MISSION AND GOALS OF THE FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN STATE PARKS

Preamble

The Wisconsin State Park System was formed in 1900 by the state legislature to preserve and protect thousands of acres of Wisconsin's natural treasures so families and individuals would have places to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, picnicking, nature programming, and camping.  In August 1996 a non-profit organization, The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks, was formed and incorporated to help preserve, protect and enhance Wisconsin's State Parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas for future generations.

Mission Statement

The following mission statement was adopted by the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks: A public and private partnership organized to work in cooperation with local friends groups’ and other organizations to enhance, preserve, protect, and promote Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas.

To insure that the mission statement of the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks is fulfilled, the organization established the following goals:

1.  To work to protect and enhance the natural qualities of biodiversity and ecological integrity of our state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas (the state park system) for future generations (LAND STEWARDSHIP GOAL).

2.  To serve as an umbrella organization, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and “Friends Groups” to provide cost effective insurance and local support for friends groups (SERVICE GOAL).

3.  To establish a central information base for friends groups to exchange, share, and improve activities and provide training (INTERNAL INTERACTION AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE GOAL).

4.  To establish endowments and/or other funds, utilizing individual, non-profit, and corporate memberships/donations, with separate control from state park budgets to support grants for local friends groups and state park enhancement projects (FINANCING OR FUNDING GOAL).

5.  To develop and improve existing public education/interpretive programs and coordinate their distribution to all state parks (EDUCATION/INTERPRETATION GOAL)

6.  To increase public awareness of the variety of Wisconsin State parks forests, trails, and recreation areas and the support provided by friends groups (PUBLIC AWARENESS GOAL).

7. To actively encourage public participation/membership in state and local friends groups, emphasizing the accomplishments and support provided by these groups and the advantages/benefits of a state friends group “supporting and coordinating local efforts to insure the future of our state park system (PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT GOAL).