BOARD OF DIRECTORSKaren DixonChairJim ReichertVice PresidentTom JosephTreasurerEric KosterSecretaryDorothy WahnerPast Chair

MEMBERSDick HemmingRolf EthunBarbara McFarlandTom OlsonBob von HoldtBrent JelinskiNorth Lakeland SchoolDick LoganDNR Liaison

DISCOVERY CENTER STAFFADmiNiSTRATiVe & FACiLiTieS STAFFAzael Mezaexecutive DirectorKarla Wotrubamembership & Development CoordinatorRyan WahlgrenBuildings & Grounds CoordinatorLynn WildesFacility & events Coordinator

PRoGRAm AND eVeNT STAFFTess MayProgram DirectorLicia JohnsonNaturalist/outreach education CoordinatorAnne KretschmannWater education SpecialistHeather LumpkinResearch & monitoring Coordinator

Twenty years ago, a group of dedicated individuals had the foresightto preserve and repurpose a defunded Youth Conservation Corpscamp with the goal of imparting outdoor education for the localschool district.

Today the North Lakeland Discovery Center is a 501(C)(3) non-profitorganization that exists to promote conservation of naturalresources through education and stewardship. We care for the 63-acre campus, over 12 miles of trails, and provide environmentaleducation programming for all ages.

With the generous support of our members, donors and volunteers,the Discovery Center has grown to become a true Jewel of theNorthwoods known for our beautiful trail system, and year-roundnature based programming made possible by a dedicated andknowledgeable staff.

This report provides an executive summary of the meaningfulactivities that took place during 2015, as well as recognizing ourwonderful volunteers, who so generously give their must preciousresource: their time.

Our mission is to facilitate meaningful connections among people,nature and community, and this important work is supportedfinancially through the generosity of businesses, grants, foundationsand caring individuals like you. It is because of your generoussupport that we can carry out our mission into the future.

Thank you!

North Lakeland Discovery Center

2015 ORGANIZATION & VOLUNTEER REPORTThank You for Your Generous Support

Azael MezaExecutive Director

Karen Dixon Board Chair

North Lakeland Discovery Center Fiscal Year 14-15 Revenue & Expense Allocation

Revenue

Expenses

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School Groups

Summer Eco-Series

Traveling Naturalist

Your support helped bring our interactive and educationalenvironmental programs to students from Mercer, Hurley,Minocqua, Arbor Vitae-Woodruff, Lac du Flambeau, EagleRiver, Land O Lakes, St. Germain and North Lakeland.Programs are delivered from grades pre-K through highschool.

During the 2014-2015 School Year…

• 1,183 students attended over 20 days of programming

• Half of these programs were held at the Discovery Centeroutdoor campus

Programs feature nature, art, exploration, recreation (andgetting dirty too!) are led by dynamic young conservationleaders. Weekly gatherings provide unforgettable andadventure-filled experiences for the eager discoverers andexplorers in your life! Classes hosted onsite, with themesfrom Wildly Creative to Fire, Frogs and Fun!

Summer of 2015…

• 164 Children have participated in 16 programs

Our Traveling Naturalist program takes our educationalprograms on the road. Given at libraries, wildlife groups, lake associations, day care centers and camps, our programsreach community members of all ages. Thank you to all the supporting partners that worked with us this year!

in 2015…

• 1,319 people attended 49 programs

• New groups included: Moon Beach Camp , BessemerLibrary, Amour Lake Association, Pelican Lake Campground,Milestone Living

From Camp Leader:“Just wanted to let you know that weenjoyed the program today! You did a great job of letting the kids experience theanimal, were able to address their questionsbut didn’t make it “schoolish,” and weretotally flexible.”

~ Autistic Camp Leader

From the Participants:“I love hearing about all the wonderful newthings my child has learned after a programat the Discovery Center!”

~ Mother of a child who participated in the Eco Series

From School Teachers:“Today was awesome. The kids and theadults couldn't stop talking about it.Everything was so well thought out andthings kept moving so smoothly. Awesomejob on your part and that of your staff. Wewere talking about next year already.Thank you for everything. We thoroughlyenjoyed it.”

~ Mercer 1st grade teacher

Environmental Education 2015

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Program Donations and Grants

Nature Nook

To support some of our educational programming, the Discovery Centersecures grant funding when possible. These funds support nature-basedprogramming for people of all ages who visit, live in or love the Northwoods.These organizations and companies play a vital role in expanding connectionsto nature for all in our community, and on their behalf, we thank you.

