About

We know what you're thinking....how do you do that!? Well, on any given day you’ll find...

classes of students from local schools engaging in hands-on learning about science, nature, and sustainably
community volunteers and staff removing invasive species and restoring urban ecosystems
adventure seekers climbing the rock-wall in Riverside Park, canoeing in the lagoon in Washington Park, snowshoeing in Three Bridges Park (Menomonee Valley) and participating in programs through all 4 seasons
people visiting the parks, the buildings, its staff, and lots of volunteers

At the Urban Ecology Center’s three locations people make connections between new and old ideas, their behaviors and impacts, and most of all, with each other.

What we do

At the Urban Ecology Center’s three locations the wonders of the outdoors bring curious people together. Our programs bring our city’s children and families into nature and as a result, our urban parks are safe to visit, our kids are acquiring the science skills they need to succeed, and adults keep on learning about how our changing world around us works.

The Urban Ecology Center provides year-round educational programs for kids, families and adults of all ages.

The cornerstone program is the Neighborhood Environmental Education Project (NEEP) serving kids in 60 urban Milwaukee schools each year. This program enables students to take a walk in the woods, stand in a river in hip waders, or run along the beach at Lake Michigan when they might not have other opportunities to do so.

The school program is complemented by after-school programs, summer camps and weekend activities designed to involve, inspire, educate and connect kids to each other, to caring mentors, and to the natural world around them.

In addition to NEEP we offer even more programs for you and your family: