The Road Less Traveled

Join us for a tour of the furthest reaches of USM's campus—the areas you probably haven't seen or didn't even know existed. Learn about what makes them so special, and the work that's being done to restore these habitats back to their wild, beautiful roots.

To succeed, a garden needs care and attention. If left unattended, it could be choked out by weeds or drought, its plants devoured by pests, in a matter of weeks. USM’s campus is no different. Over many decades, the furthest reaches of the school’s 125-acres have fallen victim to invasive species like the emerald ash borer, buckthorn, and teasel. As a result of this invasion, which is costly and difficult to mitigate, large swaths of campus had been rendered unusable. 

The situation, however, has proven to be a blessing in disguise. It has given the school a rare opportunity to start fresh, and to be strategic about how best to utilize campus acreage for both recreation and education. Beginning in December 2019 USM launched an extensive, multi-year land restoration project to remove dead ash trees and invasive plants, and reintroduce native vegetation. 

To date, approximately 40 acres have been forestry mowed, and half of that cleared land has been reseeded and replanted with a variety of native plants and trees that foster distinct habitats for students to study and trails to enjoy.

Much of the work, which still continues today, is planned and managed by Kip Jacobs ’74, USM’s outdoor education coordinator. He spends his days directing professional crews hired by the school, and an army of student volunteers who have a passion for the outdoors. Together, these groups have made tremendous progress, especially on the northeast corner of campus near the head of school’s residence. 

Come with us on a behind-the-scenes tour of campus to see the progress that’s been made and the work that is being done to restore natural habitats, increase plant and animal diversity, and preserve the campus legacy for generations to come.

Happy trails

Whenever possible, trails on campus are deliberately designed to have a curved, “s” shape. This promotes curiosity and a sense of the unknown. “I always want visitors to be able to discover something around the corner,” said Jacobs. “I want them to say, ‘Oh, I wonder where this goes.” Mulch for the new, 300-yard trail system came from trees on campus, and trails are maintained by Jacobs and various student volunteers. In the spring of 2021, a mile worth of trails, as well as prairie lands and 20 different species of trees, were added to the northeast corner of campus near the head of school residence. The school hopes to replicate that work in other areas, to support cross country meets and to be enjoyed by community members.   

Stemming the tide of invasive species

Over the last 20 years, invasive plant and animal species found throughout the state have decimated USM’s campus. They outcompete native species for resources, alter habitats, and lead to declines in biodiversity. Jacobs and his student volunteers have worked tirelessly to remove these scourges and rehabilitate habitats on campus, although there is still much work to be done.

Common buckthorn is fast growing, highly resilient, and notoriously difficult to eradicate. The plant can grow as tall as 20 feet and, when cut down, it grows a multitude of offshoots from the stump, as illustrated here. Its berries spread easily, dropping seeds that stay dormant in the ground for up to seven years, and the dense shade that it creates limits the growth of tree seedlings and understory species. 

The intricate tunnels in this log are the hallmark of the emerald ash borer, a wood-boring beetle that targets ash trees and was first detected in Wisconsin in 2008. It feeds on the tree’s inner bark, creating complex pathways that inhibit the plant’s ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually killing it. Jacobs and campus planners have made progress in taking down dead ash trees and replanting different tree species, but there are still many acres left to be addressed.   

Although beautiful in this stark, alien-like state, the common teasel plant forms a dense growth that chokes out desirable, native plant species. Their prickly stalks are painful when touched, and provide little nutritious value to animals. Teasel is abundant on campus, and Jacobs often works with students to remove the plant’s head before it goes to seed. He also mows the plants down twice per year. 

From acorn to oak

One of the most exciting aspects of rehabilitating campus woodlands is being able to intentionally plant diverse habitats including prairie grasses and a variety of new trees. Many of the saplings, like the burr oak pictured here, are now several years old and will soon be able to survive without support and protection. Next to the outdoor classroom pictured on page 16 is a grove of 73 Aspens that were planted in June 2020—each one spaced 6’ apart to accommodate COVID social distancing at that time.

Having many different tree species attracts a variety of wildlife, and helps to minimize the scale of damage from invasive species. Although they’re small now, the saplings are healthy and fast-growing, and native to Wisconsin. In 20 years, they will be mighty and majestic.

Year-round enjoyment

Several vernal ponds on campus provide diverse, ever-changing ecosystems that students love to study and explore. In the spring, the ponds can be teeming with wood frogs, spring peepers, insects, and spotted salamanders and, in the dry months, can be a veritable playground of logs and stumps perfect for climbing on and jumping over. 

This vernal pond, located near the head of school residence, was recently cleared of trees that were growing around and within it, obscuring it from overhead view. “Now that the pond is exposed, migrating birds and wildlife can see it and use it as a stopover place to rest or feed,” said Jacobs. “We even had a nesting pair of ducks in it last spring.” 

While campus has undergone significant restoration, there is still much to be done. For details on how you can support these efforts, contact Vanessa Nerbun, chief advancement officer, at vnerbun@usm.org or 414.540.3330.

Built by students, for students

This space was envisioned by members of the Class of 2023 who, as juniors, approached Jacobs with the desire to build an outdoor classroom for use by all students. They designed the circular shape and helped Jacobs to identify the location and clear the land. The stumps, as well as benches and a table made of upcycled ash wood, were built by students, and the seating area is anchored by five signature trees planted along the circumference. When fully grown, these large trees, including a burr oak, autumn blaze maple, red maple, and honey locust, will serve as the “walls” of the classroom.  

Jacobs Earns alumni service award

In honor of his long-standing teaching career and tireless efforts to revitalize campus and implement and expand USM’s outdoor education program, Kip Jacobs ’74 received the school’s Alumni Service Award at Reunion Weekend in June 2024. In addition, members of the Class of 1974 launched a fundraiser in Jacobs’ honor to support improvements to the vernal ponds on campus, and to build an outdoor education structure that can be used year round. “USM is committed to maintaining and improving campus with careful thought and intention, which requires significant resources,” said Jacobs. “It means the world to me that my classmates and others believe in the work we are doing.”