Kids’ Guide to Leave No Trace at Lakeshore State Park
Every family visit to Lakeshore State Park is a chance to take great care of Milwaukee’s urban oasis for everyone to enjoy!
When your family explores the trails, watches birds by the lagoon, or enjoys a picnic with Lake Michigan as your backdrop, you’re part of something special. Lakeshore State Park belongs to all of us, and that means we all get to be its caretakers. The Leave No Trace principles help families like yours make sure this beautiful space stays healthy and welcoming for every visitor who comes after you.
Think of Leave No Trace as your guide for outdoor adventures. These seven simple principles turn every park visit into an opportunity to care for nature while having amazing experiences together.
Principle 1: Plan Ahead & Prepare
Be the family that’s ready for anything!
Before you head to the park, spend a few minutes planning your adventure. Check the weather forecast and dress in layers—Lake Michigan can create surprising breezes! Pack everything you’ll need, including plenty of water, snacks, and a small bag for any trash you create.
Family Planning Tips:
- Bring reusable water bottles for everyone
- Pack snacks in containers you can take home
- Check park hours and any special events happening
- Let kids help choose which trails to explore using the park map
Planning ahead means more time for fun and less time worrying about forgotten essentials.
Principle 2: Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Stick to the paths and protect the plants!
Lakeshore State Park’s trails and designated areas are designed to handle lots of visitors while protecting the prairie plants and lakefront habitat. When your family stays on marked trails and uses established picnic areas, you’re helping preserve the native plants that make this urban park so special.
Trail Adventures for Kids:
- Make it a game to spot the trail markers and stay on path
- Teach kids to look for the “hidden highways” that animals use (but we don’t!)
- Use boardwalks and viewing platforms to get close to wetland areas safely
- Choose picnic tables and benches rather than sitting on fragile prairie plants
Your footsteps matter—every step on the trail helps protect the plants growing alongside it.
Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out—leave only smiles behind!
Everything your family and friends bring to the park should come home with you, and you might even find some litter left by others that you can help clean up too.
Garbage Guardian:
- Give each child their own small bag for collecting their own trash
- Make a game of finding and properly disposing of litter (with adult help)
- Use the park’s recycling bins correctly
- Pack out banana peels, apple cores, and other food scraps—they don’t belong in urban parks
Remember: even “natural” waste like orange peels can take months to decompose and attract unwanted wildlife to areas where they shouldn’t be foraging.
Principle 4: Leave What You Find
Take pictures, not souvenirs!
Lakeshore State Park is full of treasures—interesting rocks, beautiful feathers, colorful shells from Lake Michigan’s shore. While it’s natural to want to take these home, leaving them in the park means other visitors can discover and enjoy them too.
Natural Treasure Hunters:
- Take photos of cool finds instead of taking the objects
- Create nature journals with drawings of discoveries
- Use the park’s educational signs to learn about what you’re seeing
- Remember that shells, rocks, and driftwood are homes and tools for park wildlife
Every rock, stick, and shell plays a role in the park’s ecosystem. When we leave them where we found them, we’re helping maintain the natural balance that makes Lakeshore State Park a thriving habitat in the heart of Milwaukee.
Principle 5: Minimize Campfire Impacts
Undertanding fire safety in the Park!
Lakeshore State Park doesn’t allow campfires or portable stoves to keep everyone safe and protect this urban natural space. This principle reminds us why fire restrictions exist and how we can still enjoy outdoor meals safely.
Safe Family Fun:
- Pack cold lunches and snacks that don’t need heating (Grilling is strictly prohibited)
- Use the park’s picnic tables for comfortable outdoor dining
- Bring insulated containers to keep cold drinks cold and avoid needing ice
- Understand that fire restrictions protect both visitors and wildlife in this urban setting
Even though we can’t have fires at Lakeshore State Park, we can still enjoy amazing outdoor meals together while keeping everyone safe and protecting this special place.
Principle 6: Respect Wildlife
Share the space with your wild neighbors!
Lakeshore State Park is home to birds, fish, small mammals, and countless insects that call this urban oasis home. Teaching children to observe wildlife from a distance helps protect both the animals and your family.
Wildlife Watching with Kids:
- Bring binoculars for better views from a respectful distance
- Never feed birds, ducks, or other wildlife—it makes them sick and dependent
- Keep voices low near wildlife viewing areas
- Stay on trails to avoid disturbing nesting areas
- Take photos instead of trying to get closer
The birds and other creatures in the park are wild animals, even in this urban setting. Respecting their space helps them thrive and gives your friends and family better opportunities to observe natural behaviors.
Principle 7: Be Considerate of Others
Make everyone feel welcome!
Lakeshore State Park brings together visitors from all over Milwaukee and beyond. Being considerate means everyone gets to enjoy the peaceful, natural experience they came for.
Thoughtful Family Visitors:
- Keep music and voices at levels that don’t disturb others
- Share popular spots like the lighthouse viewing area
- Clean up picnic areas completely when you’re done
- Be patient and friendly when trails are busy
- Help younger children understand park etiquette
When visitors are considerate of each other, everyone leaves with positive memories and a desire to return.
Growing Future Park Caretakers
Every time your family practices Leave No Trace principles at Lakeshore State Park, you’re doing more than protecting nature—you’re raising children who understand their role as environmental caretakers. These lessons learned by Lake Michigan will travel with your kids to every outdoor adventure they have throughout their lives.
The principles might seem simple, but their impact is profound. When children learn to plan ahead, respect wildlife, and leave places better than they found them, they develop the mindset needed to tackle larger environmental challenges as they grow up.
Your Park, Your Legacy
Lakeshore State Park exists because people like you believe Milwaukee deserves access to nature, environmental education, and outdoor recreation right in the heart of our city. By practicing Leave No Trace principles, your family becomes part of the solution—ensuring this remarkable urban park remains healthy, beautiful, and welcoming for generations to come.
Every family visit is an opportunity to model environmental stewardship, create lasting memories, and contribute to the legacy of this special place. When you pack out your trash, stay on trails, and respect wildlife, you’re not just following rules—you’re actively participating in the care and protection of Milwaukee’s premier urban natural space.
Pack your sense of adventure, bring your curiosity, and get ready to be park heroes. Lakeshore State Park is waiting for your family’s next Leave No Trace adventure!
