Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute
Enhancing Wisconsin's lake resources through
leadership, training, and civic engagement.
The Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute is a leadership program that enhances the skills and broadens the capabilities of people in our lake communities to champion effective and communicative collaboration with the goal of protecting and managing our lakes.
We are now accepting nominations for Crew 16. Consider nominating yourself, a neighbor, a colleague or anyone you feel would benefit from the Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute and would in turn use what they learn to care for Wisconsin's lakes.
Crew 16 Session Dates and Locations (locations are tentative):
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May 20-21, 2026
Seminar I – Daycholah Center, Ripon, WI; Society and Environment: Philosophy and Ethics of Lake Management
- Sept. 2026 Seminar II – Kemp Natural Resources Station, Woodruff, WI; Aquatic Ecology and Watershed Management:
Impact of Development on Lakes
- Oct. 15-16, 2026
Seminar III – Durward’s Glen, Baraboo; Organizations, People, and Politics, Graduation Ceremony at the Aldo
Leopold Shack
Mission: Protecting in Partnership Our Legacy of Lakes
Values:
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An educated public is supportive of sound lake decisions
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Everyone has a part to play and is welcome to help protect lakes
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Lake management decisions should be science driven
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All lake users should have the opportunity to participate in lake management actions
Wisconsin Lake Leaders are a unique group of over 350 individuals who have dedicated time and resources to protect our shared waters. They all have inspiring stories and have made powerful connections with their fellow crew members. We hope sharing some of their stories inspires you to join us as a future Lake Leader or connect with one of these leaders in your area to strengthen the water network across Wisconsin.
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Waterways Association of Menominee and Shawano Counties (WAMSCO)
Lake Leaders is a unique experience that will stay with you for life. Shanda Hubertus, Board President of the Waterways Association of Menominee & Shawano Counties (WAMSCO), says, “The connections and relationships that I formed in Crew 10 have made an extremely positive impact in my area of Wisconsin. The passion and drive that was organically imprinted within me during my time at the Lake Leaders Institute left me with a feeling that one person truly could have a major impact on our waterways. That was so obviously shared by others in attendance.” As a direct result of Lake Leaders, WAMSCO was formed. In the short 10 years since its formalization and now with full-time staff, WAMSCO has seen the mindset change in the youth and community members in the area. WAMSCO is now installing Best Management Practices throughout the counties each year including: shoreline restorations with native plants, seawall removals, rain gardens, invasive species control, pollinator gardens, increasing the practice of no-till planting and cover crops, nutrient reduction techniques, and erosion control methods. WAMSCO has a very successful and busy conservation education program complete with its own mobile classroom! “The buy-in and support we see from our local businesses and community is amazing! The most difficult and rewarding accomplishment of WAMSCO is the bond we have formed with our agricultural producers. By this time next year, Shawano County will have its own Farmer Led Watershed Council!” As evident in the formation of WAMSCO, a short 6-day investment of time can lead to generations of healthy waters in Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin Lakes (formerly known as the Wisconsin Association of Lakes)
“Lake Leaders graduates are a big source of directors for Wisconsin Lakes and some of our strongest leaders rose from their ranks. A significant reason for that is that the comprehensive training one gets in the Lake Leaders Institute grounds participants in leadership and also grounds one in the crucial understanding of both lakes and the lakes community in Wisconsin”, says Mike Engleson, outgoing Executive Director of Wisconsin Lakes, who is also a Lake Leader himself (from Crew 9).
Graduates of the Lake Leaders experience are more confident and able leaders partly from the content provided by the WI Lakes and Rivers Partnership in each of the sessions. They also meet folks throughout the state, from different types of lakes, all with different versions of similar issues, and individuals with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, both professionally and personally. Mike reflects, “The Lake Leaders Institute truly prepares a person to lead the lakes community. For some, a great way to do that is through service to the statewide citizen organization dedicated to lifting up that same community of lake people. It has certainly served Wisconsin Lakes well.”
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Ladies of the Lake
It all started in 2021 when Wisconsin Lake Leaders Crew 13 came together after being delayed for a year due to COVID. A few of the participants formed a strong bond and the Ladies of the Lake was formed.
This dynamic group of women support each other’s lake protection efforts. They discuss ideas, solve problems, and learn together. In June 2023, some of the ladies attended the Northwest Lakes Conference in Spooner to learn more about lake protection and restoration. They also participated in the Advanced Lake Leaders session in September of that same year. Gathering at continuing education events such as these with a group of people you know and trust makes the networking more productive and the event more memorable.
The Ladies of the Lake group has grown beyond Crew 13 as women from other Lake Leader crews have also joined their network. Just recently, this group attended the 2025 Northwest Lakes Conference in Hayward and participated in their second Advanced Lake Leaders Session.
We look forward to seeing what this group accomplishes as they support each other and work to solve complex problems.
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Adam and Charlie Handel
We’d like to introduce you to Charlie and Adam Handel, a father and son who both share a love for Wisconsin’s waters. Charlie participated in the Lake Leaders Institute in 2006 as part of Crew 6. Adam participated in 2024 as part of Crew 15. They are both active on the Delavan Lake Improvement Association in Walworth County. Charlie held the title of lake manager for 22 years until Adam was hired to take over. The first thing Charlie did after that was nominate Adam to the Lake Leaders Institute because, “Lake Leaders is an essential part of understanding the lake environment and issues both environmentally and politically.”
As Adam continues to grow in the role of lake manager, he is lucky to have his father working alongside him on various projects including water sampling, monitoring, and maintaining lake levels. Adam states that the best thing about his Lake Leaders experience is having a “large, passionate community eager to learn and work with others whom he now calls colleagues and friends.” Charlie remembers his experience saying, “I learned I’m not the only person dealing with issues regarding lake problems; there is a community of lake leaders that are dedicated to making a difference for natural resources.” He echoes Adam when he says, “I have gained a close network of individuals who I now consider my friends, as well as colleagues, with whom I can share knowledge, ideas, and solutions.”
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The Wisconsin Lake Leaders Institute
Recipient of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan Outreach and
Educational Achievement Award in support of Fish Habitat Conservation - 2009
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