponsors these teams will spend a day canoing, climbing, hiking and biking in the Milwaukee River corridor. These are city kids, many of whom have never paddled a canoe or climbed a rock climbing wall. Using teamwork, tenacity and enthusiasm they will take on the challenges and have a great time. Their smiles at the end say it all.

Click here for details about the Teen Adventure Challenge and how you can join Johnson Controls in supporting this great event.

Summer Camp at
Urban Ecology Center!

Urban Ecology Center offers day camps for preschool through 8th grade. Your kids will explore, learn, make friends, and play. It's the best way to get out into nearby nature.

Register now for Urban Ecology Center Camps! Click here for details.

The Estabrook Dam Conundrum

Milwaukee's Estabrook dam was built in the 1930s, in part for flood control and in part to create a summertime stillwater recreation area. At the time, it made perfect sense to fill the impoundment in spring and release the water every fall to avoid the pressures created by winter ice. This has been the management plan ever since, however during this time we have learned a lot and a recent dam inspection alerted us all to the fact that the dam was deteriorating and either needs millions of dollars of repair work or millions of dollars to take it down. Read what Executive Director of the Urban Ecology Center, Ken Leinbach has to share about this compelling conundrum. Read it here.

Check out our Riverside Park facility through our new online tour!

Thanks to the hard work and talent of Glenn Sarlitto, we are excited to share a fantastic new virtual tour of our Riverside Park facility.

Glenn shot all of the photos you'll see, then did the tremendous work of producing the final tour. We are grateful to Glenn for his time, attention to detail and
creativity in completing this project.

So, check out our building! Just click the box on the right.

CSA and local food options at the Center!

Click here to see our community supported farm list.

Visit us at our Washington Park branch!

With the help of new staff, our Washington Park branch doors are open Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Click here for a list of our new programming and staff.

Our sunshine is online!

Click here to see our solar energy station in action!

Visiting Milwaukee?
Looking for a day outdoors?
Visit the Urban Ecology Center
in Riverside Park!

Did you know that our building in Riverside Park is open seven days a week? Here are some ideas of what you can do for free at the Center:

The Center is on the southwest corner of Riverside Park opposite Riverside High School. The front entrance is on east Park Place, two blocks west of Oakland Avenue. The Center has access to the Oak Leaf Bicycle Trail, just south of Locust Street. More detailed directions.

Droplets

Looking for information about the Interfaith Earth Network?

Click here to learn more about this partnership between faith communities and the Urban Ecology Center.

What's Happening
on Park Place?

Parking has always been an issue on Milwaukee’s East Side. Riverside Park is no exception. The Urban Ecology Center has negotiated an agreement with the MMSD to do build a “green” 55 car parking lot. This requires extending Park Place with a vehicular bridge. It might seem logical to use Belleview to access this land, but there is not enough room between an existing building and the edge of the bike path to build a legal street from Belleview to the proposed lot.

Click here for information
about this exciting project.

Urban Ecology Center Has Online Giving!

You can use your credit card or PayPal account to donate to the Center. Click here for details.

Looking for one of our recent stories? Find it in our archive!

Social Media
Saturdays

Join us for this special five-week workshop opportunity presented by Phil Gerbyshak, a friend of the Center

Learn how social media can help your nonprofit or business. Use Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs and more to get noticed, be remembered, attract customers and demonstrate your expertise. Join acclaimed social media expert, author, coach, blogger and VP of Information Technology Phil Gerbyshak as he demystifies the new web tools small and large firms everywhere are using. Each week will be in a hands-on workshop format. To learn more about these courses, head to http://philgerbyshak.com/courses.

Riverside Park
Saturdays, June 27, July 11, 25, August 8 & 22
9 - 11 a.m.
For adults
$249 (Nonmembers - $299)
Call 964-8505 to register

A Sense of Wonder:
Film Screening

A Sense of Wonder depicts pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson in the final year of her life as she battles cancer and the chemical industry in the wake of publishing Silent Spring. Join us for a special free screening, followed by a Q&A with Wonder’s acclaimed star and writer Kaiulani Lee.

Riverside Park
Friday, July 10
6:30 - 8 p.m.
For adults
Free - donations appreciated
Call 964-8505 to register

Art at UEC
Reflections –Wet and Wild

Sue Haislmaier’s watercolors are inspired by looking closely at native plants, natural settings and how light plays on an object, giving you an intimate encounter with objects seen many times but not experienced fully. Jan Montgomery’s photographs focus on the aesthetic aspect of water around the world. While we enjoy clean, safe water, over one in six people in the world don’t have that same right. She hopes you will reflect on the care we must exercise if this gift of clean water is to endure. Artists will speak at 3 p.m.. Refreshments provided.

Riverside Park
Sunday, July 19
2 - 4 p.m.
For adults
Free - donations appreciated
Call 964-8505 to register
Show runs through late September

Eat Local
Challenge Fair

Eat Local Challenge arrives the 2nd week in September! The Center, Outpost and Slow Foods will help you get geared up for this Challenge at this fun and informative event. Chef and Restaurant Supported Agriculture founder Dave Swanson describes eating locally and shares resouces to buy and eat local food, watch cooking demos, exchange recipes and much more!

Riverside Park
Sunday, August 23
1 - 3 p.m.
For everyone
Free-donations appreciated
Call 964-8505 to register

Urban Ecology Center Has Online Giving!

You can use your credit card or PayPal account to donate to the Center. Click here for details.