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Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
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Celebrating 50 Years!

The spring of 2021 marked Schlitz Audubon’s 50th anniversary! Prior to becoming a nature center, our 185 acres were the Schlitz Brewery Farm and then a recreational area for the family and employees. In the 1960’s Dorothy Vallier, along with Monnie Messinger, Winnie Woodmansee, and Charlotte Zieve advocated for the land to become a center for environmental learning, and on April 26, 1971, the land was donated for that purpose to the National Audubon Society by the Schlitz Foundation.

Today, our independent nature center reaches over 159,000 people annually, including more than 20,000 students. We offer six miles of trails through prairies, wetlands, forests, and Lake Michigan shoreline, including wheelchair accessible trails and boardwalks. Naturalists provide environmental education for people of all ages and the birds of prey in our Raptor Program teach about their wild counterparts. Through conservation projects, we work continually to improve the land’s sustainability and biotic diversity.

We are committed to making nature accessible to all and to laying the groundwork for the Center to continue to flourish in the next 50 years.

Celebrate With Us

Throughout the year we are celebrating our history and our future. Join us!

TREASURING NATURE GALA

Celebrate half a century of Schlitz Audubon at our Annual Gala on Saturday, June 26. At this all-outdoor event, guests will move through three experience areas that honor our mission and those who have been so important to the Center’s growth over the decades.
More Information

ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Join us on Sunday, August 29 for an engaging family-friendly event! You’ll hear about the history of the land and visit our various ecosystems, where you will learn how we have improved habitat for wildlife.
More information

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

Our volunteers treasure nature, and we treasure them! A volunteer celebration will be taking place in the spring of 2022. Check back for more details later in summer.


1970s

1971

Schlitz Foundation donates Nine Mile Farm to National Audubon Society.

1974

Schlitz Audubon officially opens to the public. Birding observations begin being recorded, starting one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the region.

1980s

1981

40-acre Cleaver Property (on the Milwaukee River south of Brown Deer Rd.) is donated to Center.

1983

After years of working with the Humane Society in support of birds of prey, we receive our federal permits to begin our Raptor Program.

1985

Plans for Mystery Lake are developed after funds for the project were given in memory of Ilma Uihlein.

1986

The Observation Tower is built and our first summer camps are offered.

1990s

1990

Environmental education is expanded throughout this decade, offering more secondary and adult programs.

1999

Emerson, the snapping turtle in our Great Hall, arrives at the Center.

2000s

2001

The birds in our Raptor Program get a new home with 10 mews and indoor flight area.

2003

Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Learning Center, the first Gold LEED-certified building in Wisconsin, opens. It houses our new Nature Preschool, also the first of its kind in the state.

2007

The Ozaukee Bight Lakeshore Migration Corridor, which includes the Center, is named an Important Bird Area.

2009

Nature Preschool begins partnership with Malaika Early Learning Center, providing nature education to urban preschoolers.

2010s

2015

We re-brand. Milwaukee’s first Bioblitz with the Milwaukee Public Museum takes place at Schlitz Audubon, recording 820 species in 24 hours, including the endangered bluestem goldenrod.

2016

Mystery Lake boardwalk is installed, increasing the length of our wheelchair accessible trails. The Raptor Exhibit opens, allowing the public to view Sky Walker, our Red-tailed Hawk, daily.

2017

15-year conservation plan is launched and the federally-endangered rusty patched bumblebee is found on our property.

2018

Our SPARK! Program for people experiencing cognitive changes is launched, starting a concerted effort to increase programming for people with various specific needs. The Gateway Trail, an accessible boardwalk through a rare wet prairie, opens.

2019

The Stormwater Wetland & Ravine Restoration Project is implemented, the most significant land project in Center history. Our Nature Preschool is named 2019 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School.

2020s

2020

The Central Wetlands Loop opens.

2021

We celebrate our 50th Anniversary!

Be A Part of Our Future

We are excited to achieve this great milestone. At the same time, we are committed to conserving our land’s diverse habitats and providing meaningful experiences and environmental education for all in the coming decades. Consider giving an anniversary donation or becoming a member to celebrate both our legacy and our future.

ANNIVERSARY DONATION
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Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, our mission is to conserve our land’s diverse habitats on Lake Michigan and provide meaningful experiences and environmental education for all.

Our Location

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
1111 E. Brown Deer Road
Milwaukee, WI 53217
(414) 352-2880

Hours
8:30am – 5:00pm Daily

Admission
Free for members
$8 Adults
$5 Ages 3-17
$5 Active Duty & Veterans

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National Audubon Society
Schlitz Audubon is an independent, locally supported partner of the National Audubon Society.

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