Get Involved

Myrick Hixon EcoPark is located at the edge of the La Crosse River Marsh in Myrick Park. Trails lead from the EcoPark into the marsh and Hixon Forest, where there are more than 13 miles of trails for hiking and skiing. A rich schedule of events for adults, children and families includes walks and activities with naturalists, study groups, trainings, workshops, and concerts. Active volunteers lead educational programs, do prairie and trail work, plan and manage events, monitor frog and bluebird populations, and pitch in with administrative and gift shop tasks. EcoPark facilities, built in 2009, are available to rent for family and business gatherings.



Coulee Partners for Sustainability is a group of La Crosse area residents who promote environmentally sustainable, economically viable, socially just lifestyles. The group supports use of the Natural Step Framework, which was adopted by the City and County of La Crosse in 2007. Members educate the community about sustainable lifestyles, foster sustainable business practices, promote local foods, and build networks and neighborhood groups that adopt sustainable practices. Watch for classes, events and volunteer opportunities on the Coulee Partners Web site.



The Mississippi Valley Conservancy is a regional, non-profit land trust that has permanently conserved over 11,000 acres of bluff lands, prairies, wetlands and streams in the Coulee Region since 1997. In addition to facilitating voluntary conservation agreements, land purchases, land donations, and cooperative acquisitions for land owners and local communities, the Conservancy sponsors hikes, events, and volunteer work days on protected properties. Volunteers can also help with office- and event-related tasks. To contact the Conservancy, call 608.784.3606 or visit their Web site.



Water Action Volunteers is a statewide program for Wisconsin citizens who want to improve the quality of the state’s streams and rivers. Citizens, civic groups, 4-H clubs, students and other volunteer groups monitor streams, stencil the message "Dump no waste, drains to river” near storm drains, and participate in riverbank clean-ups. If you want to get outside, learn something, and maybe even get wet, contact Randy Mell, UW-Ext. Basin Educator at 608.784.0303, randy.mell@ces.uwex.edu, or Myrick Hixon EcoPark, 789 Myrick Park Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601. To learn more, check out the Water Action Volunteer Web site.



Coulee Region Trout Unlimited brings people who love to fish together. In addition to regular get-togethers, they obtain funding to restore streams and participate as volunteers in those projects.

Check out work days, fundraisers and their annual banquet.

STUDY PROGRAMS

The La Crosse area is rich in resources for learning about water and science. All are affordable; many are free. Take advantage of these materials and experiences for scout groups, 4-H clubs, classrooms, home schoolers, and adult study or volunteer groups.



EcoPark staff offer an array of nature experiences to children in schools, summer adventure programs, and small groups such as scouts and birthday parties. Upon request, packets of pre/post activities, background information, and resources are available to leaders for most programs. Call 608.784.0303 to learn more or schedule a session.



Earth Partnership for Schools engages students and teachers in natural habitat restoration on their own school grounds. The program, designed by the University of Wisconsin, involves the school community in a project that includes research, stewardship, science and creative writing.



This resource includes eight action-oriented activities that promote environmental stewardship. Volunteers learn about water quality issues, then choose activities such as a stream walk survey or clean-up, building simple soil erosion or watershed models, collecting aquatic insects and using them to assess water quality, or storm drain stenciling. Download the activity plans here.



Detailed drawings of a variety of freshwater organisms and short descriptions will help adults and youth figure out the names of organisms that live in rivers, following a logical process. This is a great asset for anyone who’s curious about life found under rocks or in a collection net at a stream or river.



10 activities introduce youth to water concepts including the hydrologic cycle, groundwater, water supply, water pollution and contamination, water and human impact, water-related careers, and government/citizenship. A free copy can be obtained here.



Baseball card-sized cards show a photo of aquatic macroinvertebrates on the front and descriptions of habitat and unique characteristics on the back. They are designed to aid citizen monitors in identification of macroinvertebrates. They’re free to citizens who attend Water Action Volunteers stream monitoring training and are available to others who will use them as an identification aid. To order, click here.