CONFERENCE HOST CITY SPOTLIGHT: Madison, Wisconsin, USA

On May 28, 2024, hundreds will gather on the shores of Lake Monona for the largest international gathering of children and nature advocates worldwide. The Children & Nature Network is thrilled to host the 2024 Nature Everywhere Conference, formerly known as the Inside-Out Conference, in Madison, Wisconsin, from May 28 to May 31, 2024.

For those who plan to attend the conference (and for those who are interested in learning more), we’ve compiled a guide to the city with the help of our Madison Advisory Council. Wondering where you can buy cheese curds or what, exactly, is an isthmus? Read on! 

Land Acknowledgement*

The city of Madison occupies the ancestral land of the Ho-Chunk people, a place the Ho-Chunk nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE), or “Four Lakes” in the Hoocąk language, since time immemorial. In an 1832 treaty, the Ho-Chunk were forced to cede this territory to white colonial settlers. Subsequent decades saw ethnic cleansing attempts by both the federal and state governments, which sought, unsuccessfully, to remove the Ho-Chunk people from Wisconsin. The removal, done explicitly in the interest of white settlers, forced many Ho-Chunk to flee the state. Many resisted removal and remained, and others have since returned to their land. Today, they are the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, based in Black River Falls with a community center in Madison called Teejop Hocira.

A land acknowledgment is only one small part of honoring and supporting Indigenous communities. The children and nature movement must strive to build a multiracial solidarity-based movement that respects, prioritizes and amplifies the sovereignty and power of Indigenous peoples.

Wisconsin First Nations has published a collection of resources for educators that provides accurate and authentic educational materials on the American Indian Nations of Wisconsin, as well as more information specific to Ho-Chunk Nation. You can find more Hoocąk place names in this resource from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Office of Tribal Relations. 

*This land acknowledgment is adapted, in part, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s land acknowledgment and “Our Shared Future” resource.

Why is the conference being held in Madison?

Madison, Wisconsin is a leader in connecting children and families to nature. A longtime participant in the Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative, Madison was also recently selected through a competitive application process to join a 2-year Nature Everywhere cohort to further advance efforts to increase equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play. The City of Madison, Dane County and many cross-sector partners collaborate to enhance public spaces with nature, foster early childhood nature connection and support youth leadership development.

Situated between two beautiful lakes, Madison is the state capital of Wisconsin and home of the Big-10 University of Wisconsin-Madison. The city has been honored with a Gold Level designation from the Walk-Friendly Communities Program and its parks system offers more playgrounds per capita than any park system in the U.S. The idea for Earth Day came from Madison, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970; it is considered the birth of the modern environmental movement.

Madison: A lakeside gem

The city of Madison is built on an isthmus, a narrow strip of land with water bodies on either side that forms a link between two larger areas of land. The city is nestled between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, but the greater Madison area also contains the lakes Waubesa, Kegonsa and Wingra.

Madison has 12 designated beaches, but a must-see is B.B. Clarke Beach, a 25-minute walk or 5-minute bike from our conference location, Monona Terrace. In the summer, Madison residents enjoy swimming at the beaches, fishing from the shores or hitting the waves in kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, sailboats and more. For watercraft rentals and paddling destinations, check out Madison Boats.

As you paddle, consider the rich history of those who have traveled these waters long before you. In 2022, Wisconsin archaeologists found a 3,000-year-old Ho-Chunk dugout canoe in Lake Mendota – the oldest canoe discovered in the Great Lakes region by 1,000 years!

Parks and gardens galore!

If water isn’t your style, consider renting a Madison BCycle from a nearby rack and biking over to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Bonus: get 50% off Madison BCycle single-ride passes when you sign up to explore Madison by Bike.

The 300-acre nature preserve, located on the UW-M campus, includes the famed Lakeshore Path, which extends along the Lake Mendota shoreline to offer stunning views of the lake and glimpses of wildlife. Keep an eye out for nesting great horned owls, painted turtles and red-wing blackbirds! The University’s Arboretum is another great place to explore, with over 17 miles of trails throughout restored prairies, savannas, woodlands and wetlands. In May, the lilacs and magnolias will be in bloom!

If you’re looking for a shorter trail or a peaceful spot for a nap in the shade, cool down at Tenney Park. This serene spot has a shoreline on both Lake Mendota and the Yahara River. When you’re ready to move after a relaxing afternoon, travel down the Yahara River Bike Path for gorgeous views of the river.

On the hunt to see more flora? Head over to Olbrich Botanical Gardens, a 6-acre outdoor botanical garden and 10,000-square-foot conservatory just 15 minutes by bike from Monona Terrace. The Allen Centennial Gardens is another great option within a similar distance, offering free admission to a beautiful botanical garden surrounding a stately Victorian gothic house, where the first four deans of the U-WM’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences lived. 

Educational opportunities

Of you’re traveling with children and seeking a place to unleash their creative play energy, the Madison Children’s Museum is just a ten-minute walk from the Monona Terrace. It boasts a wide array of creative, engaging and colorful exhibits suitable for the whole family. 

For nature-themed learning, the Aldo Leopold Nature Center welcomes visitors to their campus year-round. Explore their prairie, pond and woodland trails with free self-guided hikes and walking tours. It’s a great way for both kids and adults to connect with nature.

Food and restaurants

If you’ve heard about Madison, you know they’re excellent at hosting a farmer’s market! The Dane County Farmer’s Market is the largest producer-only market in the U.S., hosting approximately 275 vendors throughout the year. Over 20,000 visitors attend every Saturday to purchase items grown, raised and produced in Wisconsin.

Looking to sit down for a bite to eat? Consider supporting the following local restaurants (distance reported from Monona Terrace) – all recommended by a member of our Madison Advisory Council!

• Tempest Oyster Bar, 0.2 miles – Oyster and seafood restaurant featuring live music on weekends
• Osteria Papavero, 0.2 miles – Casual, rustic Italian restaurant
• The Great Dane, 0.3 miles – Local chain of craft breweries and restaurants
• Lucilles, 0.3 miles – Industrial-chic tavern serving wood-fired & steel-pan pizzas
• Tornado Steak House, 0.3 miles – Old-school steakhouse 
• Settle Down Tavern, 0.3 miles – Locally-owned tavern in downtown Madison
• Marigold Kitchen, 0.3 miles – American counter-serve eatery
• Ancora Coffee, 0.3 miles – Café and bakery
• Old Fashioned, 0.4 miles – Wisconsin-themed, retro-style tavern offering beers, brats & cheese curds
• Bradbury’s Coffee, 0.5 miles – Premium coffee and artisanal crêpes
• Sardine, 0.5 miles – Bistro with French fare & Lake Monona views
• Olbrich Biergarten, 3.4 miles – German-style beer garden featuring local food and drink

Nature Everywhere Day!

Extend your stay beyond the conference and channel the energy and enthusiasm for nature connection generated within Monona Terrace into the broader Madison community during “Nature Everywhere Day” on Saturday, June 1. Get ready for a day of celebration and family fun by grabbing a bite at the Dane County Farmers Market before immersing yourself in various free and low-cost Nature Everywhere activities happening throughout the Madison area.

The Children & Nature Network’s annual international conference brings together leaders from a broad range of disciplines, all committed to the health and well-being of children and communities. Click here to learn more and register for the 2024 Nature Everywhere International Conference, which will take place May 28-31 at Monona Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin.

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