Wisconsin’s public lands are some of our state’s greatest treasures—offering beauty, adventure, and refuge—and protecting them ensures these special places will thrive for generations to come.
That’s why we’re going all in for Public Lands Month. All month long, we’ll be hosting a special lineup of hikes, educational events, and opportunities to take action. And with last week’s announcement that the Trump Administration is targeting some of our most pristine and irreplaceable public lands, there’s never been a more important moment for all of us who love these places to stand together and speak out.
Sign up here for weekly emails with reminders about the events, actions, and outings!
All Month:
Take action to protect the "Roadless Rule":
Our national forests are the heart of our public land. But now nearly 60 million acres are under attack! The Trump administration wants to revoke the "Roadless Area Conservation Rule," an extremely popular 2001 policy that protects the wildest parts of our national forests. Help protect wildlife, water, and climate by keeping our forests development-free.
Revoking the Roadless Rule wouldn't just be a handout to corporations, it would be a destructive policy with devastating effects on wildlife, clean air and drinking water, outdoor recreation, communities, local economies, and wildfire management. Send a comment to the US Forest Service showing that this policy is still popular today.
Get outside and post about it:
Celebrating our public lands while reminding people they’re under threat is one of the most powerful ways to inspire action and build awareness—among friends, family, the public, and decision-makers—about why these places matter. Share your love on social media with #PublicLandsMonth, and tag us so we can repost your story!
Get out and enjoy:
This Public Lands Month, one of the best ways to take action is simply to get outside—explore the trails, parks, and wild places that make Wisconsin so special. By enjoying these open spaces, you’re also helping to celebrate and protect them for generations to come.
Support the Bad River Band in Court and Protect Copper Falls State Park
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, September 3, Madison
Enbridges Line 5 pipeline has been trespassing on the Bad River Reservation for more than a decade, threatening Tribal lands, rivers, wetlands, and our climate. Instead of shutting it down, the company wants to build a 41-mile reroute around the Reservation without providing key details about blasting, construction impacts, or restoration. Enbridge proposal would also threaten one of our most beautiful state parks: Copper Falls State Park.
This September, it all comes to a head in a contested case hearinga legal proceeding much like a court trial, where both sides (the Bad River Band and environmental groups, vs. Enbridge and the Department of Natural Resources) can present evidence, call witnesses, and make their case before an administrative law judge. The outcome will determine whether Enbridge can move forward with construction or be stopped in its tracks.Join us on the first day of arguments to show the Bad River Band and our attorneys they have our support.You don't have to stay for the whole day! Anytime you can come would be appreciated.
Celebration & Fundraiser: Locally Grown, Nationally Known
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, September 9, Online
The Wisconsin chapter invites you to Locally Grown, Nationally Known - our annual, online event and fundraiser that celebrates and supports the work of the chapter. This year we’ve asked our volunteers to recommend some of their favorite, “special places” around the state – the places they visit to relax, rejuvenate, connect with nature and be inspired – and the places that they work to protect. Please join us on September 9th and take a virtual journey around the state with us as we celebrate the connection between Wisconsin’s special places and grassroots activism.
This is more than just a fundraiser, it’s a fun way for you to explore these special places from the comfort of your home, or to learn about a new hidden gem to add to your explorations list or maybe even be inspired to join one of our in-person outings, all while furthering the work of the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter. We hope you will join us for this celebration!
This event is free to attend with opportunities to donate online prior to and throughout the evening. RSVP to receive an email containing a link to the zoom event.
Legislative Town Hall: Fox Valley Environmental Town Hall
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm, September 11, Appleton Public Library (200 N Appleton St, Appleton, WI)
Join us at the Appleton Public Library for an opportunity to speak with legislators about the environmental issues that you care about! This event will give YOU the opportunity to tell legislators in your area what you would like to see from state legislation in order to protect our environment.
The majority of this event will be comments from members of the public, with a brief time at the end for legislators to respond. Join us to talk about ways that our state can better protect our air, water, wildlife, land and climate!
Toolkit Release: Get the Lead Out!
When you sign up for the Get the Lead Out Toolkit, you’ll receive everything you need to start protecting wildlife and waters from harmful lead pollution. The kit includes a step-by-step guide on how to safely dispose of lead tackle, instructions for building a collection container, and ideas for spreading awareness in your community. You’ll also get a poster and sticker to help label your container and share the message with others. Together, these resources make it easy to take action and keep loons, eagles, turtles, and other wildlife safe.
Sign up to get the Toolkit here
Protecting the Midwest's Wild Forests
6:00 pm, September 14, Online
Join former Chief of the Forest Service, Mike Dombeck, in a conversation about midwest forests hosted by Sierra Club, ELPC, and partners around the region.
The Roadless Rule is one of the most important conservation policies in the history of our public lands. It safeguards nearly 60 million acres of national forests -- including more than 700,000 acres of roadless areas in the Midwest, such as parts of Wisconsin’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and Minnesota’s Superior National Forest.
