Dates & times
All times are local to the venue · America/Chicago
- 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
These are the previously published dates. Check the organizer for a new edition.
Check the organizer’s latest schedule ↗Ecological Restoration Work Party at UW–Madison Arboretum’s Grady Tract
At the UW–Madison Arboretum’s Ecological Restoration Work Party, volunteers help care for the plant communities that support local ecosystems and wildlife. The November 7 gathering meets at the Grady Tract parking lot for a morning of outdoor work.
What habitat care can involve
The Arboretum’s restoration work parties are part of an ongoing effort to care for native plant communities. The November gathering is devoted to habitats that include prairies, savannas and woodlands.
Across the work-party program, volunteers cut brush, remove weedy plants and collect seed from prairie plants. The assignment for November 7 has not been announced, so those examples are a guide to the kind of work involved, not a promise of particular tasks.
Further reading: Ecological Restoration Work Party | UW Arboretum ↗ · Restoration Work Parties | UW Arboretum ↗
Joining the crew
Restoration experience is not necessary. The Arboretum welcomes volunteers at all experience levels and provides tools, gloves and instruction. The work is physical, but volunteers can work at a pace comfortable for them.
This is one of the Arboretum’s regular drop-in work parties, which generally meet on Saturday mornings from mid-February through mid-December. Meeting locations change, so a return visit may start at a different part of the Arboretum.
Further reading: Ecological Restoration Work Party | UW Arboretum ↗ · Restoration Work Parties | UW Arboretum ↗
The work party
The morning is reserved for habitat restoration; the specific assignment has not been announced.
Saturday, November 7 · Grady Tract
- Volunteer habitat-restoration activities in prairies, savannas and woodlands; tools and training provided.
Before you go
Arrive by 9 a.m.
The work party runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Capacity is limited. There are no restroom facilities at the Grady Tract meeting location.
Dress for vegetation and weather
Sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots and long pants are required. Wear clothes that can get dirty; long sleeves and a water bottle are recommended. Do not wear or bring flannel or fleece shirts or jackets, as burs cling to them. Canvas shoes, sandals, flip-flops and shorts are also prohibited.
Restoration Work Parties | UW Arboretum ↗ · Dressing for Work Parties | UW Arboretum ↗
Check for a cancellation
Severe weather or ground too muddy or snow-covered for safe work can cancel a work party. For a cancellation message, call (608) 263-7327 after 8:15 a.m. on Saturday.
Make arrangements in advance
Groups are welcome with advance notice. For group arrangements or questions about individual access needs, contact the Arboretum at (608) 265-5214 or [email protected].
Getting to Grady Tract
Meet at the parking lot, not the Visitor Center
The meeting point is the Grady Tract parking lot at the southeast corner of Seminole Highway and W. Beltline Frontage Road. Madison Metro route H has a stop on or near the lot. Use the map links for directions from your starting point.
Ecological Restoration Work Party | UW Arboretum ↗ · Getting Here | UW Arboretum ↗
Before you make a plan
Do I need restoration experience or my own tools?
No previous experience is required. The Arboretum provides tools, work gloves and instruction.
Can a group volunteer together?
Yes. Groups should make arrangements in advance by calling (608) 265-5214 or emailing [email protected].
Are there restrooms at the meeting point?
No. The Grady Tract meeting location has no restroom facilities.
How do I find out if weather has canceled the work party?
Call (608) 263-7327 after 8:15 a.m. Saturday for the cancellation message.
Location & Google Maps
Grady Tract parking lot, UW–Madison Arboretum
Southeast corner of Seminole Highway and W. Beltline Frontage Road, Madison, WI
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.