Events Calendar

Fee: Free.
Registration: Advance registration encouraged. Click here to register online. Work days are weather dependent. If you have registered in advance, we will contact you if we are cancelling due to inclement weather.

The Lynden land team is kicking off 2025 by launching a new series of Wednesday Work Days, a weekly volunteer opportunity on the grounds. Whether you are looking for a few hours of volunteer work or want a weekly activity that keeps you outside, you are welcome to join us on Wednesday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon. Projects vary from season to season; for the next few months, you will work alongside land staff to pull herbaceous invasive species in our natural areas, as well as help accomplish other projects around the grounds to enhance biodiversity and take care of the native flora and fauna. No experience is necessary, though you are encouraged to bring your favorite gardening gloves and digging tools if you have them. Water, snacks, and additional tools will be provided.

Land Stewardship at Lynden
The Lynden Sculpture Garden is transforming its natural habitats and formal landscapes into sustainable and diverse ecosystems that highlight their natural beauty. Our goal is to steward healthy habitats for an array of native plants and wildlife while adding a vibrant mosaic of color and texture to this sculptural landscape through every season. With over 40 acres and more than half a dozen specialized garden spaces, the Lynden provides many volunteer and learning opportunities, from removing invasive species to planting new trees and plugs, weeding, pruning, collecting, and spreading seeds. With a small land staff, volunteer help is essential to the evolution and restoration of the Lynden grounds.

You may also like:
The Ecology and Management of Invasive Species
Garden Work Days 2025

Fee: $10/$5 members. Advance registration available but not required. Click here to register.

Join poet and Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteer Chuck Stebelton on the second Sunday of each month to bird by eye and ear with a focus on the life histories of wild birds. We’ll watch for seasonal migrants and resident bird species and seek out the best bird habitats to identify as many species as we can. Please dress for the weather and plan to walk in varied terrain. Bring your binoculars and field guides if you have them; no previous birding experience required.

Click here to listen to Chuck Stebelton discuss his 'spark bird,' the Northern Flicker, on WUWM.

About Chuck Stebelton

Chuck Stebelton is author most recently of One Hundred Patterns & Three Heuristics (Green Gallery Press, 2023). His previous poetry collections include An Apostle Island (Oxeye Press, 2021), The Platformist (Cultural Society, 2012), and Circulation Flowers (Tougher Disguises, 2005). He currently serves as Project Manager at Woodland Pattern Book Center, a nonprofit literary arts organization in Milwaukee. As a Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteer, he has led workshops and field trips for nonprofit organizations and conservancy groups including Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters; Milwaukee Public Library; Woodland Pattern Book Center; Friends of Lorine Niedecker; and Lynden Sculpture Garden. He recently completed an ARTservancy artist residency with River Revitalization Foundation and has held residencies at Lynden Sculpture Garden in 2011, 2014, and from 2018 to 2024.

Fee: Free.
Registration: Advance registration encouraged. Click here to register online. Work days are weather dependent. If you have registered in advance, we will contact you if we are cancelling due to inclement weather.

The Lynden land team is kicking off 2025 by launching a new series of Wednesday Work Days, a weekly volunteer opportunity on the grounds. Whether you are looking for a few hours of volunteer work or want a weekly activity that keeps you outside, you are welcome to join us on Wednesday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon. Projects vary from season to season; for the next few months, you will work alongside land staff to pull herbaceous invasive species in our natural areas, as well as help accomplish other projects around the grounds to enhance biodiversity and take care of the native flora and fauna. No experience is necessary, though you are encouraged to bring your favorite gardening gloves and digging tools if you have them. Water, snacks, and additional tools will be provided.

Land Stewardship at Lynden
The Lynden Sculpture Garden is transforming its natural habitats and formal landscapes into sustainable and diverse ecosystems that highlight their natural beauty. Our goal is to steward healthy habitats for an array of native plants and wildlife while adding a vibrant mosaic of color and texture to this sculptural landscape through every season. With over 40 acres and more than half a dozen specialized garden spaces, the Lynden provides many volunteer and learning opportunities, from removing invasive species to planting new trees and plugs, weeding, pruning, collecting, and spreading seeds. With a small land staff, volunteer help is essential to the evolution and restoration of the Lynden grounds.

You may also like:
The Ecology and Management of Invasive Species
Garden Work Days 2025

Open M-Sa 10 am-4:30 pm, admission free.
(The museum will be closed June 30-July 5, 2025).

This exhibition is off-site at:
Haggerty Museum of Art, 1234 West Tory Hill Street on the Marquette University Camps

Opening reception: Saturday, June 14, 4-6 pm

The exhibition brings together work by Nina (Afkhamian) Ghanbarzadeh and Roy F. Staab in the Established category; and three artists in the Emerging category: Justin Goodrum, Jovanny Hernandez Caballero, and Nicholas Perry. The 2024 Nohl Fellows were chosen in late 2023 from a field of 147 applicants by a panel of three jurors: Allison Glenn, independent curator and writer, New York, New York; Misa Jeffereis, Associate Curator, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; and Anisa Olufemi, independent curator and Fellowship Manager, Hamiltonian Artists, Washington, DC.