Now the Trump administration is trying to repeal it and open up 45 million acres of our wildest landscapes nationwide to logging, mining, and off-road vehicles. That would mean more clear-cuts, more pollution in our rivers and lakes, and fewer places for Midwesterners to hunt, fish, hike, and camp.
Join us to learn why protecting roadless areas matters for the Midwest's waters, wildlife, and way of life -- and what you can do to help keep them intact.
The Other Public Lands
7:00 PM, Sep 16, Online
Registration Required
Edgewood University’s Professor Steve Davis will present how for most Americans, state lands are a readily accessible type of public land. However, despite being widespread, many are largely unknown. His book, The Other Public Lands, offers a broad view of state public lands and the political dynamics that underlie their management. His talk will focus on how states prioritize competing claims related to conservation, resource development, tourism, recreation and finances, and how much of their value is missed by policymakers.
Lunch and Learn: Solar and Lands
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Wed, Sep 17, 2025, Online
Clean Wisconsin's Solar Co-benefits report describes some of the co-benefits of solar farms on water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat, and health, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. The research has shown that when solar farms replace conventionally-farmed row crops, like corn, it can reduce sediment and phosphorus pollution runoff into nearby lakes, rivers, and streams by 75-95% and reduce groundwater contamination from nitrates. Join us for a virtual Lunch and Learn event to hear more!
Coulee Region Action Gathering
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, September 19, UU Fellowship, 401 West Ave S, La Crosse
The Wisconsin Chapter has designated September as "Public Lands Month" - the Coulee Region Group will make protecting public lands the focus of our monthly action gathering! In a short time, you'll get key updates on the issue and take collective action to resist the attacks on the resources and values our federal public lands offer. Join with others to view an video clip from the Sierra Club's national action hour, discuss, and take action together! Pizza will be provided but please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage. Enter at the back door.
RSVPs are appreciated but NOT required: https://forms.gle/ndto4YZgytvz9TS9A
Lincoln Creek Clean Up
10:00 am - noon, September 20, N35 & Congress, Milwaukee, WI
Please register at https://tinyurl.com/Lincolncleanup920
Join the Northwest Side Community Development Corp., Nearby Nature Milwaukee and the Great Waters Group on Sept. 20 for an Adopt-A-River cleanup on Lincoln Creek, a program of Milwaukee Riverkeeper. In light of the recent flooding, this cleanup is especially important.
We will have bags, gloves, and pickers on-site, but please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for working on unstable ground. Please also remember to bring a reusable water bottle.
Program: Building Power for Public Lands
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, September 23, Wauwatosa Public Library (7635 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI)
Are you feeling the need to get back to basics and connect with people who share your values? Are you feeling overwhelmed about how to protect your local environment and community under the current federal administration? Us too. That's why this upcoming programs season is going to focus on doing those things together. We'll meet and spend time connecting with other members, hearing from an external speaker about what they are doing to build community and ecological resilience in the face of federal opposition, and then spending time in engaged in collective action to actively support local resilience.
The first program will be September 23 and will feature Sierra Club Chapter staff discussing how the federal environment is impacting Club efforts, especially to protect public lands in Wisconsin.
Registration not required, but appreciated.
New Tool Release: Layers of Life and Landscapes in Wisconsin
Press event: 11:00 am - 11:30 am, September 24, Online
We’re thrilled to launch our new dashboard and interactive map, a powerful tool to explore Wisconsin’s lands and waters through the lens of the global 30x30 initiative—the ambitious goal to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030. From forests and wetlands to prairies and culturally important sites, this tool lets you see the diversity of habitats across the state, understand their crucial roles in climate mitigation, biodiversity, and human well-being, and even discover what’s thriving right in your own backyard.
Learn about keystone species like beavers, wolves, and rusty-patched bumblebees, explore old-growth forests and prairie remnants, and see how protected lands—from state parks to land trust preserves—contribute to healthy ecosystems, clean water, and carbon storage. You can also explore areas of cultural significance, including tribal lands, wild rice habitats, effigy mounds, and historic settlements, honoring the deep connections between people and the land.
This interactive dashboard makes it easy to explore, learn, and get inspired to protect Wisconsin’s natural heritage for future generations
Gain early access by supporting the Lands Team's fundraising campaign.
Service Outings, Paddles, Hikes, and More Throughout the Month: Enjoying our Public Lands Day
- September 6- Chippewa River Paddle: Caryville to Dunn Landing: RSVP here
- September 6- Tree Planting in Madison: RSVP here
- September 28- Grace Trail Walk at Navarino Nature Center: RSVP here
- Check back as more are getting planned!
Webinar: What's Next? Protecting Public Lands
September 30, Online
Join us at the end of the month for our Public Lands Wrap-Up Webinar, where we’ll hear from national Sierra Club leaders, get the latest updates on the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, and look ahead to what’s next in the fight to protect Wisconsin’s public lands. It’s a chance to connect, celebrate our progress, and prepare for the work still to come.
Questions? Contact Cassie at cassie.steiner@sierraclub.org or call our office at (608) 256-0565.