by Andy Orf President, Northern Door Astronomy Club The Great North American Total Solar Eclipse will occur April 8, 2024. A solar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. Astronomers call this an occultation – an interruption of light from a […]
Newport News
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If you consume fish from Wisconsin waters, you may be interested in the updated online publication of the 2024-2026 Choose Wisely booklet, which outlines guidelines for safe fish consumption. It is a publication of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Fish […]
Despite the removal of several potentially problematic snags and dying trees before construction on the Fern Trail boardwalk began, in early January a large tree fell and damaged a boardwalk section. The downed tree was removed quickly. Thirteen NWS volunteers took advantage of favorable weather in February to repair the […]
Our thanks to everyone who submitted feedback (Aug/Sept 2023) to the DNR regarding the Master Plan variance for the proposed development of horse trails in Newport State Park. (Backstory and NWS opinion on this issue here.) Synopsis of DNR Decision (Jan 5, 2024) The department has decided NOT TO APPROVE […]
Destination Door County/Door County Community FoundationState Parks Grant Initiative$50,000 Matching Grant In late 2023, Destination Door County, in partnership with the Door County Community Foundation, launched the State Parks Grant Initiative to improve and enhance Newport, Peninsula, Potawatomi, Rock Island, and Whitefish Dunes State Parks. This grant initiative is divided into three parts: Donations […]
This is the time of year when we come together to celebrate our wonderful team of volunteers and all of the work they have accomplished in support of Newport during 2023. Carol and Chris Ash once again opened up their beautiful space at Kick Ash in Ellison Bay for us to gather. Sixty-five […]
Each year in early December, Wisconsin state park annual vehicle admission stickers for the upcoming year becomes available for purchase. DID YOU KNOW that those stickers are designed by high school students chosen in a statewide contest? The design contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is […]
Park Naturalist Beth Bartoli recently spoke with Bob Dolan, host of Wisconsin Icons, about our iconic Dark Sky Park. Top photo of the Newport Dark Sky © Denny Moutray
NWS board member Deb Ford has photo-documented some of the volunteer workday scenes from the newly constructed Fern Trail boardwalk. The collection includes images of the seasonal flooding that impacts the trail; the deconstruction of the former ground-level boardwalk; and the incredible hard work (and fun) that went into building […]
On Saturday, October 7, NWS board member Gene Kenny placed the final deck board of the new 1,800′ elevated Fern Trail boardwalk. Gene has guided this entire project from conception/design; DNR approvals; grant applications and funding; working with Custom Manufacturing to secure all the materials needed for the project; and, […]
Park Naturalist Beth Bartoli recently talked with 106.9 The Lodge about Newport and the (then-upcoming) fall color scene at the park. Learn about what makes Newport special and which trails she recommends for great color viewing.
You know those 700 trees we planted at the entrance to Newport in April?And then hand-watered over multiple weeks because…very little rain. Overall, they are doing great! Mark Glasser and Deb Ford recently walked the new tree field to remove the pink yarn markers from the tree-lings and tally the […]
Many of the articles in our monthly e-newsletters focus on the projects that NWS volunteers are doing in support of the park. The WI DNR estimates that Newport had 26,700 visitors in July and 25,600 visitors in August. The day-to-day efforts which keep things running smoothly for the thousands of people who visit Newport every year […]
Summer may be in our rearview mirror, but we still have glorious fall to look forward to. This is the time to get some great merchandise and also support Newport Wilderness Society. All profits from merchandise sales fund the naturalist’s salary, interpretive programing and infrastructure projects at Newport State Park. There are new […]
Tom and Maureen Flatley have been Boundary Waters Wilderness camping for decades. They taught Wilderness Days participants the techniques to make fool-proof fire starters, easily getting a campfire started…even in the rain! Chris and Cindy Treml led Master Dutch Oven Cooking demonstration. Everyone enjoyed tasty samples afterwards! Photos courtesy of […]
