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Happy National Public Lands Day!

A paddle on Trempealeau Bay with Trempealeau Mountain straight ahead. Perrot State Park is one of my favorites in Wisconsin. It's a place of beauty, sacred history, and a vibrant outdoor culture nestled among the coulees. 

Hi John,

Today is National Public Lands Day, and this year it feels extra special. Wisconsin is celebrating the 125th anniversary of our state parks system. That’s 125 years of trails, rivers, lakes, bluffs, and forests where Wisconsinites have found joy, peace, and connection.

Some of my happiest moments have been on the water – paddling a quiet backwater or drifting beneath the pines followed by a fire-cooked meal. Our state waters and lakes have given me time to reflect and restore. I’ve been lucky enough to explore so many corners of our state, but three places always call me back:

Sunset from a campsite at Brunet Island State Park.

• Perrot State Park in Trempealeau, where the bluffs meet the Mississippi and the Trempealeau River winds its way through history.
  
  
• Brunet Island State Park, a paddler’s paradise of islands and channels where the Chippewa and Fisher Rivers coalesce.
  
  
• The vast Northern Highland–American Legion State Forest (NHAL), where you can paddle or hike to remote campsites for a night or two and feel real isolation, without straying too far from home.
  
  

These aren’t just parks – they’re pieces of who I am. They remind me why I do this work, and why I believe so strongly in protecting the lands and waters that give us so much.

Unfortunately, places like Perrot, Brunet, and NHAL don’t protect themselves. They need champions. They need advocates. They need human voices to speak for them. And that’s where the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program comes in.

Knowles Nelson is Wisconsin’s most powerful tool for conserving the outdoors – from funding new trails and boat launches to protecting forests, wetlands, and shorelines. It has been a lifeline for hunters, anglers, paddlers, campers, and everyone who loves to get outside. But it only works if it’s fully funded.

That’s why we’re proud sponsors of Team Knowles Nelson, a group of thousands of Wisconsinites who believe in protecting our natural legacy. When you join, you’ll get the updates, tools, and action alerts you need to make your voice heard – and it really makes a difference.

👉 Join Team Knowles Nelson today

And here’s where you come in. Wisconsin Conservation Voters fights every day to make sure programs like Knowles Nelson are protected. On this National Public Lands Day, will you support our work with a gift so we can keep defending the places you love most?

👉 Chip in to protect Wisconsin’s public lands

Let’s celebrate 125 years of Wisconsin’s parks not just with hikes and campfires, but with action. Together, we can make sure the next 125 years are even brighter, wilder, and more welcoming for everyone.

Thanks for everything you do to protect Wisconsin’s natural treasures. I hope you get a chance to celebrate National Public Lands Day outdoors!

Thanks for being a conservation voter,

Ryan Billingham

Communications Director

Wisconsin Conservation Voters

Wisconsin Conservation Voters
133 S. Butler Street Suite 320
Madison, WI 53703
United States

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