Heckrodt Wetland Reserve

Mission: To enhance, restore, and preserve the Reserve and educate all people in the importance of conserving our natural resources while promoting the Reserve’s many recreational opportunities.

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is a 91-acre non-profit urban nature reserve with habitats including forested wetland, cattail marsh, open water, created prairie, open field, and upland forest. Persisting despite the urbanization that continues to grow around it, the Reserve is home to numerous species of reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Migrating songbirds and waterfowl nest and feed in its protection.

Located in Menasha, Wisconsin, our trails and Nature Center are open to the public at no charge. We also provide education programs for schools, daycare, and the general public.

The Reserve’s Nature Center features an indoor exhibit with live wetland and aquariums that are home to local fish and turtles — all surrounded by a display of mounted Wisconsin mammals and birds. Three miles of trails, including nearly 4,000 feet of elevated boardwalks, provide access to the wetland habitat for all visitors to explore and enjoy bird watching, walking, photography, and snowshoeing in winter.

Educational programs offer a variety of topics that are of interest to a broad age range from youth to adults. Heckrodt Wetland Reserve programs are developed by trained naturalists and focus on our local environment. These programs are intensely hands-on and designed to foster an ethic of environmental appreciation and stewardship.

At our partner schools, the Heckrodt education team worked with the teachers of each grade level to align Heckrodt field trip programs with their newly integrated literacy curriculum. Each grade level will partake in at least one Heckrodt field trip throughout the school year where they will engage in hands-on learning and become immersed in nature. The school will also participate in our Snowshoe at our schools program where each student will have the opportunity to learn to snowshoe!