National Public Lands Day Paddles, Plants and Caves: BLM Connects Milwaukee Youth with the Outdoors

From Sept. 19 to 24, the Bureau of Land Management’s Northeastern States District Office and partner organization Wilderness Inquiry brought the mission of public lands directly into the Milwaukee community through a week of paddling, outdoor education and exploration.  

The activities began Sept. 19 at Lincoln Park, for a National Public Lands Day Community Paddle known as Canoemobile. Participants explored the Milwaukee River aboard Wilderness Inquiry’s 24-foot canoes, gaining an introduction to paddling and the natural resources in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.  

Canoemobile is more than a recreational experience. Wilderness Inquiry describes the program as a “floating classroom” that combines canoeing with hands-on education, helping youth and families connect with nature, build confidence and develop an appreciation for their local environment. Its accessible canoes and trained outdoor leaders allow people with a wide range of abilities and experience levels to participate.  

Throughout the week, local students also engaged with BLM staff and partner educators. The BLM display featured the Mobile Cave Exhibit, an interactive traveling exhibit that introduces participants to the bureau’s Cave and Karst Program. The exhibit allowed students to experience caving in a fun, safe, protected environment.  Wisconsin is home to more than 400 known caves—including Cave of the Mounds near Blue Mounds, a National Natural Landmark, and Crystal Cave near Spring Valley, the state's longest—places where students can see firsthand the karst features highlighted in the exhibit.  

BLM staff members Kyle Wanner, Kelsey Radobicky, Matt Tellevik, Nikki Carter and Wes Willoughby, along with their supervisors, provided students with information about public lands, the BLM mission, and career and stewardship opportunities. All students received Junior Ranger books, while fourth graders also received Every Kid Outdoors 4th Grade Passes. Students also received hard hats and flashlights for the caving experience, as well as native planting kits that teach the importance of native plants and invasive species prevention.  

The BLM and local stewardship organizations Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Nearby Nature, Restoring Lands and Friends of Lincoln Park hosted informational stations with handouts for the public to learn about their work. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources complemented the program with an interactive wildlife display and discussions about conservation, outdoor recreation and opportunities available on Wisconsin state lands. Education staff from nearby Discovery World also contributed an interactive exhibit.  

For the Northeastern States District, the Milwaukee events demonstrate the value of partnerships in expanding the BLM’s reach beyond the traditional public-land settings—bringing the BLM’s mission to people where they live, learn and recreate, and helping create the next generation of public-land stewards.  

These events were made possible through an agreement between BLM headquarters and Wilderness Inquiry, a grant from the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, and the hard work of many partner organizations. The BLM thanks everyone who made these events possible.