December 2025:
The early snowfall was a beautiful gift of nature!
(Note: when snow covered, the park trails northeast of the main road are groomed for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing while the trails southwest of the road are groomed and tracked for skiing only. Motorized vehicles aren’t allowed on trails).
and THANK YOU for YOUR gifts!
Because of you, the Friends had a great year and we’re excited about what’s ahead. This year, Governor Nelson State Park celebrated its 50th Birthday…and our Friends organization celebrated its 1st!
Here’s what kept us busy in 2025:
- We completed Phase 1 of the Hogan House restoration and showed off the progress to more than 500 visitors at two Open Houses and during the Candlight Hike in October. It was the most public access to the building in 50 years!
- Working with park staff, Friends volunteers continued their quest to rid the park of invasive plants and to revitalize its prairies and woodlands. Many community members also joined us in planting trees on Earth Day.
- We doubled our membership and raised over $20,000 in donations. We are humbly grateful for your support!
- We launched a social media presence (Facebook and Instagram) to expand awareness of our work. Please follow and like us on these platforms!
And in 2026:
- We applied for a second $20,000 grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program (matching the $20,000 in donations mentioned above) and hope those funds are received for Phase 2 of the Hogan House restoration. Doors and windows will be updated and an exterior gathering space will be created for all to enjoy.
- We’ll help fund a comprehensive Cultural History of the park to assist with interpretive efforts throughout the park and expand visitor knowledge of the park.
- We’ll continue efforts to establish an Oak Savannah with a wide variety of native species (free of invasives).
- We’ll seek input from our members and stakeholders to establish a long-term vision of the park. Please share your thoughts with us any time here.
- We anticipate greater public use of the Hogan House.
The efforts of our volunteers, members, donors, neighbors and park staff continue to make Governor Nelson State Park of of Wisconsin’s BEST treasures!
As we near the end of the year and (ugh!) tax planning season, please consider making a tax deductible gift to Friends of Governor Nelson State Park. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and qualify as a tax deductible recipient of IRA RMDs.
We look forward to seeing you in the park in 2026!
Friends of Governor Nelson Board Members
Officers: Drew Howick, Tom Cameron, Lynne Cleeland, Mick Warner
Board Members: Fred Anderson, Rhonda Arries, Mick Holm, Jan Lottig
