Retzer Nature Center

About

Environmental Conservation, Outdoor Education, Education, Public Programs, Rental Facility, Park. This page is not monitored 24/7

Story

Retzer Nature Center was John and Florence Retzer’s retirement home. John purchased the original 90 acres from the Federal Land Bank in 1938. The Retzer’s immediately began restoring the degraded land with over 26,000 trees, shrubs, and flowers, many obtained from the Wisconsin Conservation Department. These plantings can be enjoyed today. In 1973, Florence Horn Retzer bequeathed her property to Waukesha County for park purposes. Her vision was "to conserve the scenery, natural life and wildlife, leaving the land unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

Mission

It is our goal to lead people in hands-on experiences of land discovery that are fun and exciting, that teach important knowledge about how the land system works, and that help create a value for land, and a love for land. This is especially significant for families, and for children, and it helps create a commitment to land conservation and preservation for the future.