Friends of Ledge View Nature Center, Inc. began when some community members saw the beauty in a hill of woodland and ledges. Calumet County had reserved the property for quarrying; these people believed it should instead be dedicated and preserved as park land. In fact, they had already been using it with youth groups for environmental education. By 1981, the friends group was organized, and Ledge View Park and program were a fact.
The friends group grew, while the property and facilities at Ledge View expanded to meet increasing public use. Rusted old farm equipment and other junk was pulled out of the forest and ledges. Volunteers hand-gathered and planted native wildflower seeds in what had previously been cornfield. Scouts and service groups helped plant thousands of seedlings. Trails were built. Funds were raised for classrooms, an exhibit hall, and a 60-foot observation tower; then for major exhibits on the Niagara Escarpment, Lake Sturgeon, and Wisconsin Bats.
Today, visitors come from as far away as central Wisconsin and Illinois to see the only publicly accessible natural caves in this part of the state. Ledge View provides school districts throughout eastern Wisconsin with quality outdoor ed programming, and offers activities for families and individuals year-round.
