Research Facilities, Lodging, and Amenities
Short- and long-term lodging is available at Upham Woods to individuals and groups with programs consistent with the center’s mission:
“Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center provides educational opportunities to youth, youth leaders, and adults through programs focused on environmental and leadership education.”
Lodging
| Researcher Affiliation | Daily | Weekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| UW-Madison | $18.00 | $112.00 | $480.00 |
| UW-System | $20.00 | $126.00 | $540.00 |
| Non-UW System | $22.00 | $140.00 | $600.00 |
These rates assume that users from the same group will share lodging spaces (Dorms: 2 per room, Cabins; 1 per bunk). Groups or individuals who request exclusive use of Upham Woods facilities will be required to pay for the entire lodging space requested, not just the beds used.
Upham offers three levels of lodging: the dorm, cabins, and tent camping.
Dorms
The dorm has two levels of 13 rooms total. Each room contains two bunk beds and two single beds, so can house up to 6 (maximum capacity 78). Each floor has a restroom with shared shower/bathroom facilities, with an additional ADA accessible restroom on the first floor and two single occupancy restrooms in the basement. Two additional gathering spaces for 20 to 40 occupancy are located in the basement with the larger room equipped with a TV and ability to connect to computers. The building is ADA accessible and wireless internet is available throughout.
Cabins
The six cabins range in occupancy from a maximum of 14 to 30 with 7-15 bunk beds per cabin (total capacity 134). Cabins have heat and electricity. A central gathering room contains a table, chairs, and a wood stove. A separate bathhouse contains men’s and women’s restrooms and showers. A separate, heated bathhouse contains 14 toilets and 8 showers, all of which are private and have lockable doors.
Tent Camping
The campus contains several non-electric campsite areas where tents can be set up. Options include on top of cabin hill in close proximity to the bathhouse; behind and in close proximity to the Nature Center (campfire ring and pavilion also available), and on the north side of Blackhawk Island (campfire ring available, but no restroom facilities).
Facilities
Lab/Office Space
| Researcher Affiliation | Daily | Weekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| UW-Madison | $7.00 | $35.00 | $150.00 |
| UW-System | $9.00 | $49.00 | $210.00 |
| Non-UW System | $11.00 | $63.00 | $270.00 |
The Peters Nature Center contains four multi-purpose classrooms/meeting rooms with capacities of 20, 40, 20, and 20 people, two bathrooms, and an animal husbandry room housing several amphibians and reptiles for educational programming. Each multi-purpose room is equipped with large screen televisions with equipment to connect to personal computers. Wireless internet is available in this building.
The Upper Dells Education and Research Center (UDERC) completed in 2021 includes meeting spaces for 10-60 people, a catering kitchen with a refrigerator, and large monitors to display materials. The building is ADA accessible and wireless internet is available throughout. There is additional office space for 2-6 people, depending on season.
The two-story Main Lodge contains 2 meeting spaces including a large banquet room with a capacity of 200 and conference room with a capacity of 20; 3 bathrooms; a first-aid office; and a dining hall with the capacity to feed 150 people using a contracted food service vendor. Both meeting rooms have a projector and equipment to connect to a computer. The building is ADA accessible and wireless internet is available throughout.
There are three parking areas available year round with the capacity to hold 120 vehicles total.
Equipment
The following equipment is available at Upham Woods:
Land Management:
- Gas post auger
- 2 wire-feed welders
- Electric pole saw
- 4 chainsaws with PPB
- 30 loppers
- 7 bow saws
- 13 McLeods
- 3 pick mattocks/2 cutter mattocks
- 8 rakes
- 50 work gloves
- 50 hardhats
Aquatic Access:
- 24 canoes
- Canoe trailer
- 17 kayaks
- Kayak trailer
- 16′ John boat (capacity of 5)
- row boat (capacity of 3)
- 34′ Voyageur canoe (capacity of 18)
- 25′ pontoon (capacity of 15)
Amenities
- WiFi is available throughout the majority of mainland Upham Woods (cabin hill does not have internet access)
- Business center – print, copy, scan
- Laundry facilities available
- Office space
