History

Fifty years ago, Dorothy and Gordon Kummer of Milwaukee purchased some rural acreage southwest of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and began a remarkable legacy of stewardship and conservation education that continues today.  

They called this land "Treehaven", and under their care and supervision, the Kummers planted nearly 140,000 trees on the property, ultimately creating one of the nation's finest examples of sustainable forest management by a private landowner. Following Gordon Kummer's death, Dorothy remarried a Milwaukee school science teacher named Jacque Vallier, also an avid conservationist.  The Valliers eventually donated the land to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and helped mold Treehaven into the leading natural resources education and conference facility it is today. It now provides education and training to more current and future natural resource managers than any other center in the United States.

Treehaven's facilities rest on an ancient glacial ridge overlooking 1,400 acres of forest and wetland habitat that hosts an abundance of wildlife species including osprey, deer, black bear, wolf, coyote, and fisher. Facilities include a large classroom/conference center, two residential living centers that provide overnight accommodations for up to 125 people, and full food service capability. Treehaven is the ideal place to host any group. 

Eight permanent employees and over 20 affiliated staff - mostly teachers and educators - help Treehaven serve over 25,000 people each year with courses, seminars, workshops, school and youth programs, and business gatherings. A public, non-profit facility operated by the UWSP College of Natural Resources - the nation's largest undergraduate natural resources program - Treehaven relies on user fees and donations for much of its operating budget, with limited support from state tax dollars.

Treehaven's mission is guided by the Treehaven Board of Advisors with support from volunteers who raise funds to support programs, land management, and buildings of the center.

Treehaven hosts a wide variety of programming in environmental and natural resource education throughout the year. Programs range in scope from working with school-aged children in environmental lessons to adult weekend workshops in topics such as snowshoe construction or wolf ecology. With our 1,400 acres of "north country" forest and wildlands, Treehaven is a great place to work and meet new people.

Treehaven is always in need of part-time educators who work with full-time staff on specific programs throughout the year. Applicants should have experience as a formal or non-formal educator, as a naturalist, or have a particular skill or hobby relating to our natural world that could be taught in a workshop format at Treehaven. Some opportunities also exist for professional honorariums for conducting programs. If you are interested or have programming ideas, contact Treehaven's Office Manager at 715-453-4106, ext. 2438, or email Treehaven@uwsp.edu.

Come on out and join the Treehaven team of trained environmental educators and volunteers, where the environment, lifestyle, and leadership are integrated!