For the 2015-16 school year wereceived program donations andgrants from…

• Xcel Energy

• Mercer Education Foundation

• St. Matthias Thrift Shop

• Other individual donations

Because of your support, the Nature Nook is open year-round for visitors.Drop into the Nook and discover information, activities, exhibits, liveanimals and more. Beyond the Nature Nook, explore the beautifulcampus and discover for yourself why people come back to visit us again and again.

• Onsite activities include canoeing,kayaking, geocaching, garden walks,or simply relaxing.

• Our live education animals includeOche the red eared slider turtle,Myrtle the ornate box turtle, Maizethe corn snake, Katya and Baby thesugar glider, Edgar and Willard thebig brown bats, tree frogs and, in thesummer, monarch butterflies.

Environmental Education 2015

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Outdoor education students on a snowshoe hike

Center for Conservation Leadership studentsplant a native plant garden

Annual Midwest Crane Count

Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II

Loon Nesting Platforms

On Saturday, April 18, 2015 thousands of citizen scientistsacross the Midwest waited patiently as the sun came up tohear the trumpets, rattles, croaks, and cries of Cranes as theygreeted the morning. Each year these volunteers estimate theSandhill Crane and Whooping Crane populations. The NorthLakeland Discovery Center assists by coordinating CraneCount volunteers in Vilas County.

in 2015 in Vilas County…

• 29 volunteers dedicated a total of 86 hours attendingtrainings and counting cranes

• 67 Sandhill Cranes were counted at 20 sites county-wide

The first Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas, conducted from 1995 to 2000,was the largest coordinated field effort in the history of Wisconsinornithology. It documented the distribution and abundance of breedingBirds in Wisconsin. The North Lakeland Discovery Center is coordinatingfieldwork in Vilas County for the second Breeding Bird Atlas taking placefrom 2015-2020.

in 2015 in Vilas County…

• 51 volunteers documented 140 species

• 74% of documented species have been confirmed as breeding species

From Crane Counters:“There's nothing quite like hearing cranescommunicating in a marsh at sunrise;beautiful and so peaceful.”

“At 5:30 am, I may be cranky, but the cranesare dancing!””

~ Crane Count Volunteers in Vilas County

In 2015, 8 new artificial loon nesting platforms were installed on the Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes in an effort to increaseloon productivity. This project was a collaboration with ProjectLoonWatch and loon biologists from the Wisconsin DNR and USGS.

in 2015 on the manitowish Waters Chain…

• 15 volunteers dedicated a total of 83 hours to trainings, and tobuilding and installing loon platforms

• $5,000 in grant money was received from the Wisconsin Citizen-based Monitoring Network for project startup

Citizen Science 2015

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Research and Monitoring CoordinatorHeather Lumpkin and Membership and

Development Coordinator Karla Wotrubainstall an Artificial Loon Nesting Platform

Acoustic Bat MonitoringTo conduct acoustic bat surveys, volunteers are trained to usehandheld ultrasonic detectors. This is a statewide effort tomonitor and manage bat populations in Wisconsin.

Picture PostPicture Posts are permanent stations for taking pictures of a landscape over time. There are 9 picture posts at theDiscovery Center that focus on questions about tree growthrates, plant phenology, forest regeneration after loggingactivity, and more.

At the Discovery Center…

• 212 picture sets have been uploaded

• 5 new sites in Northern Wisconsin have installed Pictureposts as a result of Discovery Center Picture Post workshops

in the Northwoods...

• Volunteers have conducted 40 surveys, totaling over 80 hours for the 2015 season

• Over 75 volunteers have been trained on the equipmentover the past 5 years

Citizen Science 2015

Bird BandingThe Discovery Center Bird Banding program launched inSeptember 2015. The goals of this program are to contribute tolong-term avian population monitoring through the MAPSprogram, research songbird rehabilitation success through apartnership with the Northwoods Wildlife Center, and to connectyouth and adults to birds and promote bird conservation.

in the year 2015…• 15 volunteers dedicated a total of 200 hours to bird banding

• 62 birds of 16 different species were banded, 15 of thesewere post-rehabilitation

• 2 recaptured Black-capped Chickadees were at least 9.5 yearsold (only 2 years from the national longevity record!)

• 80 youth and adults learned about birds at 14 bandingdemonstrations

From a Bird Banding Volunteer:"What a great way to not onlyget in touch with nature but toliterally touch it. Banding is awonderful experience!"”

~ Duanne Swift

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Bird Banding volunteer Pam Thul-Immlerreleases a banded hairy woodpecker duringa bird banding program

Wolf HowlingDuring wolf howling programs participants learn about wolfecology and management and participate in a nighttime wolfhowl survey. Data from these surveys are submitted to theWisconsin DNR to help estimate wolf populations andbreeding activity.

