Unifying the Conservation Movement

Built to make conservation work better.

Environmental nonprofits shouldn’t have to choose between running effective programs and managing the behind-the-scenes work that keeps them operating.

We help eliminate that tension.

By providing shared administrative infrastructure, strategic leadership, and operational support, conservation organizations can focus on what they do best: educating communities, restoring ecosystems, and inspiring the next generation of stewards.

How We Help

HR & PAYROLL

hiring, onboarding, benefits, PTO, and payroll

COMMUNICATIONS & FUNDRAISING

storytelling, branding, and donor strategy

ACCOUNTING  & REPORTING

invoicing, data entry, budget management, and financial reporting

INSURANCE & COMPLIANCE

liability, worker’s comp, and insurance paperwork

Our Impact

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Million people impacted by conservation projects in the Midwest Region

Unique partnerships with local nonprofits, state and federal agencies, and public land managers

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Volunteer Service Hours across our partnership network

Acres of Public Lands restored through stewardship

Our Story

2009 | Wisconsin Youth Conservation Corps, Inc. non-profit founded

2014 | WisCorps, Inc. moves to the former Myrick Hixon EcoPark, La Crosse, WI.

2023 |The Nature Place is designated as a division and branded as an environmental education center

2024 | WisCorps rebrands as a division and continues conservation projects throughout the Upper Midwest

2024 | Central Conservation, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation agency launches to support its divisions, The Nature Place and WisCorps

Unity is the way forward.

Each division of Central Conservation holds meaningful opportunities for people to build community and strengthen personal relationships with our Earth.

WisCorps engages the next generation of environmental leaders through guided, hands-on service opportunities that benefit public lands across our region. Its conservation corps program serves the Upper Midwest, complemented by an individual placement program that partners with like-minded organizations throughout the region.

The Nature Place is a nature-focused community center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, dedicated to cultivating meaningful connections between people and nature, for the benefit of both.

We're looking for an Executive Director!

We seek a driven, thoughtful, entrepreneurial leader to guide the organization through a pivotal moment

of growth and lasting impact in the conservation industry.

Meet Our Team

Emily Post

Interim Executive Director

Emily grew up camping with her family all over Wisconsin, which sparked a lifelong love of the outdoors. She moved to La Crosse in 2009 to attend UW-La Crosse and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Environmental Studies. After college, Emily did an SCA AmeriCorps Term with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge. Then, Emily spent two summers working as a ranger for the U.S. National Park Service in Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Parks before starting working for WisCorps in 2015.

Kristy Brown

Administrative Manager

Kristy grew up in Southern WI but spent summers at her grandparents dairy farm in the Driftless Area. She developed a passion for the outdoors, land stewardship and conservation. She attended the UW Madison and moved Sparta. She has a farm and raises llamas and has been installing prairie strips along with woodland management for forest production and wildlife habitat. She enjoys hiking, often with her llamas, and has done sections of the Continental Divide Trail in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. She also enjoys hunting and foraging for mushrooms.

Mary Freybler

Director of Development

Mary grew up in central Wisconsin and attended UW-La Crosse earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Management. Her resume includes: Director of Parks & Recreation, Development Director for the Boy Scouts of America, and Major & Planned Giving Specialist for a medical foundation. These incredible professional experiences have shaped her career in philanthropy and enhanced her desire to build stronger communities.

Matthew Brantner

CFRE, Development Officer

Matthew rejoined the Central Conservation staff as Development Officer, having previously served as Executive Director for 16 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with an environmental science concentration from UW-La Crosse and began his conservation career with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, before returning to Wisconsin in 2009 to launch WisCorps.

Paige Manges

Director of Communications

After ten+ years in the agency world, Paige hung up her Commercial Production hat to find an outdoors-focused organization that would align with her core values, beliefs, and passion for environmental causes. Her goal has always been to use her creativity, connections, and collaborative energy to raise awareness around important causes and initiatives she believes in.

Courtney Hale

Administrative Coordinator

Courtney’s path spans rural Tennessee/Virginia, summers in off-grid Alaska, and studies at UW–Madison in Geography & Environmental Studies. With experience in fieldwork, park services, USDA agriculture, and hospitality, she now serves as an Administrative Assistant in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region, where she continues building her environmental career with Central Conservation.

Meet Our Board

Jess Medema

Board Chair

Jess Medema serves as Board President of Central Conservation. With over 15 years of experience in the financial industry and currently Assistant Vice President of Lending Finance at Altra Federal Credit Union, she brings both expertise and a deep commitment to community impact.

Michael Scott

Board Vice Chair

Michael Scott is a Parent Educator and a member of the Marketing and Outreach team at The Parenting Place. The mission of The Parenting Place aligns closely with the work of Central Conservation, supporting strong families, communities, and connections to place.

Jackie Gerke-Edwards

Board Treasurer

Bio Coming Soon...

Justin T. Reineking

Board Secretary

Justin T. Reineking has spent more than 20 years at State Bank Financial and is passionate about connecting young people to conservation. A longtime La Crosse resident, he values protecting the outdoor spaces that make the Coulee Region special.

Tim Sprain

Board Member

Tim Sprain is a 7th grade teacher and Science Coordinator for the La Crosse School District and a graduate faculty member at UW–La Crosse. A Coulee Region native, he is passionate about education, land stewardship, and the hands-on conservation work championed by WisCorps.

Barbara Thompson

Board Member

Barbra Thompson is a longtime environmental educator and former Outdoor Education Center Coordinator for the West Salem School District. With a degree in Forest Management from UW–Stevens Point, she has dedicated her career to connecting young people with nature and outdoor learning.

Buzz Bocher

Board Member

Buzz Bocher is a founding board member who has supported WisCorps since its inception. A retired environmental studies professor from UW–La Crosse, he is passionate about hands-on conservation work and connecting young people with the outdoors.

Barbara Stelloh

Board Member

Barb is a school counselor and yoga teacher passionate about mental health, mindfulness, and conserving the Driftless Area's natural spaces.

Stacey Everson

Board Member

Stacey Everson, Ed.D., brings 35+ years in education leadership, fostering learning, wellness, community connection, and environmental stewardship.

Amy DuPont

Board Member

Amy DuPont is an award-winning journalist featured on CNN, FOX, and CBS News and a UW–La Crosse graduate. Now Creative Media Manager at Kwik Trip, she brings storytelling expertise and creativity to her work and community.

Lauren Cordy

Board Member

Lauren Cordy is a UW–La Crosse marketing graduate and graphic designer. A former Central Conservation Marketing Fellow, she remains passionate about creativity, community, and connecting people with the natural beauty of the Driftless Region.

Together, let's unify the conservation movement.

Your generosity strengthens the systems that make conservation work possible. Today and for generations to come.