MacKenzie Environmental Center

The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation is committed to educating young people about conservation and outdoor issues. To help us achieve that goal, WWF operates the MacKenzie Environmental Center; one of the most diverse environmental education centers in Wisconsin. MEC is a great place for everyone to experience and learn about the outdoors. It is a perfect place to teach young people about conservation issues and outdoor skills.

The MacKenzie Environmental Center: Located on a 250-acre property near rural Poynette in Columbia County, the Center is readily accessible to people in south-central Wisconsin. Many of the trails and exhibits are handicap accessible.

The grounds include:

A wildlife exhibit that features live animals native to Wisconsin, including bison, bobcat, deer, lynx, mountain lions, a wolf, and many raptors including a bald eagle. All of the animals in the exhibit were injured, orphaned, or raised in captivity and cannot be released into the wild.
An arboretum that includes more than 100 species of trees.
Five nature trials that wind through 150 acres of forested land.
A nature study pond.
Prairies that are in various stages of restoration.
An observation tower from which one can view the grounds and the surrounding countryside.
A large picnic area with a pavilion and restrooms.

The facilities include: a large building with a commercial kitchen that can accommodate 160 people; two dormitories that can sleep a total of 80 people; a logging exhibit that features a 19th century log cabin and sawmill; three small environmentally-themed museums; a maple syrup facility; and a large pavilion suitable for family gatherings and group activities.

Hours of operation: The Center’s grounds are open daily from dawn until dusk.* The wildlife exhibit and museums are open daily, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, from May 1 to October 31. They are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm from November 1 to April 30 (except for the holidays.)

* The property is closed to hunting except for the youth hunt and then the road and trails are blocked and posted.

Environmental Education Classes: Our experienced education staff offer classes to elementary and middle school students on a variety of environmental topics including forest ecology, pond and stream life, and wildlife. All of our classes include classroom instruction and field experience. We offer classes on a daily and a residential basis and can work with you to design a one-day or multi-day program to meet the educational needs of your students. Note: We’re currently revising our class descriptions so people can clearly see how our classes meet Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards

Please call us at 608-635-8105 to learn more about our classes or to check for availability and reserve time for your class. If you want to spend a night or more at MEC, please call to schedule an on-site planning session. For groups who have previously stayed at MEC, a conference call may suffice for an on-site planning session.

Reservation Form (click here)
Reservation Policy and Fee Structure (click here)

Self-Guided Nature Study: We also provide guidebooks and interpretative information to groups and to teachers who prefer to lead their own classes. Again, please call us to find out more about this option.

The MacKenzie Environmental Center Partnership: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources owns MEC; it maintains the grounds and the facilities. The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation operates the MEC; it hires education staff and is responsible for conservation education and outreach. The Friends of the MacKenzie Center, a local group of volunteers, supports MEC’s activities—it provides leadership and volunteer educators for the MEC’s maple syrup program; helps maintain exhibits and trails; conducts nature hikes; monitors bluebird boxes; and pitches in on other projects as well.