Field Trip Physical Demand & Accessibility
Planning your Field Trips Using our Physical Demand Rating
Trip titles in the Field Trip Guidebook are color coded with a physical demand rating to help you decide whether the activity level matches your abilities.
Note: Wheelchair accessible trips now have a symbol next to them in the guidebook.
Each trip is unique in its location and activities. Please reach us at FieldTrips@WisConservation.org or (608) 409-3123 if you have questions about the physical demand levels or accommodations for a specific Field Trip.
Using standard and outdoor wheelchairs on Field Trips
We are dedicated to providing opportunities for people with various physical abilities to join us out in the field. If you, a family member, or friend have mobility challenges, we have several options. See below for a list of standard wheelchair-accessible Field Trips and information on using outdoor wheelchairs from our friends at Access Ability Wisconsin.
These 2025 Field Trips are accessible for standard-wheelchairs.
| Trip# | Title | Date | Time | Nearest Town | County |
| 11 | Spring Ephemerals & Edibles in an Urban Gem | May 4 | 9:30-11:30AM | Wauwatosa | Milwaukee |
| 26 | Snapshots of Urban Wildlife | May 10 | 10AM-12PM | Wauwatosa | Milwaukee |
| 38 | Tour UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences | May 16 | 1-3PM | Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| 60 | Mississippi River Boat Cruise | May 23 | 1-3PM | Winona, MN | |
| 63 | The Inside Scoop on Devil’s Lake State Park | May 30 | 10AM-12PM | Baraboo | Sauk |
| 83 | Research for Restoration: Orchids & Dwarf Lake Iris | June 6 | 9-11AM | Baileys Harbor | Door |
| 129 | Mindfulness in Nature: Observing Wildlife | June 21 | 10AM-3PM | Poynette | Columbia |
| 133 | Become a Purple Martin Landlord | June 23 | 9AM-12PM | Oregon | Dane |
| 141 | Careers of WI DNR: Law Enforcement, Forestry & Wildlife Biology | June 26 | 5:30-7:30PM | Fitchburg | Dane |
| 168 | Catamaran Tour of the Nation’s Largest Freshwater Estuary | July 18 | 12:30-5:30PM | Superior | Douglas |
| 170-A | Creating Spaces for Crane Conservation | July 19 | 9AM-12PM | Baraboo | Sauk |
| 170-B | Creating Spaces for Crane Conservation | July 19 | 1-4PM | Baraboo | Sauk |
| 188 | Lakeshore State Park: Urban Oasis | August 1 | 10AM-12PM | Milwaukee | Milwaukee |
| 208 | Mindfulness in Nature: One Match Fire Starting | August 16 | 10AM-3PM | Bagley | Grant |
| 239 | Climate Smart Forestry in Action | Sept 14 | 10AM-12PM | Wauwatosa | Milwaukee |
| 251 | Amazing Raptor Migration: Hawk Ridge Observatory | Sept 27 | 10AM-1PM | Duluth, MN | |
| 266 | Sunset Trolley Tour: Cranes of Navarino | Oct 10 | 4:30-6:30PM | Navarino | Shawano |
| 268 | Behind the Scenes at the Wisconsin State Herbarium | Oct 12 | 9AM-12PM | Madison | Dane |
| 270 | Crex Meadows: Crane Roosting Caravan | Oct 17 | 4:30-7PM | Grantsburg | Burnett |
| 278 | Tips & Tricks to Mastering Waterfowl ID | Nov 8 | 9AM-1PM | La Crosse | La Crosse |
Use an all-terrain outdoor wheelchair
2025 Field Trips with Outdoor Wheelchairs to use on-site
Outdoor wheelchairs, as shown above, have rubber tank-like tracks that can easily ride over the dirt and grass. The Field Trips below have outdoor wheelchairs on site to use during on the trip. Contact us for details on reserving an outdoor wheelchair for use during one of these Field Trips. FieldTrips@WisConservation.org
| Trip# | Title | Date | Time | Nearest Town | County |
| 108 | Native Plants of the Savanna & Prairie | June 13 | 9-11:30AM | Franklin | Milwaukee |
| 121 | Kestrel Banding at Badger Mining Corporation Grasslands | June 18 | 9AM-12PM | Taylor | Jackson |
| 134-A | MAPS: Banding Birds at Beaver Creek | June 24 | 6:30-9:30AM | Fall Creek | Eau Claire |
| 134-B | MAPS: Banding Birds at Beaver Creek | July 10 | 6:30-9:30AM | Fall Creek | Eau Claire |
| 223 | Exploring Mosquito Hill | Sept 6 | 9AM-12PM | New London | Outagamie |
| 244 | Geologic Origins of Point Beach SNA | Sept 20 | 1:30-3:30PM | Two Rivers | Manitowoc |
| 254 | Farm to Forest: Mequon Nature Preserve Celebrates 25 Years | Sept 30 | 5-7PM | Mequon | Ozaukee |
| 274 | Owls under the Stars | October 24 | 7:30-10:00PM | Fall Creek | Eau Claire |
Access Ability Wisconsin
Access Ability Wisconsin (AAW) was created to facilitate and provide the means for individuals with mobility challenges to access and enjoy Wisconsin’s natural resources, and to provide recreational opportunities for all physically challenged people, not just wheelchair users, but anyone, regardless of age, with a permanent or temporary mobility challenge who wants to enjoy the Wisconsin outdoors.
AAW has all-terrain Outdoor Wheelchairs (OWC) which use rubber tank-like tracks available to reserve and use free of charge at several locations throughout the state. You can reserve an OWC through AAW and tow it to other locations using an AAW enclosed trailer. Use the chair on your own outdoor excursion or on one of our Field Trips (contact us to discuss options).
Watch all-terrain wheelchairs in action: AAW video footage
More Resources for Exploring the Outdoors
Open the Outdoors is your resource for all of the available recreation options for individuals with disabilities.
Find out more: Wisconsin DNR – Open the Outdoors
Banner photo by Caitlin Williamson. Photo of family with all-terrain outdoor wheelchair courtesy of Riveredge Nature Center. Photo of person in all-terrain wheelchair posing in front of trailer courtesy of Access Ability Wisconsin.
Christine Tanzer
Field Trip Program Director
(608) 409-3123
Christine.Tanzer@WisConservation.org
Christine Tanzer (she/her) has been at the helm of NRF's Field Trip program since 1997. She has coordinated over 3,000 trips, helping tens of thousands of people explore Wisconsin's most special places.