By Catie Petralia, Communications & Outreach Manager
Restoring Lands is excited to announce Nature’s Treasures Week: featuring the natural treasures of Ozaukee, Washington, and Milwaukee counties. This free environmental event series runs from Tuesday, September 8 through Sunday, September 13, 2026. See all the events and register at restoringlands.org/events.
Nature’s Treasures Week is the evolution of Ozaukee Washington Land Trust’s Treasures of OZ event that ran annually for 15 years. Treasures of OZ showcased the natural treasures of Ozaukee County. This new version reflects Restoring Lands’ expanded service area with events in all three counties – reaching more people with the help of more community partners than ever before!
Thanks to these awesome organizations for joining us to celebrate our local treasures! Ozaukee County: Mequon Nature Preserve, Lake Michigan Bird Observatory, and The Friends of the Cedarburg Bog. Washington County: Riveredge Nature Center, Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation, The Blue Lotus Center, and Saron Sophia. Milwaukee County: Urban Ecology Center, Harbor District, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, and Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy.
Restoring Lands and the Nature’s Treasures Week partners have put together a wonderful line up of free, nature-based events for anyone to attend. All three counties are well represented, with various types of events to help you engage with nature. Learn more and register here: restoringlands.org/events.
Tuesday, September 8:
- Nature Hike at Mequon Nature Preserve | 8am-10am
- One Watershed: Community Conversation with Riveredge Nature Center at MLK Library | 5:30-7pm
Wednesday, September 9:
- Morning Birding at Urban Ecology Center – Washington Park | 8am-10am
- Monarch Tagging at Mequon Nature Preserve | 4-5:30pm
- Kinnickinnic River Walk with the Harbor District at the KK River Trail | 5:30-7:30pm
Thursday, September 10:
- Monarch Tagging with Urban Ecology Center – Riverside Park | 11:30-1pm
- Art in the Park with Restoring Lands & ARTservancy Artist Becca Jabs at Forest Beach | 5-7pm
- Birding & Botanizing with Lake Michigan Bird Observatory and Milwaukee Riverkeeper at Kletzsch Park | 5:30-7:30pm
Friday, September 11:
- Habitat Hike with Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation at Rudorf Farm| 9:30-11am
- Kayaking on the Milwaukee River Downtown with Restoring Lands | 5-7pm
Saturday, September 12:
- Remnant Beech Woods Walk with Mke Area Land Conservancy at Fitzsimmons Woods | 9am-11am
- Tree Walk with DNR and Restoring Lands at Kratzsch Conservancy | 10am-12pm
- Sylvotherapy Stroll at Huiras Lake with Saron Sophia | 4-6pm
Sunday, September 13:
- Bog Walk with Friends of Cedarburg Bog | 9am-12pm
- Grandparent’s Day Open House at Blue Lotus Center | 1pm-4pm
- Sylvotherapy Stroll at Fellenz Woods with Saron Sophia | 4-6pm
Check out the Google Map to see all the Treasure’s locations.
Please visit our events page to see more details and register for individual events! Contact info@restoringlands.org with any questions.
Restoring Lands is so grateful to the many partners who have made Treasures of OZ successful, including Ozaukee County Parks. Marjie Tomter, former board member of Ozaukee Washington Land Trust and current board member of Gathering Waters, has been pivotal in leading the event for the past 15 years. We’re honored to accept the Treasures torch and carry on this wonderful event.
We hope you can join us outside for Nature’s Treasures Week!