More information: Click here

Saturday, June 14, 10 am-4 pm
Sunday, June 15, 10 am-3 pm

Free.

The Milwaukee Bonsai Society returns to Lynden for their 54th annual exhibit—their fourth at Lynden. More than forty trees will be housed under two tents on the main lawn, where they will be judged by visiting experts, including guest artist and former ballerina Jennifer Price. There will be food trucks, beverages, and raffles, as well as vendors selling trees and bonsai supplies. Whether you are a spectator, a beginner, or are already practicing, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn more about the art of bonsai. Join us for a weekend of bonsai entertainment, shopping, and fun.

Fee: Free.
Registration: Advance registration encouraged. Click here to register online. Work days are weather dependent. If you have registered in advance, we will contact you if we are cancelling due to inclement weather.

The Lynden land team is kicking off 2025 by launching a new series of Wednesday Work Days, a weekly volunteer opportunity on the grounds. Whether you are looking for a few hours of volunteer work or want a weekly activity that keeps you outside, you are welcome to join us on Wednesday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon. Projects vary from season to season; for the next few months, you will work alongside land staff to pull herbaceous invasive species in our natural areas, as well as help accomplish other projects around the grounds to enhance biodiversity and take care of the native flora and fauna. No experience is necessary, though you are encouraged to bring your favorite gardening gloves and digging tools if you have them. Water, snacks, and additional tools will be provided.

Land Stewardship at Lynden
The Lynden Sculpture Garden is transforming its natural habitats and formal landscapes into sustainable and diverse ecosystems that highlight their natural beauty. Our goal is to steward healthy habitats for an array of native plants and wildlife while adding a vibrant mosaic of color and texture to this sculptural landscape through every season. With over 40 acres and more than half a dozen specialized garden spaces, the Lynden provides many volunteer and learning opportunities, from removing invasive species to planting new trees and plugs, weeding, pruning, collecting, and spreading seeds. With a small land staff, volunteer help is essential to the evolution and restoration of the Lynden grounds.

You may also like:
The Ecology and Management of Invasive Species
Garden Work Days 2025

FREE

We will be running a free shuttle bus starting at 10:30 am between the Park & Ride, which is to the west of the Brown Deer exit of I-43, and the sculpture garden. The final shuttle of the day will depart Lynden at 4 pm.

The HOME Refugee Steering Committee at the Lynden Sculpture Garden invites you to observe World Refugee Day in a series of outdoor events and programs that celebrate Milwaukee’s refugee communities through art, food, fashion, and performance. Our theme for 2025 is Walking Together, Weaving the World.

World Refugee Day at Lynden, co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families – Bureau of Refugee Programs, is organized as both a resource fair and a celebration of many cultures. In addition to making art, tasting food, and listening to stories, poems, and music and dance, visitors will be able to gather information on local services for refugees. Under our resource tent, you’ll find new and existing partners including refugee-serving agencies and community-based organizations.

Sponsoring agencies and participating community organizations include: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families–Bureau of Refugee Programs; Community Center for Immigrants; International Institute of Wisconsin; Hanan Refugees Relief Group; Engauge Workforce Solutions and Rely; Medical College of Wisconsin Office of Global Health, Our City of Nations Conference; Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance; Institute of World Affairs-UWM Center for International Education; Prime Financial Credit Union; Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc.; League of Women Voters; United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee, and more.

Special thanks to our event host and master of ceremonies, Zarifa Saadat.

Schedule

11-11:30 am: Interfaith prayers & blessings, with the Rev. JC Mitchell from the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, the Rev. Gwen Sutton from the HOME Refugee Steering Committee, and friends.

11:30 am: Speeches and announcements from sponsors and partners

12 pm and as long as supplies last: Afghan, Burmese, and Indonesian food. $10 suggested donation per plate, vegetarian options available (in sunroom).

12-1:30 pm: Dance Performances (all dance performances include an opportunity to learn dances)
12 pm: Modern dance performance by Fizal (Rohingya)

12:15: LIVIA (diverse and modern K-pop dance group)

12:30 pm: Dian Novita (traditional Indonesian)

12:45pm: Dance performance by South Division High School (Hmong)

1:00pm: Al Muharebeen Dabke dance group (Palestinian)

1:15 pm: Golden Melody Music Band U.S.A (Burmese)

1-3 pm: Multilingual Story Time with Lynden’s Claudia Orjuela and the Milwaukee Public Library, joined by community members reading in Arabic, French, Hmong, and Spanish

1:30-3 pm: Multilingual Poetry Reading and Walk with Antonio Vargas-Nieto and friends (assemble on the patio).

Program subject to change.

Craft Market Participants

Be the Change! – Face painting and more by the HOME Program’s young women and girls’ art and leadership group.

Fairouz–Jewelry and handmade bags from Suheir Rashid (Syrian).

Forged In Gold-Prints, stickers, bookmarks printed at home, handmade tassels by Yasmeen Wright (Latin American).

Hmong Made-Handmade accessories (jewelry and hair accessories) by Ashley Xiong (Hmong).

