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Field Trip Physical Demand & Accessibility

Planning your Field Trips Using our Physical Demand Rating

Trip titles in the Field Trip Guidebook are color coded with a physical demand rating to help you decide whether the activity level matches your abilities.

The color of the trip title indicates physical demand. Level 1 (Purple): Accessible to people with walking disabilities. Level 2 (Blue): Easy, short hike on level terrain. Level 3 (Green): Average hike with some hills. Level 4 (Orange): Challenging steeper terrain, long hike, or canoe with rapids. Level 5 (Red): Extreme conditions, off-trail or very steep or long hike.

Note: Wheelchair accessible trips now have a symbol next to them in the guidebook.

Each trip is unique in its location and activities. Please reach us at FieldTrips@WisConservation.org or (608) 409-3123 if you have questions about the physical demand levels or accommodations for a specific Field Trip.

 

Using standard and outdoor wheelchairs on Field Trips

We are dedicated to providing opportunities for people with various physical abilities to join us out in the field. If you, a family member, or friend have mobility challenges, we have several options. See below for a list of standard wheelchair-accessible Field Trips and information on using outdoor wheelchairs from our friends at Access Ability Wisconsin.

These 2025 Field Trips are accessible for standard-wheelchairs.

Trip# Title Date Time Nearest Town County
11 Spring Ephemerals & Edibles in an Urban Gem May 4 9:30-11:30AM Wauwatosa Milwaukee
26 Snapshots of Urban Wildlife May 10 10AM-12PM Wauwatosa Milwaukee
38 Tour UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences May 16 1-3PM Milwaukee Milwaukee
60 Mississippi River Boat Cruise May 23 1-3PM Winona, MN
63 The Inside Scoop on Devil’s Lake State Park May 30 10AM-12PM Baraboo Sauk
83 Research for Restoration: Orchids & Dwarf Lake Iris June 6 9-11AM Baileys Harbor Door
129 Mindfulness in Nature: Observing Wildlife June 21 10AM-3PM Poynette Columbia
133 Become a Purple Martin Landlord June 23 9AM-12PM Oregon Dane
141 Careers of WI DNR: Law Enforcement, Forestry & Wildlife Biology June 26 5:30-7:30PM Fitchburg Dane
168 Catamaran Tour of the Nation’s Largest Freshwater Estuary July 18 12:30-5:30PM Superior Douglas
170-A Creating Spaces for Crane Conservation July 19 9AM-12PM Baraboo Sauk
170-B Creating Spaces for Crane Conservation July 19 1-4PM Baraboo Sauk
188 Lakeshore State Park: Urban Oasis August 1 10AM-12PM Milwaukee Milwaukee
208 Mindfulness in Nature: One Match Fire Starting August 16 10AM-3PM Bagley Grant
239 Climate Smart Forestry in Action Sept 14 10AM-12PM Wauwatosa Milwaukee
251 Amazing Raptor Migration: Hawk Ridge Observatory Sept 27 10AM-1PM Duluth, MN
266 Sunset Trolley Tour: Cranes of Navarino Oct 10 4:30-6:30PM Navarino Shawano
268 Behind the Scenes at the Wisconsin State Herbarium Oct 12 9AM-12PM Madison Dane
270 Crex Meadows: Crane Roosting Caravan Oct 17 4:30-7PM Grantsburg Burnett
278 Tips & Tricks to Mastering Waterfowl ID Nov 8 9AM-1PM La Crosse La Crosse

 

Use an all-terrain outdoor wheelchair

All terrain outdoor wheelchair by Access Ability Wisconsin photo courtesy of River Edge Nature Center

2025 Field Trips with Outdoor Wheelchairs to use on-site

Outdoor wheelchairs, as shown above, have rubber tank-like tracks that can easily ride over the dirt and grass. The Field Trips below have outdoor wheelchairs on site to use during on the trip. Contact us for details on reserving an outdoor wheelchair for use during one of these Field Trips. FieldTrips@WisConservation.org

 

Trip# Title Date Time Nearest Town County
108 Native Plants of the Savanna & Prairie June 13 9-11:30AM Franklin Milwaukee
121 Kestrel Banding at Badger Mining Corporation Grasslands June 18 9AM-12PM Taylor Jackson
134-A MAPS: Banding Birds at Beaver Creek June 24 6:30-9:30AM Fall Creek Eau Claire
134-B MAPS: Banding Birds at Beaver Creek July 10 6:30-9:30AM Fall Creek Eau Claire
223 Exploring Mosquito Hill Sept 6 9AM-12PM New London Outagamie
244 Geologic Origins of Point Beach SNA Sept 20 1:30-3:30PM Two Rivers Manitowoc
254 Farm to Forest: Mequon Nature Preserve Celebrates 25 Years Sept 30 5-7PM Mequon Ozaukee
274 Owls under the Stars October 24 7:30-10:00PM Fall Creek Eau Claire

Access Ability Wisconsin

Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW) was created to facilitate and provide the means for individuals with mobility challenges to access and enjoy Wisconsin’s natural resources, and to provide recreational opportunities for all physically challenged people, not just wheelchair users, but anyone, regardless of age, with a permanent or temporary mobility challenge who wants to enjoy the Wisconsin outdoors.

AAW has all-terrain Outdoor Wheelchairs (OWC) which use rubber tank-like tracks available to reserve and use free of charge at several locations throughout the state. You can reserve an OWC through AAW and tow it to other locations using an AAW enclosed trailer. Use the chair on your own outdoor excursion or on one of our Field Trips (contact us to discuss options).

Watch all-terrain wheelchairs in action: AAW video footage

Learn more and reserve an all-terrain outdoor wheelchair

More Resources for Exploring the Outdoors

Open the Outdoors is your resource for all of the available recreation options for individuals with disabilities.

Find out more: Wisconsin DNR – Open the Outdoors

Banner photo by Caitlin Williamson. Photo of family with all-terrain outdoor wheelchair courtesy of Riveredge Nature Center. Photo of person in all-terrain wheelchair posing in front of trailer courtesy of Access Ability Wisconsin.

 

Christine Tanzer

Christine Tanzer

Field Trip Program Director

(608) 409-3123
Christine.Tanzer@WisConservation.org

Christine Tanzer (she/her) has been at the helm of NRF's Field Trip program since 1997. She has coordinated over 3,000 trips, helping tens of thousands of people explore Wisconsin's most special places.