Prairie Fest At the Gottfried Prairie and ArboretumUW-Fond du Lac Campus400 University Drive(enter from Highway 23/Johnson St.)
10 am-3 pm
Rain or Shine - FREE admission!!
A combination of interactive events, presentations, tours and entertainment, Prairie Fest is a one-of-kind event!
Click here to view the Prairie Fest brochure (PDF file)
Prairie Fest Art Show
Are you an artist inspired by nature? The Prairie Fest committee is seeking visual artists 18 ears or older to show and sell their work at the annual Prairie Fest. For more information, view theCall for Artists Application (PDF file).
Silent Auction
A Silent Auction will be held to raise funds to maintain the prairie and continue the free educational opportunities. If you can help with a donation, please compelte the Silent Auction Pledge Form (PDF file).
Rain Barrel Program an Opportunity for Local Artists
Call for Rain Barrel artists (PDF file)
Rain Barrel How-to Info (PDF file)
Art that’s both beautiful and useful is the focus of a fundraiser for the Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum this spring. Local artists are invited to apply to the program, and decorate a plastic barrel which will eventually be used for capturing and storing rainwater.
The goal of the program is to produce a number of functional and attractive rain barrels which will be auctioned during Prairie Fest, scheduled this year for Saturday, July 30 from 10-3. Proceeds from the auction will be directed towards the Arboretum’s educational programs and stewardship initiatives. The fund raising event is now in its second year.
“This is a great way for local artists to draw attention to their work while donating to a worthy cause,” said Erika Jensen, Prairie Fest Event Organizer. “We are hoping to connect with local businesses to exhibit the barrels for about a month before the event, so that the public can see the entries before they are auctioned.” The sneak preview will be used to generate interest in the fundraiser, as well as the artists’ work. Organizers hope to see at least a dozen entries from artists.
“The most common way to create barrel art is with paints. But there are a number of ways to create an appealing work using wood, stucco, or other materials. We’re inviting people to get really creative,” said Jensen.
Rain barrels are a practical tool for conserving water and reducing runoff at the same time. The barrel connects to a home owner’s downspout, and channels water into the barrel. The saved water can be used for a variety of purposes, such as gardening. Information at the event will provide several suggestions for modifying the barrels. One of these is a diverter kit produced by Sustain Dane, a Madison non-profit organization.
“The diverter valve isn’t totally necessary, but it’s a really nice addition to a rain barrel,” explained Jensen. “It makes it possible to have a closed barrel system, so you don’t have problems with mosquitoes. When the rain barrel is full, the diverter kicks in and the extra water just goes down your drain spout and is routed away from the foundation of your house. I think anybody who has had flooding in their basement will understand why this is important.”
New this year is a presentation called “Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens: Creatively Managing Rainwater on Your Property.” The class, scheduled for 10:30 am on July 30, will be taught by Chad Cook, Basin Educator for Natural Resources with UW Extension. The class will cover how to construct and maintain rain barrels as well as manage runoff with rain gardens planted with native plants. Cook will be available for most of the day to talk to people with questions on rain barrels.
The rain barrel fundraiser is sponsored by the Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum, a 40-acre natural area located on the grounds of UW Fond du Lac, just off Highway 23 on the eastern edge of Fond du Lac. The area includes 40 acres of native wildflowers and grasses, as well as a formal arboretum with trees and shrubs representing several different Wisconsin ecosystems.
For more information call Erika Jensen at (920) 324-5329.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Fond du Lac Area Foundation
Alliant Energy
Service League
Mercury Marine
Hopper’s Silkscreen
| Saturday, July 30, 2011 |
A combination of interactive events, presentations, tours and entertainment, Prairie Fest is a one-of-kind event!
A combination of interactive events, presentations, tours and entertainment, Prairie Fest is a one-of-kind event!
For a link to Prairie Fest, click here: Prairie Fest
Prairie Fest Brochure: click here
Call for Artists Application
About the eventPrairie Fest is a fun, family-centered event to celebrate the Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum and our native plants heritage. This is a great way to spend your Saturday -- lots to learn and lots to do! The event is FREE, and open to the general public. Bring your own picnic and lawn chairs or blankets.
Prairie Fest on Saturday, July 30
Join the family festivities at Prairie Fest at
UW-Fond du Lac. Indoor and outdoor activities
include presentations, entertainment, a run/walk,
prairie tours, arts and crafts, a plant sale, and kite
building and flying.
Visit or work a shift at the Audubon booth. Entries
in the Audubon photo contest will be on display. We
will have a magazine exchange, so save your nature
magazines and bring them to donate!
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Fond du Lac Area Foundation
Alliant Energy
Service League
American Bank
Holiday Automotive
Horicon Bank
Izaak Walton League
Exchange Club
Pick n’ Save
Mercury Marine
Hopper’s Silkscreen
4 Imprint
Fond du Lac Co. Audubon Society