Join our available projects to help inspire and educate!
Volunteer to help us: species inventories, hikes, talks, service projects.....
Just write us a note at: jdbadlands@gmail.com and we will welcome you!!
Activities
Welcome to our great activities for the summer of 2026!
Friday, May 8
Return of the Buffalo !
The dynamic duo that started the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative will be here to tell us of their adventures in founding it and funding its great success. Jason and Patti Baldes will talk about restoring buffalo to the native land so they can roam naturally, providing revitalization to their habitat and increase community understanding.
Tuesday, May 12
John Mionczynski!
Don’t miss this amazing talk by our favorite local Plant Naturalist! He tells wonderful tales and explains the history of many local plants and their medicinal and other uses.
Thursday, May 21
Our annual Plant Survey of the Badlands
Every year we work to upgrade the local flora and fauna inventories of the Badlands to be able to demonstrate their wilderness aspect. With BLM botanist Emma Freeland, the Sheep Center and good local Botanists we will concentrate of the upper reaches of Mason Draw on May 21. We will meet at the Sheep Center at 9 am and go from there. This is a great chance to hone your plant identification skills while enjoying a hike.
Saturday, June 6
Our annual Bird Survey of the Badlands
For the bird survey, people work on their own or in groups in the Badlands. We want you to register first so we can provide you with directions for how to report the birds you identify and give you a list of the birds that have been reported in previous years. People with any level of birding experience are welcome!
Requirements
Be at the Dennison May 8 at 7 pm
Be at the Dennison at 7 pm Tuesday May 12
Meet at the Sheep Center Thursday May 21 at 9 am
Future Activities
Late May: Hike and class on “Ranching and Control of Invasive Species” by Andy Williams of Diamond D Ranch.
July 17 and 18: “Badlands Art Show”! Ten local artists will show the beauty of the Badlands at the Headwaters. Reception Friday at the opening.
Later a talk by our favorite geology student on the results of the research they have been doing in Byrd Draw in June/July and a return of Michael Curran in Aug/Sept on the importance of insects and plants
Conservation Success
Alltrails, an on-line trail guide site, has long had a “trail” suggested through the State Land and WSA that could impact the sensitive area. Earlier this year, Tim Judson was able to get Alltrails [see: https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/wyoming/dubois-badlands-wilderness-study-area ] to change their hiking trail #2 from the fragile soil just to the west of the wash in Mason Draw to the wash itself rather than the multi-trail section that can be seen Figure 1 in the site. Their new trail, suggested by the Friends of Dubois Badlands, should reduce some of the traffic on the fragile, friable soil that they originally had the trail on. Their Trail #1 goes up some steep slopes that are already eroding.
Ongoing Background Activities
TIn addition to the many exciting summer activities, Friends of Dubois Badlands carry on many activities in the background. These include helping BLM monitor potentially negative behavior in the WSA area and updating the signage posts, helping the State clean up debris left on nearby State land, and monitoring the legislative status of the WSA. We also work with the local school and Boys and Girls Club.
But the most exciting new project is called the:
Kingfisher Parcel Special Use Lease Project
Why join the Activities
Friends of Dubois Badlands?
Help support the work of education, protection and scientific study of these Badlands
Help with projects that improve conservation of this magic area.
Help build awareness of the value of these Badlands by spreading the word about their specialness .
Have fun! Meet new people!