If I’m being honest, I couldn’t even visualize a sturgeon in my head prior to working at the Urban Ecology Center. So, when a coworker mentioned there’d be a sturgeon release at UW-Milwaukee’s Great Lakes Research Facility, I jumped at the chance. It sounded intriguing—plus, I’d never heard of a fish release before. Which got me thinking: What exactly do sturgeons do? What is their backstory? And why do they need releasing in the first place? I quickly realized I didn’t have the faintest idea.

What do you hope people leave with after engaging with your work? I like being a part of the whole UEC experience. For me it’s so much about seeing something for the first time as well as seeing something familiar but in a different way. I hope people come away with a shared awareness of my studio efforts and UEC’s mission. 

Interning at the Urban Ecology Center has been nothing short of amazing. Working with other team members who have the same goal has been a refreshing breath of fresh air. Not to mention all the actual fresh air I enjoyed as I worked outside all summer!

Is that tree ok? It looks like its bark is falling off. Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) is a native deciduous tree found across the eastern half of the United States. This species is characterized by its “shaggy” bark, which peels away from the trunk in curving plates. Despite its unusual looks, shagbarks are great eco-neighbors.

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a shrub or small tree native to much of the northern US and Canada. In Wisconsin’s forests, the chokecherry is a keystone species, supporting a whopping 340 caterpillar species. It's a choice host plant for butterflies like the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, as well as for large, showy moth species, like the Cecropia and Polyphemus moths. The shrubby, shorter structure of the chokecherry creates ideal hiding places for birds and other animals. This tree’s berries are also consumed by birds, insects, and mammals, including humans.

The Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is a native Wisconsin tree that generates a lot of conversation. It’s a fast-growing deciduous tree, and at maturity, it is large, spreading, and impressive, sometimes reaching 150 ft tall. However, many people, especially in urban settings, shy away from planting cottonwoods because of their proliferate seeding in the early summer. They produce catkins that release thousands of puffy white seeds into the air.

We are thrilled to introduce you to Urban Ecology Center’s enthusiastic 2024 Summer Interns and Seasonal Staff members! Be sure to visit our branches to meet and get to know these new folks who are ready to help you have your best UEC experience.

The renovation and expansion of our Washington Park location provided a unique (and surprising) opportunity to expand career exploration for young people! In partnership with VJS Construction, Steiner Electric and Quorum Architects, we offered specialized internships and trades exploration to four Milwaukee students

What’s your favorite fish? This is likely a question you don't get asked often. Well…unless you are a summer camper at the Urban Ecology Center. With flowing rivers and a big blue lake in our backyard, having a “favorite fish” is common here! During our Adventures & Fishing summer camp in the Menomonee Valley, Korbin not only discovered his favorite fish, he caught it – a smallmouth bass! Other water wonders in his catch were bluegills and even a snapping turtle.

TRIUMPH. What a word! And in this case, what a program name! TRIUMPH stands for Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health - a program developed by the University of Wisconsin in response to health inequities and chronic physician shortages in Wisconsin’s urban areas. But, how does a medical program relate to the Urban Ecology Center?