Welcome to the SWS 2009 Joint Meeting Website

CONFERENCE LOCATION

Madison, Wisconsin, is a vibrant city that features the best of all worlds: natural beauty and outdoor recreation, stimulating cultural offerings, distinctive restaurants and shops, and an irreverent spirit of fun. Built on an isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota, Madison is renowned for its beautiful scenery. A total of five area lakes and more than 260 city parks create the perfect setting for an abundance of year-round outdoor activities, from hiking, biking, swimming and sailing in the summer to cross-country skiing, snow sailing, and ice fishing in the winter. For more information about all that Madison has to offer, visit the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site. Also see the list of fun things to do in Madison below.

Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center, the 2009 meeting facility, embraces the shore of picturesque Lake Monona in the heart of downtown Madison. Designed by Wisconsin native Frank Lloyd Wright, Monona Terrace provides not only comfortable meeting spaces, but also organic architecture that is expressed in dramatic open spaces, circular forms and breathtaking lake views. Water is a key feature of both the City of Madison and the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is flanked by Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the Upper Mississippi River, and the state's watersheds are speckled with lakes, striped with streams and rivers, and dotted with wetlands. Madison and the state of Wisconsin have a rich history of leadership in wetland and watershed science and protection that continues to flourish today.

Wisconsin Wetlands Association (WWA), co-host of this year's conference, is a part of that rich history with decades of involvement in wetland protection and conservation that began locally in Madison and grew to a statewide mission. WWA is one of few, if not the only, organizations working on a statewide level that focuses solely on wetlands. WWA is dedicated to the protection, restoration and enjoyment of wetlands and associated ecosystems through science-based programs, education and advocacy. Wisconsin is blessed with a large diversity and abundance of wetland ecosystems - learn about Wisconsin's wetlands here.

For more information about all that Wisconsin has to offer, visit TravelWisconsin.com.

The conference will focus plenty on the serious issues of wetland connections. Give your mind a break and come early (or stay late) and enjoy the City of Madison. A former Wisconsin governor once described Madison as "78 square miles surrounded by reality." (And we're proud of that.)

It is always warm and sunny in June when it is not thunder-storming. Rent a bike or in-line skates at the nearby Williamson Bikes & Fitness store - walking distance from the conference. Beautiful bike, skate and walking path runs right by the conference along the shore of Lake Monona. Madison tops the list of bike-friendly cities... rent a helmet too.
Downtown Madison sits on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona. Rent a kayak from Carl & John's Paddles or Rutabaga or a canoe from the UW Memorial Union. Catch and release fish from the bike path or fishing piers in front of the conference. Swim at local parks, dive off the Memorial Union pier, or take a cruise on a Betty Lou Cruise.
Tour the State Capitol Building. Built 18 inches shorter than the US Capitol, it's the tallest state capitol. It houses the Governor's Office, state Supreme Court and both houses of the legislature and offers tours on the hour. Be sure to rub Bucky Badger's nose for good luck. He sits right outside of the Governor's Office.
Shop on pedestrian-friendly State Street running between the State Capitol and the University. Lots of independent bookstores, college gear and many unique shops will capture your imagination and gift budget. Stop in the Overture Center for the Arts for a little culture.
Eat well. For a town of its size (about 200,000) Madison is home to an extraordinary number of reasonably priced, excellent restaurants. Many are ethnic and on State Street. Sure, you can down a brat and a beer at State Street Brats (ranked as top sports bar and grill in a state that knows about such things).
Drink beers. The UW Memorial Union, the Angelic Brewery and Great Dane Pub (two of the downtown brewpubs) and for European draught the Brocach (Badger Den) Irish Pub on the square and the Come Back Inn & Essen Haus a short walk east on 'Willy' street from the conference.
Graze the Farmer's Market. Largest producer-only farmer's market in the country. Open on Saturdays around the Capitol square and Wednesdays between the conference center and the Capitol.
Nature in the city: Olbrich Botanical Gardens or the UW Arboretum (Joy Zedler's lab) or visit a rain forest at the free Henry Vilas Zoo.
Tours anyone? Frank Lloyd Wright: one of Wisconsin's greatest products. He provided the basic design for the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center. Madison is also home to his renowned First Unitarian Church. Tour Madison Children Museum or War Memorial Museum on the Capitol Square.
"Baseball Like it Oughta Be!" Madison Mallards play the Brainerd Blue Thunder of Battle Creek on the Duck Pond at Madison's Warner Park.
Go to the theater: American Players Theater and MadStage Theater
Partake of other downtown Madison events:

Society of Wetland Scientists

Welcome to the SWS 2009 Joint Meeting Website

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