Lake Level MonitoringThis program was the first of its kind,and is the longest running effort inWisconsin to utilize citizen scientiststo monitor long term lake leveltrends. Data collected by thisprogram was used by researchersfrom the UW-Trout Lake ResearchStation in a scientific paper publishedby the American Geophysical Unionin the peer-reviewed GeophysicalResearch Letters in 2014.

in the year 2015…

• 89 participants attended a wolf howlprogram to learn about wolves

• 7 surveys were submitted to the DNR

Aquatic Invasive Species To support our aquatic invasive species outreachand water program, Discovery Center staff seekgrant funding. This money funds intern and staffsalaries, provides free public outreach, volunteertraining and management, AIS monitoring and control of invasive species, and supports lake management planning byprofessional consultants in area waters. We arevery appreciative of the organizations, companies,and volunteers that support this work that willkeep our lakes healthy for generations to come!

Across Vilas County from 2008 to 2015…

• Expanded from 4 lakesmonitored in 2008 to 39 lakesin 2015

• Over 94 volunteer hourscontributed

• Retention rate of lakesmonitored is 98% over the 8years since program inception

For 2015-2016, we received funds from…

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

• Established Population Control (ManitowishWaters Chain of Lakes)

• Aquatic Invasive Species Education, Planningand Prevention (Winchester Town-wide)

• Clean Boats Clean Waters (Big, Van Vliet,Presque Isle and Rest Lakes) with associatedlocal match from each individual lakeassociation

• Town funding as local match towards grants fromManitowish Waters, Boulder Junction, andWinchester

• Over 1600 volunteer hours

• Donations from organizations such as theManitowish Waters Lake Association and LynxLake Association

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Water Education Specialist AnneKretschmann and volunteerAl Drum install a lake levelmonitoring gauge

Summer Intern JasonTutkowski removes PurpleLoosestrife from theManitowish Chain

Tom AchtorLisa Africano

Dr. Diane Muri and Col. John AldridgeRollie AlgerDee Allen

Leslie AllenspachCarne Andrews

Jeff BadaMichele Baer

Audry and Jim BanovetzPat and Bob Barofsky

Becca and David BartlingSteven Bartling

Pat and Bob BeckerFritz Behr

Travis BellmanPenny and Bill Benson

Ronnie BergSarah BesadnySusan Biedron

Karola Blumroeder-Meyer andCol. Ted Mayer

Billie BotesCheryl BowenMary Bowlus

Arlene BozicnikCathy and Denny Breitholtz

Sharon and Bob BridgesDianne Briggs

Ed BrodskyPat and Carl Brust

Jim BrzezinskiSteve Budnik

Jeff BurkeEleanor Butler

Joan and Will ByramKim and Jim Cagney

Peggy CainCarolyn Cain

Ann and Jim CarstensSusan Casedy

Judy and Jon CassadyJim Cayo

Mary Ellen CiderJohn ConnaughtyWilliam Conway

Pamela Maxzon-Cooper andJack CooperMike Crabb

Karen and James CramerKaren and Bill Curran

Ronie Jacobsen and Mike CzarnyBeth Dahlmeier

Bonnie and Guy DavidDonna DePape

Charlene DeWaldKelley DiLeonardi

Karen and Mike DixonEdith Dobrinski

Diane and Glenn DoeringAngie Dombrowicki

Heidi and Mike DonahueSue and Alan Drum

Jim DukeRick DuleySteve Eiler

Pam and Al Eschenbauch

Sue EsslingerRolf Ethun

Jim and Tim EvansJoan and Dick Fahning

BJ FarmerBecca Fehlandt

Marilyn FeldkampRichard Fischer

Anita FlantzKatie Foley

Betty ForsterSuzy and David FosterJean and Jim Friedley

Luke FulcomerMarilyn and Bill Gabert

Joan and Deane GallowayCarol and Otto Gebhardt

David GerthCindy and Tom Giesen

TJ GiesenSandra Goggin

Jenny and Glenn GoldschmidtColleen and John GorrillaCindy and Kevin Griffith

Linda GrowneyDarryl Gust

Cyndi GuzmanNancy and Pete Guzzetta

Carrie HamerDavid HansonJean HansonJohn Hanson

Carol and Tom HartmanPeter Hatch

Jan and Bill HeinsCarol HeitmanCharley Helfert

Nellie and Dick HemmingDick Henske

Scott HernandezJoan and Dennis HillJulie and Al Hillery

Gabe HluchanCeleste Hockings

Kay HoffSusie HoffmannJulie Hoffmeister

Dawn and Greg HoltClaudia Hoogasian

Bryan HooverScott Howells

Laurie and Jerry HruskaBarb Ings

Donna JanesBrent Jelinski

Sarah and Cal JohnsonNancy Johnson

Jeanne and Tom JosephMary JungZach Kane

Barbara KauffmanArlene KellettJo Ann Klug

Bobbie and Tom KocimMary and Eric Koster

Bob KovarBarb and Tom Kramer

Volunteer Report 2015In 2015, we began a concerted effort to offer morevolunteer opportunities through our “Sharing theDiscovery” program. The success of the Discovery Centerdepends on the generosity and gracious help of ourmany volunteers.

