Conservancy for Healing and Heritage
Conservancy for Healing and Heritage
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Conservancy for Healing and Heritage

Conservancy for Healing and Heritage Conservancy for Healing and Heritage Conservancy for Healing and Heritage

Mission Video



Donations Wanted!

We had an amazing Chill & Grill Event on August 22.  Attendees at Blue Mound Golf & Country Club and virtually from home enjoyed raffles, 50/50 games and a delicious summertime grill meal.  Over $25,000 raised towards the $100,000 goal for the Educational Pier/Observation Deck.


Donations still accepted NOW.  

DONATE

NEW! WISN Newstalk 1130 AM -- Bank Five Nine interview

 Becky Miller, of Bank Five Nine,  talks with Susan Rabe, the Executive Director and CEO of The Conservancy for Healing and Heritage in Franklin, WI. Listen to find out more about this community space and how you can help support its completion and programs.  

NEW! The Morning Blend

Special feature on April 28, 2020

Ellenbecker Investment Group interview

Featured on "Milwaukee's Philanthropic Community"

Listen to our latest interview aired on March 15, 2020 on News Talk WISN 1130 AM.  You'll hear why our mission is so important in the community and learn how our partnership with the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance is making a positive difference.

1130 WISN radio "Valor Latino" show

Interview featuring Executive Director and CEO Susan Rabe on the Valor Latino program hosted by Perfecto Rivera.

The Morning Blend

Featured on the June 17, 2019 Morning Blend episode on Today

Today's TMJ4 "Conservancy helps people find their zen"

READ IT HERE

Conservancy Offers a Place for Healing  

We Energies Foundation names Healing Garden with $500,000 sponsorship

Story here

NEW! $125,000 anonymous Challenge Grant awarded

An anonymous donor has awarded a $125,000 challenge grant to the Conservancy. They hope it inspires others to match their $125,000 and finish the final $1 million we need to complete the Nature Trails and Healing Garden.  

ABOUT THE CONSERVANCY

A healing chapel in the woods, a healing garden, nature trails, and a glacier lake.

Welcome to the Conservancy 


Located in Franklin, WI,  the Conservancy for Healing and Heritage is a 36-acre parcel of land in southeastern Wisconsin that features a rare combination of ecosystems. This unique piece of land is Milwaukee County’s only kettle and glacier lake. This sacred land, with a connection to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, for the first time will be open free to the public.   


We are protecting this natural habitat while creating shared spaces for comfort, spiritual inspiration, healing and education. The Nature Trails, Healing Garden, Healing Chapel in the Woods, and Kopmeier Lake (also known as Priest's Lake) are surrounded by forestland with a history going back to the settlement of greater Milwaukee in the 19th century.  The lake is flanked by a steep glacial moraine covered in mesic hardwoods. The forest floor is alive with wildflowers in the spring and mushrooms in the fall.  


We honor the heritage and mission of the owners before us. 


  

Ice-Age History

The land was born of the Ice Age. Carved by glaciers that created a steep gravel ridge which then retreated, leaving behind an enormous block of ice buried in the outwash. That mammoth cube melted to become a 35 ft deep spring fed lake.  


1889 - Kopmeier Family purchases the land

1955 - They donate land to Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Archdiocese utilizes land and lake for retreats, rest and rejuvenation. We continue that tradition today and forever.

2003 - Conservancy becomes an independent 501(c)3

2005 - Conservancy purchases 36 acres including Kopmeier Lake and the surrounding woodland and wetland

2016 - Reiman Healing Chapel in the Woods is opened to the public

2017 - Initial clearing of the Healing Garden and upper Trail

2018 - Phase II initial work on the Healing Garden and Healing Chapel upgrades begins

2020 - the majority of the We Energies Foundation Healing Garden is completed.  The two observation decks and stairs are completed on the Healing Trails



The lake and the land around it is protected from future development forever. 


Be a Partner! Be a Sponsor!

Partnerships mean the Conservancy is serving our community in spiritual, health and well being and education. (Imagine all that will be happening when it's complete!)


Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Franklin High School

The Nature Conservancy

Archdiocese of Milwaukee - Office of Worship

Ascension Healthcare

Reiman Cancer Center

St. Alphonsus Parish - Greendale

St. Mary's Parish - Hales Corners

Aurora Women's Pavilion

Faith Community Church 

Milwaukee County Parks

Badgerland Birding

Franklin Business Park Consortium

Everyday Wellness

WI Department of Natural Resources

.....and more 


Sponsor the Conservancy or the Lake & Nature Trails. 

BE A HERO! Help us finish by Summer 2021.  

Funds raised is $5.0 million with $500,000 needed to complete.  ​ 

​
A memorial or honorarium is a way to recognize a family member or friend.

No gift is too small. To find out ways you can help click the button below.


sPONsor and support here

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Steve Jagler "C-Level" column

Franklin forest will become public healing garden with the help of business leaders.  

view article here

WUWM radio article and audio story featuring Franklin High School students

Read and listen here

LATEST NEWS

Click on the links below for our latest news

Click on the links below for our latest news

Click on the links below for our latest news

The Business Journal 

Biz Times

 OnMilwaukee

Milwaukee Independent 

The Waukesha Freeman 


Click on the links below for our latest news

Click on the links below for our latest news


 “Viewing forest landscapes, for even short periods of time, has relaxing effects such as lower blood pressure and heart rate.”    

               -- Nature Sacred

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Hear first about our latest news and events!

Help Our Cause

Your support will enable us to meet our goals of completing the Educational pier and observation deck as part of the Healing Lake & Nature Trails.  Funds given will also support wellness and environmental education programs.

Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

Find Us

The Conservancy can be accessed from the parking lot of the Ascension Medical building on 

S. 74th and W. Rawson Avenue in Franklin, WI.  Drive to the far end of the parking lot -- the Reiman Healing Chapel is on the right. The Reiman Cancer Center is on the left.


The entire Conservancy is situated between W. Rawson Avenue on the south, W. Loomis Road on the north, and between S. 74th and S. 68th.

Where is the Conservancy?

Copyright © 2018 Conservancy for Healing and Heritage - All Rights Reserved.

  PO Box 320305

  Franklin WI 53132

  414.510.4771


  • Chill & Grill
  • Healing Chapel
  • Healing Garden
  • Lake and Nature Trails
  • Ways to help
  • Programs and Events
  • Leadership
  • Contact us
  • Shop