Environmental Center
A Conservancy Zone Within a City
1000 Islands Environmental Center provides the public with a place to enjoy our natural resources. Recreation is provided by the many miles of trails, which can be used for hiking and snowshoeing. Year-round educational programs teach children and adults the importance of the inter-relationships between them and the environment. Inside the Nature Center, you will find live animals, interactive educational displays, a Fox River arrowhead collection, native animals, a gift shop, and much more.
Mission Statement
To provide children, adults and families the knowledge and skills needed to build a sustainable balance among the environment, economy and community through education, conservation and recreation.
Values Statement
1000 Islands Environmental Center strives to model nature through cooperative relationships creating a more diverse organization and aligning our programs, events and operational procedures to ensure everyone is valued, respected and belongs.
Strategic Plan
The 2023-2027 Strategic Plan was approved by the 1000 Islands Environmental Center on April 20, 2023 and received and placed on file with the Kaukauna Common Council on August 15, 2023. This plan will help guide the organization over the next five years.
1000 Islands is owned by the City and supported by Outagamie County and the Kaukauna Area School District.
City of Kaukauna Staff from left: Eric Gonnering, Brad Garrity, Cassie Kohls, and Kat Berge
Get Involved
Volunteers are an integral part of the 1000 Islands family. We rely on many volunteers to help maintain our building, gardens, grounds and trails. We also utilize volunteers for the educational opportunities we offer. Special events bring in many visitors and having volunteers to help with these special days is critical. Are you interested in becoming a Committee member to help guide 1000 Islands? Whatever your skill or interest may be, we welcome you to volunteer with us. You will make a difference!
Gather your family, friends, or co-workers to lend a hand in the Conservancy Zone and make a difference in your community. Help is needed to control invasive species, planting seedlings, trees and flowers, weeding and cleaning up garden beds, trail repair, general clean-up and maintenance. All ages and abilities are welcome. Registration is not required. Volunteers may come anytime between 9:00 a.m. and noon on the scheduled Service Saturdays.
2025 Service Saturday Dates
- May 31: Garlic Mustard and Dame Games! Participants will earn the chance to win prizes for picking the most garlic mustard and/or dames rocket in this friendly competition. All ages and abilities are welcome as are teams, scout groups, etc.
- June 14, July 19, & August 16
The Friends of 1000 Islands is a community of people to assist in preserving, enhancing and promoting 1000 Islands Environmental Center. The non-profit organization seeks to involve the Friends community to provide financial support through fundraising efforts and volunteers at 1000 Islands.
1000 Islands is administered by the 1000 Islands Environmental Center Committee consisting of eleven members. Ten City of Kaukauna citizens, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council, and the President of the Friends of 1000 Islands make up the Committee. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Nature Center and are open to the public.
Visit the Commissions, Boards, and Committees page to learn more about our committee members and apply.
Rent the 1000 Islands Pavilion
1000 Islands Pavilion
The 1000 Islands Pavilion is located in the picnic area next to the Fox River and can be rented from May through September. This is an open-air shelter with a concrete slab and approximately 750 sq. ft. Several picnic tables are available for use and renters can bring in additional tables and chairs. Restrooms are available in the adjacent baseball field area. Restrooms in 1000 Islands Nature Center are not available when the building is closed. For more information, availability, and rental fees, please call 1000 Islands at 920.766.4733 or email [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
The park and trail system is open from 6:00 AM until 11:00 PM daily. Before using the trail system, please be sure you follow our guidelines and policies:
- Smoking and/or vaping is not allowed in the Conservancy Zone
- Pets are not allowed anywhere on the property. Service animals are welcome.
These nearby locations are more suitable for recreation with your pet:
Konkapot Trail (parking on Dodge St), CE Trail (Parking near Piggly Wiggly on Ann St.), and Kaukauna Dog Park (Hwy 96 & Farmland Ct.)
- Familiarize yourself with our property policies. Signs are posted at most trailheads. Some of those policies include:
- Please stay on the trails, except to safely step aside to allow other visitors to pass.
- No collecting of wildflowers or other natural items.
- No littering. Please use the garbage and recycling bins responsibly.
- Bikes and skateboards are not allowed on the trail system.
Please follow these guidelines when walking on our trails and being on the grounds
within the Conservancy Zone. These rules are in place to help preserve the
Conservancy Zone for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.
