Pearl Pohl | Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame

1887 – 1982
Inducted 1991

“We have a good earth – let us use it intelligently. ” ~ Pearl Pohl

For Pearl Pohl, conservation was a way of life, something to be taught early and practiced always. A native of Milwaukee, she combined her dedication to conservation with a career in elementary education there. She pioneered the concept of outdoor field trips, studying soil conservation on farms, observing forest firefighting demonstrations and planting trees in the Kettle Moraine. She involved sixth graders in writing letters to Congress with their environmental concerns.

Pohl joined the Izaak Walton League when it was first formed in 1922 and worked with the state division’s Education Committee. Among its successes was securing legislation in 1936 to make environmental education mandatory in Wisconsin schools.

She was active wherever environmental issues were at stake. Pohl fought to preserve the Flambeau River State Forest, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Namekagon River. She lobbied to keep “wild and scenic” designations for the Namekagon and Wolf rivers. She took a special interest in Menominee Indian Reservation concerns, reforestation projects and watershed management.

In 1952, Pohl became president of the Milwaukee Chapter of the Izaak Walton League. In 1960, she organized the LaBudde Memorial Chapter of the league, the only women’s chapter in the state, in honor of her friend, conservationist Wilhelmine LaBudde (WCHF Inductee).

After retiring in 1953, Pohl continued to employ her valuable leadership abilities in crusading for the environment. She was named to the governor’s committee to Keep Wisconsin Clean and Beautiful in 1956, which resulted in an effective statewide anti-litter campaign and new legislation.

Described as charitable, magnanimous and direct, Pohl had a gift for garnering support. She founded and chaired for nearly 20 years the Young Wisconsin Conservationists. She was a founding member of the Wisconsin Council for Conservation Education.

In 1970, at the age of 80, she directed a drive to establish the Environmental Education Council of Greater Milwaukee and became its vice president.

Walter Scott (a 1995 Hall of Fame inductee) of the Wisconsin Conservation Department said this of Pearl Pohl: “Her enthusiasm has encouraged others to follow her good direction, and conservation in Wisconsin and the nation both have moved forward as a result of her efforts.”