Letters to the Editor (LTE) are one of the most effective ways you can show support for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. They influence public opinion, reach decision-makers, and inspire your neighbors to care about protecting Wisconsin’s outdoors. Newspapers publish LTEs because they showcase authentic community voices — and legislators notice when constituents speak out.
Whether you’re passionate about clean water, local parks, or Wisconsin’s outdoor economy, your voice matters. Below you’ll find a sample letter, suggested paragraphs you can mix and match, and tips to help you craft a message that is both personal and persuasive.
What is a Letter to the Editor?
A Letter to the Editor is a short piece, usually 200–250 words, written by community members and submitted to local newspapers. LTEs respond to current events, highlight community priorities, or call attention to issues being debated by lawmakers. They are among the most widely read sections of the paper and provide a direct way to engage both the public and elected officials.
Getting Started
A great LTE is short, personal, and persuasive. Think of it as a mini-story: start with a strong opening that explains why Wisconsin’s outdoors matter to you, add one or two clear supporting points — such as economic benefits, broad public support, or local impacts — and close with a call-to-action urging legislators to renew and robustly fund the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Keeping your letter personal and focused makes it more likely to catch the attention of both editors and readers.
Some tips to keep in mind as you write:
- Keep it short. Most papers prefer 200–250 words.
- Be personal. Lead with your connection to Wisconsin’s outdoors — family traditions, favorite parks or trails, clean water, hunting, fishing, or health.
- Stay respectful. LTEs should be firm but civil—aim to persuade your neighbors, not attack opponents.
- Make it timely. Letters are most effective when they respond to current events or recent news.
- Choose your message. Feel free to use 1–2 of the modular paragraphs provided below (polling, economy, local impact, etc.) to back up your story.
- End strong. Close with a clear call to action urging legislators to renew and robustly fund Knowles-Nelson.
Submitting Your Letter
Most newspapers accept LTEs through online forms or by email. Include your name, city, and contact information for verification. Keep your letter concise — editors may shorten it for length or clarity.
After You Submit
If your letter is published, share it on social media, tag your legislators, and tag Team Knowles Nelson! Sharing expands your impact and shows decision-makers that people across Wisconsin support conservation.
Even if your letter isn’t published, submitting it still matters. It signals strong civic engagement and helps keep Knowles-Nelson visible in public discourse. Encourage friends and family to write their own LTEs using this toolkit.
Inspiration & Examples
Sample Letter
Here’s a full LTE example you can use as a starting point. Adapt it with your own voice and story.
Wisconsin has long been a national leader in conservation thanks to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Since 1989, this bipartisan program has protected more than 650,000 acres, built trails and campgrounds, improved local parks, and safeguarded the lakes and rivers that make our state special.
But for the first time ever, legislators left Knowles-Nelson out of the state budget. Without swift action, funding will lapse and Wisconsin will lose its most important tool for conserving land and water for future generations.
This is not a partisan issue. Over 90% of Wisconsin voters—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike—support continuing Knowles-Nelson. Voters recognize that stewardship supports jobs in tourism, forestry, and outdoor recreation, while also ensuring clean water and wildlife habitat. In fact, lands protected through Knowles-Nelson return $2.5 billion in value to Wisconsinites every year through flood protection, water purification, and recreation.
Now legislators must pass stand-alone legislation to renew the program. The choice is clear: invest in the land, water, and outdoor spaces that define Wisconsin, or allow a proud bipartisan legacy to wither.
I urge lawmakers to come together—Republicans and Democrats alike—and reauthorize Knowles-Nelson with robust funding and transparent, accountable oversight. Let’s keep Wisconsin a place where our kids and grandkids can enjoy clean water, healthy forests, and the great outdoors.
Your Name
Hometown, WI
Plug-and-Play Letter Builder
Use these ready-to-go paragraphs to add facts, figures, and context that strengthen your letter.
Polling Results
Knowles-Nelson isn’t controversial—it’s overwhelmingly popular. More than 90% of Wisconsin voters, across party lines and across the state, want legislators to continue funding land, water, and wildlife conservation. Even among self-identified MAGA Republicans, 80% say they support renewing the program. When it comes to clean water, wildlife, and outdoor spaces, Wisconsinites stand united.
Return on Investment from Nature’s Work
Every dollar we invest in Knowles-Nelson pays us back many times over. Lands protected through the program generate $2.5 billion annually through the work nature does for us every day—clean water, flood protection, carbon storage, recreation, and more. That means Wisconsin’s modest investment over the last 30 years is doubled in value every single year. Stewardship is not just conservation—it’s smart economics.
Projects in Every County
No matter where you live in Wisconsin, Knowles-Nelson has made a difference. Projects have been completed in all 72 counties, from boat launches in the Northwoods to trails in Milwaukee. In fact, 90% of Wisconsin households are within a mile of a Stewardship investment. This program is for everyone, everywhere.
Outdoor Recreation Economy
Outdoor recreation is a powerful economic engine in Wisconsin. It generates $11.2 billion annually and supports more than 96,000 jobs across the state. By funding local trails, parks, and campgrounds, Knowles-Nelson helps attract visitors, strengthen small businesses, and improve quality of life for residents. Protecting our land and water is also protecting our economy.
Leveraging Philanthropy
Knowles-Nelson doubles Wisconsin’s conservation impact by requiring matching funds for every grant. Local governments and nonprofits bring private donations, local revenues, and federal dollars to the table. That means every dollar invested by the state is multiplied—stretching taxpayer money further and ensuring broad community support for every project.
Health Benefits
Knowles-Nelson doesn’t just protect land and water—it protects our health. Studies show that regular exercise outdoors lowers the risk of diabetes and heart disease, reduces anxiety, and improves creativity. By funding trails, parks, and natural areas close to home, Stewardship helps keep Wisconsin families healthier and reduces costly health problems.
Bipartisan Legacy
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is named for two governors—Republican Warren Knowles and Democrat Gaylord Nelson—who shared a vision for Wisconsin’s future. For over 30 years, Democrats and Republicans have worked together to protect our land, water, and wildlife. Renewing Knowles-Nelson today means honoring that bipartisan legacy and continuing a tradition that unites, rather than divides, Wisconsin.
Failing to Act / What’s at Stake
If legislators fail to reauthorize Knowles-Nelson, Wisconsin will lose its most important tool for conserving land and water. Funding is set to lapse, and with it, opportunities to protect forests, wetlands, and recreation areas. Once these special places are gone, we can’t get them back. The cost of inaction is far greater than the modest investment required to keep this proud program alive.
See What Others Have Written
Browse previously published LTEs from Wisconsinites across the state for more inspiration.
Wisconsin lags behind its neighbors in protected land. We can’t lose any more. | Opinion
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel opinion piece warns that with Knowles-Nelson funding in jeopardy, Wisconsin could lose more of the conservation progress that has protected parks, trails, and public lands statewide.
Letter | Fund Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
Platteville angler urges lawmakers to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, calling it essential for protecting Wisconsin’s trout streams and outdoor economy.
Reader Opinion: Protect public lands
Solon Springs resident urges lawmakers to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, calling it a unifying, bipartisan investment that protects Wisconsin’s land, water, and outdoor heritage.
Letter to the Editor: Fight for Wisconsin’s Conservation Legacy Isn’t Over
In this Letter to the Editor, citizens urge continued pressure on legislators after the state budget left the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund unfunded, putting Wisconsin’s conservation legacy at risk.
Printable Guide
Prefer a printable version? Download this full guide as a PDF to keep handy as you draft.
Featured image by Esra Afşar, 2025