Khizra Henna Designs–Henna services and henna cones by Kauser Jabeen (Pakistani).

Mariam Africa-African traditional clothes and quality shea butter chosen by Mariam Kebe (Mali).

Mchete's African Treasures–Authentic handmade jewelry, men's and women's African clothes, artwork, beadwork, and African fabrics selected by Monica Ashery (Tanzanian).

Myanmar Art: Watercolor paintings of Myanmar landscapes and portraits and other artworks by various Myanmar artists organized by Aung Myo Tin (Burmese).

Olive Essence Soap–Handmade natural soaps, scrubs, hair cream, and bath salts by Gharam M. Amer (Syrian and Turkish).

Puffy and Fluffy–Crochet plushies and hijabs, and ma'moul (date filled cookies) from Dana and Reem Barbarawi (Palestinian).

Royal Beauty–Organic and homemade hair oil and facial products by Enas Alwedyan (Jordanian).

Yvone Chandja and Why Not Now Missions–Upcycled Goods (Congolese).

About HOME
HOME is the theme of our work with refugee community leaders, community members, Call & Response artists, and allies. The HOME Refugee Steering Committee is building a space of leading, coming together, and celebrating refugees. For all HOME 2025 programming, click here.

World Refugee Day 2025 celebrations continue with two additional HOME “days” featuring music, dance, food, fashion, and craft. For all HOME 2025 programming,click here.

Fee: Free.
Registration: Advance registration encouraged. Click here to register online. Work days are weather dependent. If you have registered in advance, we will contact you if we are cancelling due to inclement weather.

The Lynden land team is kicking off 2025 by launching a new series of Wednesday Work Days, a weekly volunteer opportunity on the grounds. Whether you are looking for a few hours of volunteer work or want a weekly activity that keeps you outside, you are welcome to join us on Wednesday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon. Projects vary from season to season; for the next few months, you will work alongside land staff to pull herbaceous invasive species in our natural areas, as well as help accomplish other projects around the grounds to enhance biodiversity and take care of the native flora and fauna. No experience is necessary, though you are encouraged to bring your favorite gardening gloves and digging tools if you have them. Water, snacks, and additional tools will be provided.

Land Stewardship at Lynden
The Lynden Sculpture Garden is transforming its natural habitats and formal landscapes into sustainable and diverse ecosystems that highlight their natural beauty. Our goal is to steward healthy habitats for an array of native plants and wildlife while adding a vibrant mosaic of color and texture to this sculptural landscape through every season. With over 40 acres and more than half a dozen specialized garden spaces, the Lynden provides many volunteer and learning opportunities, from removing invasive species to planting new trees and plugs, weeding, pruning, collecting, and spreading seeds. With a small land staff, volunteer help is essential to the evolution and restoration of the Lynden grounds.

You may also like:
The Ecology and Management of Invasive Species
Garden Work Days 2025

FREE
This is a virtual event.
Watch live on our Facebook page.

Stories As We Move: A HOME Interview Series is an ongoing project that launched in 2020 as part of Lynden's HOME virtual platform. The series pairs individuals who have faced forced displacement in its many forms in a conversational setting. Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants interview those that have resettled to the United States, including friends and family that are based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as those that remain overseas. The series covers a range of backgrounds and narrative identities, professions, and interests; participants include artists, community members, advocates and leaders, healthcare workers, caseworkers, interpreters, and students and educators. These interviews are reflections of relationships and conversations that we continue to have long after resettlement; they explore issues that our refugee friends and family members continue to face as they remain in their country of origin or interim country.

Sessions:
Saturday, May 17, 2025 - 11 am-4 pm – Wood Fasteners
Saturday, June 28, 2025, 11 am-4 pm – Summer Meet-Up & Open Carving
Saturday, September 27, 2025, 11 am-4 pm – Birch Bark Oil as a Natural Wood Finish
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 11 am-4 pm – Land Manager Tour & Open Carving
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11 am-4 pm – Carving Gifts: Book Page Holde

Fee: $15/$10 members. You are welcome to attend for the entire day, or for a portion, but registration is required. Add a Mora Knife for $35

Registration: Space is limited; advance registration required. Register online or by phone at 414-446-8794.

Join us for the summer/fall session of Lynden’s Greenwood Gathering, an open-ended carving event where both new and returning participants can bring their current or finished carving projects to share with fellow woodcarvers. Gather around the campfire to carve, exchange ideas, share techniques, and draw inspiration from each other’s work. The gatherings will include occasional themed demonstrations and relevant garden tours.

Enjoy a day in Lynden’s back acres to carve, share, and connect. We’ll take a break from carving to eat lunch (please pack your own) and make tea from foraged plants. Dress for the outdoors and consider bringing sunscreen and bug repellent. While we’ll provide some green wood for starting new projects, please bring your own carving tools (Mora knives will be available for purchase, or order yours, above). We have tree stumps around the fire for seating, but if you prefer something more comfortable, bring a camp chair. Suitable for ages 16 and up.

You might also be interested in:

Discovering the Urban Forest Tree Walk