Community Environmental Education Resources
Kenosha and Racine have many wonderful environmental education resources. The following is a brief summary of some of the resources available to educators and residents.
Alliance for the Great Lakes - Celebrate your love for the Great Lakes and bring this service-learning opportunity into your classroom. The Alliance’s Adopt-a-Beach initiative is a national volunteer program, established to preserve the health of the Great Lakes.
Eco-Justice Center - The Eco-Justice Center is a sponsored ministry of the Racine Dominican Sisters and serves as a public witness of the congregation's commitment to care for Earth and reverence all creation.
Kenosha Public Museum - The Kenosha Public Museum, a natural history and fine and decorative arts museum, is accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Hawthorne Hollow - Located at 880 Green Bay Road between Kenosha and Racine, Hawthorne Hollow is a private, non-profit nature sanctuary and arboretum owned and operated by the Hyslop Foundation providing environmental education for all ages.
Hoy Audubon Society - The local chapter of the Audubon Society, named after Racine pioneer Dr. Philo Hoy. The Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
Pringle Nature Center - The Hoy Audubon Society/Pringle Nature Center was built in 1998 with seed funds given to Kenosha County by Robert Pringle, Sr.'s sister, Fanny Pringle. In partnership with the How Audubon society, the center serves as a regional resource where people of all ages can experience nature, environmental education, conservation and stewardship.
Racine Zoo - Established in 1923, the Racine Zoological Gardens are located on the shores of Lake Michigan on the north side of downtown. The Zoo provides an enlightening and affordable wildlife experience that improves the bond between people and nature.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area - Named after World War II pilot and Wisconsin native Major Richard I. Bong, this area became the state's first recreation area in 1974 and features a wide variety of recreational and educational activities.
River Bend Nature Center - River Bend Nature Center is located on 80 acres of natural area along the banks of the Root River in Racine. The forests, fields and wetlands provide habitats for many different plant and wildlife communities, as well as many recreational opportunities for hikers, cross-country skiers, paddlers, bird watchers and all students of nature.
Root Pike WIN - Root-Pike WIN is a grassroots collaborative that awards grants and promotes/supports oganizations for projects that preserve, promote, and protect land and water resources in the Root-Pike watershed.
Sierra Club: Southeast Gateway Group - This local chapter is part of one of the oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the nation and holds regular educational programs in Kenosha and Racine.
UWP Nature Preserves - In addition to its 700-acre campus, UW-Parkside partners with The Nature Conservancy and serves as conservator for approximately 600 acres of preserves located throughout Kenosha and Racine counties. This article describes these "hidden treasures."
