Organized by Central Conservation, Inc.
Central Conservation's Annual Mission Fund
Keep Conservation Alive. Your support unifies the conservation movement and protects the future of our planet and next generation of environmental leaders.
Central Conservation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering environmental programs through its divisions — The Nature Place and WisCorps. On April 25, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) abruptly terminated all AmeriCorps programs under Serve Wisconsin — a devastating decision that decimated fully awarded funding through August 31. As one of Wisconsin’s largest AmeriCorps grantees, Central Conservation immediately lost 17 active service members and support for 43 summer members whose work was vital to community and nation-wide environmental efforts.
This is more than a funding cut — it’s a direct blow to education, native habitat restoration, accessible outdoor spaces, and the next generation of environmental leaders. It threatens the very fabric of service, community and stewardship.
Dismantling AmeriCorps undermines the power of community-driven conservation and devalues the essential work that keeps our ecosystems and communities thriving.
This fight is bigger than us — but local action is the path forward.
We believe in resilience. We believe in people. And we believe that, together, we can rise to this challenge.
While we maintain diverse funding sources, the sudden termination of AmeriCorps support has completely disrupted our summer operations.
Your support today not only helps us rebuild the foundation of our programming— it strengthens our long-term resilience against future setbacks and ensures our mission continues without compromise. This fight is far from over — let’s unite and stand up for conservation and land stewardship for the sake of future generations.
Your donation today directly supports seasonal and full time staff to:
The Nature Place: based on 2024 stats and 2025 projections.
- Teach 4 weeks of Homeschool Science classes to 23 students ages 6-12
- Provide 12 opportunities for 16 children aged 2-5 years old and their caregivers to improve cognitive functions, well-being, social interactions and connectedness through Early Explorers
- Teach over 175 students on No School Days throughout the 2025-2026 academic year for 3+ School Districts in the Coulee Region
- Educate over 600 Summer Day Campers through 50 Summer Day Camps
- Educate over 1700 students at 40 field trips per year, by partnering with over 14 school districts.
- Coordinate over 100 volunteers to serve over 700 hours of volunteer time to preserve our Marsh Trails, steward the land, and welcome walk-in visitors.
- Protect over 88 varieties of native plant species and 40 plants varies across 1 acre of land.
- Support 14,000 seasonal staff hours to educate and engage 10,000+ annual visitors.
WisCorps: based on 2024 stats and 2025 projections.
- Improve accessibility and maintenance for over 100 Miles of trails and waterways in over 17 communities across the Upper Midwest.
- Restore over 350 acres of public lands and parks across the Upper Midwest, protecting 9 unique ecosystems in over 17 communities that depend on them.
- Enhance accessibility across 330+ acres of public lands in 17+ communities to create inclusive outdoor spaces where everyone, regardless of background or ability, can connect with nature.
- Support 31,000 crew hours to improve public lands across 17 partner sites to enhance natural spaces visited by 3.4+ million people annually, and support local economies and ecosystems.
- Strengthen the conservation workforce by providing 45 professional certifications: 18 in Chainsaw Safety, 15 in Wisconsin Herbicide Application, and Wilderness First Aid & CPR for 20 members.
- Instill a lifelong commitment to ethical land stewardship by certifying 40 future environmental leaders in Leave No Trace principles.
Make a direct donations to WisCorps: wiscorps.org/donate
Make a direct donations to The Nature Place: natureplacelacrosse.org/donate-online
What the May 19 Injunction Hearing Means for Us
An injunction hearing is scheduled for May 19 in Maryland to challenge the legality of the nationwide AmeriCorps funding termination.
If the court rules in our favor, it means the grant termination will be deemed unlawful — and we could resume grant-funded operations immediately or shortly after May 19.
Why this matters - A favorable ruling would allow us to:
- Reinstate suspended AmeriCorps Members
- Enroll new Members to support critical summer programming
- Regain stability through the summer
While this would be a significant win, it’s important to note: this decision will not guarantee AmeriCorps funding in the federal budget this fall. The long-term future of national service remains uncertain — and continued community support is essential.
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