Greg Armstrong
Wisdom Prairie Internship Program

Greg Armstrong retired from his position as Holy Wisdom Monastery’s Director of Land Management & Environmental Education on December 10, 2020. The 190 acres of restored prairie and oak savanna known as Wisdom Prairie provide a living and lasting tribute to the leadership Greg provided for eight years. Under his leadership, Wisdom Prairie has become an inspiring destination for artists, nature lovers, hikers and contemplatives who appreciate the land’s spiritual qualities. He is the founding director of the Friends of Wisdom Prairie organization.

Greg served as the Director of Land Management & Environmental Education at Holy Wisdom since 2012. Prior to joining the monastery’s team, Greg was the Director of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum from 1983-2004 and the Director of the Botanical Garden and Lecturer at Smith College from 1971-1983. Greg earned a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin, a Kew Diploma from the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew, England and a Master of Arts in Botany from Smith College.

To honor Greg’s work, the Friends of Wisdom Prairie and the Benedictine Life Foundation seek your help in establishing the Greg Armstrong Wisdom Prairie Internship Program.

This internship program is designed to provide a stipend to a highly qualified intern working under the guidance of the Holy Wisdom Director of Land Management & Environmental Education. Interns will learn many aspects of land stewardship and ecological restoration. Interns will develop skills such as plant identification, noxious and invasive species identification and control, the safe use of herbicides, collection, preparation and sowing of native seeds, plant and animal survey methods, fire management and the safe use of brush cutters and chain saws and more. Skills that interns develop through experiential learning will directly benefit Wisdom Prairie immediately and the larger community over the long-term.

The initial goal for the fund is $25,000. This fund will provide a twelve-week stipend to one summer intern in each of the next three years. During that period the Benedictine Life Foundation, fundraising arm of Holy Wisdom Monastery, intends to raise an additional $500,000 to establish an endowment fund which will provide permanent funding for this key resource.

How to make a gift

• Click here to make an online gift.
  Under Apply my gift to, please choose Greg Armstrong Wisdom Prairie Internship Program.
• Checks can be made payable to Benedictine Life Foundation – Greg Armstrong Tribute and mailed to:
  Benedictine Life Foundation, 4200 County Rd M, Middleton WI 53562.

For more information and how to make your investment in the land, contact

• Paul Slota, Friends of Wisdom Prairie president, pslota@chorus.net or
• The Benedictine Life Foundation, Amy Bonomie, abonomie@benedictinewomen.org, 608-836-1631, x124.