There are 5 main areas for which people can volunteer:Programs and Events, Citizen Science, Building andGrounds, Administrative, and Discovery Guides. Wewould not be able to fulfill our mission without theirtireless effort.

in the year 2015…

• 2477 total volunteer hours were served includingCitizen Science

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Thank You to Our 2015 Volunteers!

Volunteer Al Hillery rakes leaves during Helping Hands Day

Eco-Series Volunteers Kelley DiLeonardiand Connie LeFebvre

Kay and Jeff KransBob Krarup

Patty KrarupSue Krieck

Barb and Steve KromholzMichelle Kuber

Lester KverschnerKris and Raulf LaMarche

Gerard LauzonEd Lee

Connie LefebvreJune and Paul Lewandoski

Richard LoganKay Lorbiecki

Shirley LuebbersSharon and Dave Lukas

Nicki and Dave LullPaul Lundsten

Kay and Andy LynchDeb and Donna Mandt

Ed MarshallBetsy and Eric Matz

Barbara and John McFarlandSherrie McFarland

Cela McGinnisMJ Sloan & Chad McGrath

Sylvia and Stella MezaMatthew Mikolajczak

Jody MillerJon and Yolan MisteleDeb and John Moran

Joanne MorganPatt Moses

Anne NesbitAnne and John Nesgaard

Tara NolanOtto Novak

Marcia ObukowiczTom Olson

Dora and Joe OsfarCathy Palmer

Jane ParisHedda Patzke

Melinda PearceLori and Kevin Peterson

Wendell PodulkaPatricia PohlRobert Polic

Cheryl and Rick PolitoskiTom Preston

Stephanie and Paul PuccinelliLew Raker

Karin and John RandolphCarol and Al Rank

Trish RayalaJim ReichertSharon ReillyMykos Ress

Peggy RichmondJeff Richter

Denny RobertsonDonna Roche

Patience and Charlie RockeyTomich Rodall

Marsha and Paul RosenbergHelen and John Rossmiller

Judy and Bob Ruch

Nancy and Steve RussellPam and Wayne RussellPaul Sager and Family

Carl SatterstenBob and Sherlene Schmidt

Bev SchultzJan and DuWayne Schumacher

Brenda and Scott SchuppeMary and Bill Schwartz

Carl SeveyMyrtle and Rod SharkaMid and Parker Sharpe

Quita SheehanSherry Silverthorn

Chris SimpsonSandy SkatTom SkonieM. J. SloanJane Smith

Kim SpagnoliKathy SpresterIngrid StephanElizabeth Stone

Bob Stowers and FamilyAnn and Duanne Swift

Mary Jane TaylorEd Taylor

Terry and Fred TheisenJudy and Wally Thiel

Pam Thul-ImmlerChris and Ron Troller

Bob TwelmeyerJeanna and Jimmy Vogel

Dave VogtJean and Jim Volke

Bob Von HoldtGail Voss

Jane and Bob WagmanDorothy and Jim Wahner

Jillayne and Jeff WaiteChuck Waldhart

Neil WallaceCindy WallaceAmanda Walsh

Carl WatrasTim WeberKay Wegner

Joelle WennlundBeth and Pete WetzlerMeg and Dave Werren

Gene WilbergGlen Wildenberg

Karen and Jerry WilkeJill Wilm

Kath and Chuz WilsonTerry Daulton and Jeff Wilson

Sharon and Chris WinterCourtney Wright

Audrey WittryHelyn and Jay Woolf

Tom YoungCandace Zahncain

JoAnn ZaumseilJudi Zawojewski and Family

Jill ZifkinAngie Ziobro

Internships Report 2015Our internship program is a immersivementorship opportunity. During the summer of2015, six interns developed their skills in the fieldat the Discovery Center. They conductedprograms, assisted in citizen science projects, ledtrips, monitored aquatic invasive species, createdcurriculum, developed their own projects andmore. We are currently in the process of selectingour summer 2016 interns.

in the year 2015 the Discovery Center offeredthe following internships:

• 1 Environmental Education• 1 Interpretive Services• 1 Citizen Science• 1 Clean Boats, Clean Waters• 2 Water Monitoring Outreach

2015 Summer interns (l-r): Kurt Andersen, Prescott College;

Emily Anna, Northern Michigan University; Jason Tutkowski, Carroll University;

Neva Bentley, Michigan Technological University;Brad Feiherr, UW-River Falls;

Maggie Armstrong , UW-Stevens Point.