A Special Announcement sent via email, newsletter, and Facebook post to friends of Newport. NWS members and friends: You may or may not be aware that the Recreation Objectives for Newport State Park in the WI DNR 2018 Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Master Plan include “Expand recreational opportunities by adding […]
The next time you are visiting Newport, stop in at the Nature Center for some bird-centric fun. How does your wingspan compare to some of our favorite feathered friends? Here’s our little superhero Ezra Scattergood-Keepper, reaching as far as he can. We think he is pushing Broad-winged Hawk dimensions…a nearly […]
I hope you have had the opportunity to see the new mural inside the Newport Visitors Center. It was painted earlier this year by NWS member Alison Whitney. While she worked, I occasionally invaded her space with my camera to photo-document the progress of the mural. But I couldn’t capture everything that goes on behind the scenes in creating […]
Writing workshops at Newportfor members and friends of Newport Wilderness Societypresented by Write On, Door County This is a special opportunity for members and friends of NWS to explore and reflect on the natural world using Newport SP as a backdrop and source of inspiration for writing. Overcome any intimidation around writing and learn how to […]
A swarm of tired and ravenous Fern Trail worker-bees descend on the picnic area at mid-day. Waiting for them is a hearty lunch, sometimes prepared by one of those same worker-bees. We are overdue with expressing our thanks to the behind-the-scenes volunteers who have fed our Fern Trail boardwalk volunteers […]
The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks (FWSP) has provided much support to Newport Wilderness Society in a variety of ways over the years. We are especially grateful for a recent grant received from FWSP which will help us partially fund the park naturalist’s salary this year. NWS has historically underwritten the naturalist’s salary at […]
By Beth Bartoli, Newport SP Naturalist Harvey was a man of quick wit, extending his warm smile and the twinkle in his eye to all. He was also a lover of nature and the outdoors, which he shared with the many visitors he came in contact with during his 32 […]
NWS held our (38th!) annual meeting at the park on July 29th. We had a beautiful morning to reconnect with long-time NWS friends, meet some new NWS members, and to remember former Newport SP superintendent Harvey Stahl. We recognized retiring board members Terry Heidenreiter, Jeanne Rabel, and Greg Wilde. We welcomed […]
At their July 17 Giving Event, 100+Women Who Care (Door County) selected NWS as the recipient of a $7,000 award which will be directed to our Fern Trail Boardwalk Restoration project. NWS is deeply grateful to receive this award. Our sincere thanks to Julia Keepper (NWS board member and 100+WWC member) for […]
Newport Park staff and volunteers work to control poison ivy, but we will never completely eradicate it. We occasionally have interpretive programs about poison ivy and other nasties in the park. We encourage all visitors to be aware of their surroundings and to be careful where belongings/pets/footsteps are placed! The […]
The current Write On Door County installation along the Poetry Trail features work from the Door County Belles Lettres poetry group. The group was started in 2015 by former Poet Laureate of Door County Estella Lauter. Meetings are informal and are held in person at Write On or via Zoom. Poems […]
Remember those 700 trees that were planted at the park entrance in April? Well, conditions have been a bit dry the past few weeks, so NWS volunteers are stepping up to help water and make sure they continue to get off to a good start. Twenty-ish people had it all done […]
Jessica Grasse, co-owner of Grasse’s Grill in Sister Bay and a long-time supporter of NWS and the park, has recently published a gorgeous book that reimagines several popular hikes in northern Door…including Newport. She is donating 100% of the profits from the sale of the book to Door non-profits, including NWS. This […]
With her extraordinary gifts of talent and time, NWS volunteer Alison Whitney has completed a stunning new mural inside the Visitors Center at Newport State Park. What is most remarkable about the project is that this is Whitney’s first mural. NWS funded the costs of paint and materials, but Alison […]
As part of the 2023 Door County Big Plant, over 40 volunteers planted more than 700 trees at the entrance to Newport State Park on April 26th. This collaborative project was sponsored by Destination Door County and coordinated by the Climate Coalition of Door County and Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership. […]