Native Plant Sale
2024-04-05 - 2024-05-05 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Buy native plants between March 21 and May 5, 2024, from Johnson’s Nursery. Pick up plants at Holy Wisdom Monastery on May 10. Fifteen percent of total sales gets split 50/50 between Holy Wisdom Monastery and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.
Click here to learn more

Kids on the Prairie
2024-04-14 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises!
Kids on the Prairie is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public.
April 14 – Signs of Spring
We will look for signs of emergent plants, animals and insects. Depending on the weather, we may find nectar sources for emerging bumble bees.
Register
Please register below so we know how many will join us.

Wisdom Prairie Workdays
2024-04-17 09:00 - 11:30
Volunteers are essential partners in our environmental stewardship. Consider joining us for Wisdom Prairie Workdays and volunteer in the restored prairies, savannas and woodlands at Holy Wisdom Monastery to sustain your spirit and the land. Activities shift seasonally, with common projects including invasive species removal and seed collecting.
2024 Wisdom Prairie Workdays
Volunteer workdays take place year-round on Wednesdays from 9:00-11:30 am. Meet at the kiosk at the top of the monastery building parking lot. Come for all or part of the workday.
Please register by emailing Amy Alstad, aalstad@holywisdommonastery.org.
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What if none of the workdays don’t align with my schedule?
Consider coming for a walk on the trails whenever your availability permits. We could always use your help monitoring trail conditions!
Goals for our trail monitoring program include:

Early detection of trail issues
Collecting data on number of trail users
Diversifying opportunities for volunteers

Protocol for trail monitoring is simple:
Walk a section – or two or all – of the Holy Wisdom trails and report what you encounter using a simple online form. For now, this is a purely a monitoring program. In other words, no need to engage with trail users e.g. about dogs or other infractions.
Click button to access the reporting form for trail monitoring:

Access Form

Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
2024-04-17 11:45 - 13:00
Have you volunteered with Holy Wisdom Monastery in the last year? We want to thank you!
Volunteers are essential at Holy Wisdom Monastery and the sisters and coworkers wish to show our appreciation for all the time and effort you have generously given to our communities. We hope you can join us for a delicious meal and some well-deserved recognition for your hard work.
Schedule

11:45 am – Midday prayer in the oratory (optional)
12:00-1:00 pm – Lunch is served in the monastery guest dining room

Stay for the Spring Solar Tilt and the Wisdom Prairie Spring Tour
After the Volunteer Appreciation Lunch, we are looking for volunteers to help us tilt our new ground solar panels.
Click here to learn more and register for the Spring Solar Tilt.
But wait, there’s even more! After the Spring Solar Tilt join us for the Wisdom Prairie Spring Tour, a guided walk on the grounds at Holy Wisdom.
Click here to learn more and register for the Wisdom Prairie Spring Tour.
Register
Please register below for the Volunteer Appreciation Lunch by April 10.

Spring Solar Tilt
2024-04-17 13:15 - 14:15
Be the first to tilt the new solar panels
Holy Wisdom Monastery is on track to become a fully net-zero energy campus by the end of 2024.
You are invited to participate in the Spring Solar Tilt, a hands-on, inaugural community event where we gather together to celebrate solar energy, honor the changing seasons and pray for the earth.
The 30-panel array can be tilted vertically or horizontally, depending on the season. The panels are currently in their more vertical position which helps to shed snow and catch the lower winter sun more efficiently. They must be manually hand-cranked by teams of three people into their flat spring/summer orientation. Individuals and teams from the community and local businesses are invited to be part of the inaugural tilt event as participants or spectators.
Join us as one of 90 volunteers who will be the first to tilt Holy Wisdom’s solar panels! Or come watch and join us in prayer for climate change. Register below to let us know you’ll be coming.
We will begin in the Monastery Assembly Room at 1:15 pm before going outside to begin the Tilt. In case of heavy rain or storms, the event will be moved to Monday, April 22nd. Parking space may be limited, so bring your friends, but please carpool if you can.
Watch below to see how we will be tilting the panels

Wait, there’s more! After the Tilt you can join us for the Wisdom Prairie Spring Tour, led by Friends of Wisdom Prairie. Come learn about Holy Wisdom’s ongoing initiatives to restore native prairie, wetland and savanna ecosystems. If so, check the box within the form below that says “I will stay for the prairie tour at 2:15 pm” to also register for the tour.
Register
Please register below by April 16, 2024.

Wisdom Prairie Spring Tour
2024-04-17 14:15 - 15:45
Experience the seasonal beauty of Wisdom Prairie by coming out to explore the spring landscape. Knowledgeable tour guides will lead small groups on routes of varying length through the restored prairies, savannas and woodlands of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Guides will share our story of caring for the earth and help participants deepen their relationship with this land. All are welcome. Must be able to safely navigate spring trails. Please meet at the front doors of the monastery at 2:15 pm on the date of the tour. If the event is canceled due to inclement weather, we will email you by the morning of the tour.

Event leader

Dr. Amy Alstad is the Director of Land Management and Environmental Education at Holy Wisdom Monastery. She has a PhD in prairie ecology from UW Madison, almost a decade of professional experience in the field of restoration ecology, and a deep-rooted family tradition of restoring and tending prairies that spans four generations. In addition to Dr. Amy Alstad there will be several volunteer tour guides from the Friends of Wisdom Prairie.

Date
Please note the date of this event has changed. It will now take place on Wednesday, Apr. 17 from 2:15-3:45 pm.
Register
Please register below by Apr. 16, 2024.

Luther College Choir Concert
2024-04-20 15:00 - 16:15
Holy Wisdom will welcome the wonderful sounds of the Luther College Collegiate Chorale for a performance on Saturday, April 20, at 3:00 pm in the assembly room. This choir is made up of 30 talented soprano and alto voices, including Sunday Assembly member, Grace Rosholt, who is a sophomore music education major at Luther College. The choir will share a program of diverse and exquisitely sung music in this beautiful concert. The concert is free and open to the public. We hope you will join us on April 20!
Register
Please register for the Luther College Choir Concert below.
