Friends of
Schmeeckle Reserve
Vol. 9, Issue 1
Winter/Spring 2022
‘Round the Reserve
2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
friendsofschmeeckle.org
info@friendsofschmeeckle.org
715-346-4992
Embrace the trails By Jerry Lineberger Friends Board President Welcome Spring! The Friends Board has been busy over the winter, and the best news of all? We plan on returning to a more normal Candlelight Hike Festival on Friday, May 6! Keep an eye on your email or social media for updates. We will again be hosting the Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater to the Pankowski Jerry Friends Lineberger Amphitheater for the annual Schmeeckle Shakespeare performance. Their new production of The Tempest is sure to be a hit! Our Annual Member Meeting will be held IN PERSON this June. We are excited to see your faces in person again! You may have noticed the framework for the soonto-be-completed fishing pier currently sitting on top of the See President, Page 2
Melissa Ruether, Schmeeckle Reserve’s new outreach coordinator, assists with the Fall Celebration in October 2021.
Welcoming home a Friend! By Jim Buchholz Schmeeckle Reserve Director As the sun starts feeling a bit warmer outside, we celebrate the many changes that spring brings to Schmeeckle. Birds like brown thrashers and robins are returning to the feeders in droves. Squirrels are chasing after each Jim Buchholz other in search of that perfect mate. And snow fleas, tiny black springtails, speckle the melting snow like pepper.
We also have some big changes taking place in our human world. I am thrilled to welcome Melissa Ruether as Schmeeckle Reserve’s new outreach coordinator! Many of you likely already know Melissa, as she has been a strong supporter of Schmeeckle and the Friends for many years. Melissa served as Schmeeckle’s graduate assistant from 2015 to 2017 while she was earning her Master of Science degree in Environmental Education and Interpretation. Her research focused on the development of intergenerational nature programs. After graduation, she continued See Director, Page 2