Wehr Nature Center is a place where everyone belongs. Open year-round, we offer accessible buildings, trails, and park features designed for visitors of all ages and abilities. Wander our more than five-miles of trails traversing five distinct habitats all within a five-minute walk. Enjoy universally designed exhibits, comfortable restrooms, and hands-on unique programs that bring people together through nature all year round.
Save the Date!
July 7 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Relax at our enjoyable outdoor evening event featuring 30 local vendors offering jewelry, clothing, desserts, handmade cards and other items, whimsical yard art, and so much more. A fantastic raffle with vendor-supplied items will support the Friends of Wehr as they help expand accessible, inclusive programming and natural areas restoration.
July 26 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Join us for an inclusive Open House celebrating Wehr Nature Center’s commitment to equitable access to the outdoors for people of all ages and abilities. This free community event invites everyone to explore nature through accessible experiences, adaptive recreation, and meaningful connections with local accessibility partners.
August 22 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Discover the plants behind your favorite beverages at this leisurely, fun, and educational evening at Wehr featuring local coffee, tea, craft beer, and other purveyors. Live music, food trucks, and more!
All Ages and Abilities
9:30 am – 10:30 am
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
10:30 am – 11:30 am
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Featured Program
Join us for a monthly ecology walk at various Milwaukee County Natural Areas, where we’ll learn, observe, and ID native flowers! On our walk, you’ll also learn about the characteristics of the native plant community that we will explore.
Wehr Nature Center inspires all generations to explore and value the plants and animals of our natural world through experiential education, accessible trails, native landscapes and natural areas.
July – September Newsletter
Happy Summer! Wehr’s trails are overflowing with an abundance of green, flowers, interesting insects, and wildlife. In nature the delight is in the details – slow down and see for yourself during your next hike at Wehr.
In the summer issue of Wehr Words, we hope you’ll enjoy learning about Wehr’s efforts to support the next generation of environmental leaders, spotlight the amazing Wehr Astronomical Society, highlight the 16,000+ volunteer hours, and more!
One bird’s mess is another bird’s meal! Wehr’s Wild Turkeys will gladly clean up the stray seed thrown to the ground by busy birds at the feeders. It’s quite a sight to find cardinals, doves, and sparrows eating right alongside these giant turkeys.
See why Wehr Nature Center is “a place for all seasons, a place for everyone.” Explore more than five miles of nature trails through woodland, wetland, prairie and oak savanna on 220-acres of protected land in Whitnall Park at Wehr Nature Center.
This is without a doubt, the best place to birdwatch and see wildlife in the Milwaukee metro area. The nature center is fantastic. The staff is welcoming and the trails are extremely well-maintained. Always something exciting to see!
They go by a few different names—fireflies, glow flies, lightning bugs—but whatever you call them, these glowing insects are making their annual appearance across Wisconsin. 🌳In Wisconsin, fireflies typically begin appearing in June and remain active through August. Their timing and abundance are closely tied to moisture conditions, and wetter years often mean earlier and more noticeable displays.Fireflies aren’t just beautiful—they’re communicating. Their flashes help them find mates, and artificial light can interfere with those signals, making it harder for them to reproduce.Want to help fireflies thrive?🍂 Leave the leaves🚫 Avoid pesticides—especially broad insect sprays🌿 Create diverse native plant habitats🌙 Turn off or dim unnecessary outdoor lighting and close window shades at nightThe best time to watch for fireflies is around twilight on warm, humid evenings. Look near prairies, meadows, wetlands, forest edges, and other places that hold moisture.Did you know that Wehr Nature Center is hosting Fireside Friday: Firefly FunJuly 10 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Join the staff at Wehr Nature Center and discover the fascinating secrets of fireflies! You will hike out to the prairie to search for these glowing insects and learn about their remarkable lives before returning to the campfire to enjoy s’mores together. Please see this link to register for the program: www.wehrnaturecenter.com/…/fireside-friday…/Have you seen any fireflies yet this year? Tell us in the comments below!
Meet the Funerary Dagger Moth caterpillar. Caterpillars feed on leaves of alder, apple, birch, blueberry and huckleberry, cottonwood, dogwood, elm, hazel, hickory, maple, oak and willow.They are also known as Paddle Caterpillars are so named for the pairs of long black hairs with flattened tips that resemble paddles.
Enjoy member perks like free parking, discounts on select programs and events, and more!
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