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Summer Interns doing water quality samplingwith students

Discovery Center Bird Club

Discovery Center Garden Club

Forty-five Bird Club members engaged in a variety ofactivities from April to November, including at least 25weekly outings and monthly presentations. The Bird Clubsupported North Lakeland Discovery Center avian-relatedprograms such as the Northwoods Birding Festival, theMidwest Crane Count, Loon Nesting Platform Project, theWisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II, and bird banding. Theyalso contributed to local and state wildlife andconservation efforts and two of their members becameWisconsin Master Naturalists.

in the year 2015…

• 147 bird species were observed

• The club’s life list added 2 additional species bringingthe grand total to 226

The Garden Club beautifies the grounds of the DiscoveryCenter by taking care of the rain garden, perennial garden,shoreline restoration, and the newly installed native plantsand pollinators garden, as well as planting and caring forthe many flower beds, boxes, and planters that make ourcampus even more beautiful and vibrant. There are nowover thirty members who enjoy being a part of the GardenClub for friendship and gardening fun.

Friends of Van VlietThe Friends of the Van Vliet Hemlocks are dedicated to the protection andpreservation of this 400-acre old-growth forest and State Natural Area inPresque Isle. Many activities took place there in 2015, including a fall mushroomhike and a winter snowshoe, both co-hosted by the Discovery Center. It is also apopular birding area and was included as a field trip destination for theDiscovery Center’s Northwoods Birding Festival, with over 29 different birdspecies identified there in just a few hours.

Clubs 2015

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Garden Club volunteers work onthe Native Garden

Groups Report 2015

Wisconsin Master Naturalist ProgramIn the fall of 2015, 10 adult learners completed the 40-hour WI Master Naturalist Program hosted by theDiscovery Center. This comprehensive educational opportunity provides participants with the knowledge tobecome stewards of our natural resources and impact their communities.

Other Notable Groupsiron County 4-H Youth Camp - 100 campers • Future Farmers of America officer Retreat - 60 studentsUW-La Crosse multicultural Student Services Camp - 38 Students-iowa Central Community College Cross Country Team - 32 student athletes Northland College Resident Assistant Training - 52 students

Groups and WeddingsThe Discovery Center hosts youth and nature-based groups who come toexplore everything that the Northwoods has to offer. Whether theirneeds include lodging or programming or both, the Discovery Center istheir home base.

Many brides and grooms have found the Discovery Center to be theperfect place in paradise to hold a wedding. In 2015, 13 couples begantheir lives together here.

Center for Conservation LeadershipTwenty urban high school students interested in natural resourcesand conservation are chosen by the Center for ConservationLeadership to learn, be inspired and challenge themselves . Forone memorable week of their involvement, the CCL group stays atthe Discovery Center, where they are immersed in outdoorrecreation, stewardship and citizen science in the Northwoods. Formany of these teens, these are their first outdoor experiences andhelp shape their direction for years to come.

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Girl ScoutsThe Discovery Center partnered with the Girl Scouts ofthe Northwestern Great Lakes, developing four newprograms to offer opportunities for girls from Northernand Central Wisconsin to earn badges. 116 girlsparticipated in Leadership Journeys and otherprograms, learning about topics including Wonders ofWater, focusing on water ecology, and aMuse, focusingon women empowerment and self-expression.

Girl Scouts Group

The Discovery Center provides aspectacular backdrop forNorthwoods weddings!

Center for ConservationLeadership Group

New on Campus!

Native Plant GardensStroll through the winding paths of thenative plant demonstration gardens to viewpollinator-friendly, edible and shorelinerestoration plants. Other plantings on thegrounds include a rain garden to promoteideas on best practices you can apply toyour own property.

Tadpole ClassroomThis Discovery Destination encompasses thewaterfront area, educational pier, reimaginediconic sauna building, shoreline restoration,enhanced garden with native plants, andeducational activities.

Intern HousingThe Mallard cabin was remodeled to betteraccommodate our summer interns. The cabinnow has two bedrooms and a commoncentral area. The addition of this cabindoubled the total number of student internswe can house each summer to eight.

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Rustic Camp AccommodationsFor some of our larger student groups, twocanvas tents give campers the experience andadventure of living in the great outdoors.