- Please be safe and stay on the designated trails
- The picnic area and trails are open until 11:00 PM
- Be respectful of others and nature; please pick up after yourself
- Many native plants and animals living in the Conservancy Zone are protected. All of nature should be left in place for everyone to enjoy
- Smoking/vaping, alcohol or illegal substances is not permitted
- No bikes, skateboards or other recreational wheeled vehicles on the trails (strollers, wheelchairs and mobility aids are permitted)
- No dogs or pets (even leashed) are allowed on the trails, in the picnic area or in the Nature Center building unless it is a service dog
- Fishing is allowed, but hunting or trapping is not permitted
- Please no abandoning of pets; call a shelter or rescue
- Camping, fires and fireworks are not allowed
- A permit is required to play amplified music and is issued by the City of Kaukauna’s Health & Recreation Committee
- Hiking and parking are free
The Nature Center is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Tuesday – Friday and 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. on Saturday. The Nature Center building is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and major holidays.
The trails are open daily/365 days a year from 6:00 AM until 11:00 PM.
No. There is no entrance fee to enter the Nature Center building or to use the trails. Donations are very much appreciated and needed to help maintain trails and enhance the Nature Center.
The Nature Center building is only rented out for company/organization meetings. A full kitchen is available and we can accommodate up to 150 people. The Pavilion is available for rent from May through the end of September. For more information and availability, please call the Nature Center building at 920.766.4733 or email at [email protected].
To become a volunteer at 1000 Islands you must first complete an application form and go through a background check. Check out the Get Involved section of this page for more information on volunteering.
1000 Islands accepts court ordered community service hours as long as the individual has no history of theft or burglary. Appointments must be scheduled to complete these hours. Walk-ins are not allowed. Contact us at 920-766-4733 or email us at [email protected] to set up community service hours. Workers under the age of 14 must have a responsible adult with them at all times for supervision.
No. Bikes and other pedal-powered vehicles are not allowed on the trails. The only exception is on the Valley Trail between Hwy Z and Hwy Q/Hillcrest Dr. in the Upper Woods. Strollers and wheelchairs are allowed.
1000 Islands Environmental Center is a Conservancy Zone per the City of Kaukauna Ordinance 734 to provide for the conservation and protection of natural resources. The Conservancy Zone is home to many native plants and animals and dogs pose a threat to these. Deer, birds, rabbits, squirrels, etc. call the Conservancy Zone their home and our wild animals perceive dogs as a predator. Some dog breeds are bred for hunting and their natural instinct is to hunt down prey (wildlife) which will scare them out of their home.
The presence of dogs causes wildlife to move away which reduces the amount of available habitat for them to feed, breed and rest. Even the scent of dogs pushes wildlife away. Dogs also transmit diseases to and from wildlife and dog waste pollutes–transmitting harmful parasites. These are all things we do not want for a natural conservancy area.
Also, many people who are scared of dogs come here to walk knowing that this is a dog-free zone. Our trails are not that wide either and when someone wrongly brings their dog with them it is hard for people to pass easily.
To stay safe it is best to stay on the designated trails. The Conservancy Zone has an array of invasive plants such as poison ivy. Depending on the time of year, bees, mosquitos, and ticks are in the woods. It is best to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and consider treating your skin and clothing with a repellent to keep the mosquitos and ticks away. Always remember to check yourself for ticks after hiking in the woods or walking through tall grass and brush.
Yes. The Nature Center is fully accessible and we do have a portion of the trail system that is barrier-free. A wheelchair and walker are available for use and are located in the Nature Center building lobby.
No, we do not. 1000 Islands does not have a rehabilitation license to take in injured or orphaned animals.
No, please don’t. Per City Ordinance No. 1578 there is to be no feeding of waterfowl on any City property. Feeding other wildlife is also discouraged. Animals accustomed to people lose their fear of people and can become reliant on humans for food or become aggressive.
Bald Eagles can be seen year-round at 1000 Islands, but we see an increased number each winter when the lakes and rivers freeze over up north and they migrate south where food (fish mainly) is more plentiful. Mid-November through February is an ideal time to visit 1000 Islands for a better chance at seeing Bald Eagles.
Photographers of all skill levels frequent 1000 Islands each season of the year to capture nature’s beauty. A permit or fee is not required for photographers who schedule photo sessions at 1000 Islands. We do ask that 1000 Islands’ guidelines and rules be followed during a photo session. Although we do not require a fee, donations are always welcome and very much appreciated.
The Nature Center building is available for Non-Profit / Other Organizations. Call the Nature Center at 920.766.4733 or email [email protected] for details.