I Heart Wisconsin River Trip

The I Heart Wisconsin River Trip was an 18-day paddle from the source of the Wisconsin River to the confluence with the Mississippi in October 2015. As a positive response to the state’s budget cuts to natural resources, Ruth Oppedahl, Natural Resources Foundation executive director, decided to use her vacation exploring our state from north to south. Along the way she met with conservation groups and citizens and learned how they help protect our lands, waters and wildlife, discovering a beautiful, wild river, and dedicated people.

I Heart Wisconsin River Trip was Ruth’s effort to celebrate the state’s cherished outdoors and to inspire others to do what they can to help.

For those of us who couldn’t be there in person, Ruth sent in dispatches from the river, recording audio, video, and writing beautiful blog entries about her journey.

I Heart Wisconsin Blog Entries

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Decades in the Making: New Legislation Will Invest in the Nation’s Public Lands

On August 4, 2020, what has been heralded as the single most important conservation investment in the United States in our lifetime was signed into law – the Great American Outdoors Act.

Bluffs to Great Lakes Shores Campaign Match Challenge Met

We are thrilled to announce that thanks to the incredible response from our members, along with a generous gift from Foundation board member Michael Williamson and his wife Mary Ann Doll, the $5,000 Campaign challenge issued by Foundation member Robin Buerki and Foundation co-founder Ron Semmann and his wife Ann Semmann, has been met!

Paddling for the love of Wisconsin: The final tale

I Heart Wisconsin Presentations

Come out to hear Ruth talk about her trip in person! Upcoming dates will be listed below as we book them.

Would you like to book Ruth as a speaker? Contact us at Info@WisConservation.org or (608) 409-3122.

Planning your own Wisconsin River trip

Are you thinking about planning your own pilgrimage down the Wisconsin River? Ruth collected lots of great resources while doing her own trip planning and is happy to share them with you.

View Resources Doc