UPCOMING EVENTS AT STATE PARKS, FORESTS, AND TRAILS
WATCHABLE WILDLIFE OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
Check with the park or forest of your choice for additional activities and special events not listed. Most events are free of charge; park admission sticker required unless otherwise noted. Events and times subject to change.
Saturdays, May 10 and June 14, 2008
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Rain Garden Workshop. In this two-part workshop Sharon Morrisey, Milwaukee County University of Wisconsin-Extension Consumer Horticulturist, will show how to create a beautiful yard with native perennial plants while reducing rainwater runoff. Session 1, indoors: The value of rain gardens and rain barrels, site-specific rain garden design and construction, and plants that thrive in rain gardens. Session 2, outdoors: How to lay out a rain garden and prepare the site. Help plant native plants in Havenwoods’ new rain garden. Send name, address, contact information, and check for $6 for the first person in a household and $2 for each additional person to UWEX Rain Garden Workshop, Milwaukee City UWEX, 932 S. 60th Street, West Allis, WI 53214. 9-11 a.m. No admission sticker required.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
• Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo, (608) 356-8301 - Birding Hike. Enjoy one of the park's beast birding spots. Expect to find neotropical migrants, like warblers, grosbeaks and tanagers. Register with University of Wisconsin-Baraboo . Sponsored by UW-Baraboo/Sauk County Continuing Education. Messenger Creek. 8-10 a.m.
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Discovery Saturday: Borrow Some Binoculars. The birds are starting to migrate, so borrow some binoculars from us and do some bird watching. You’ll also have a chance to make your own super-duper outdoor lookers. Drop in anytime 9 a.m. - noon. No admission sticker required.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Southern Unit, Eagle, (262) 594-6200 - Volunteer Work Day. Help build some technical, challenging and environmentally sustainable mountain bike trails in the Kettle Moraine. Work gloves, long pants, long sleeve shirts and bottled water are recommended. We will supply tools, expertise and guaranteed fun! If the weather looks questionable, check the Trail Information Line (262) 594-6202 on Friday to make sure the work day is not canceled. Meet at the John Muir parking lot at 8:30 a.m. and work from 9 a.m. - noon.
• Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - National Astronomy Day. Celebrate National Astronomy Day with "Search the Sky with the Naked Eye" presentation by the Glovers, followed by telescope viewing courtesy of Rustic Skies Astronomy and Plymouth Star Gazers. Please dress warmly; bring blanket or chair. No pets allowed. Bath house building. 7-10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, May 10-11, 2008
• Crex Meadows Wildlife Area Grantsburg, 715-463-CREX (2739) - Spring bird festival. This event coincides with the peak of the spring bird migration and International Migratory Bird Day. The event begins 5 p.m. Saturday with a presentation on the Birds of Crex, followed by a birding tour through Crex Meadows to watch the sun set over the refuge. Sunday leads off with the “Crex Specialty” tour from 4 to 7 a.m. and the “Early Bird Special” tour from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Space is limited for the two early morning tours and reservations are required. Buses leave the education center at 10 a.m. and noon for ninety minute birding tours of Crex Meadows and Fish Lake Wildlife Areas. Reservations are not required for the bus tours but a nominal donation is requested to cover the cost of bus rental. Various birding related programs are scheduled throughout the day. Tag along with bird bander, Bruce Bacon, as he tends the “mist nets” and bands a variety of songbirds. Chris Cold, a wildlife biologist, will be on hand, along with several live birds, for a program on raptors. Wildlife photographers Dale Bohlke and John LaMere will share their favorite images of Crex during their program called “Birds and Light.” For more information, or to reserve a spot on the Early Bird Tour, call or visit the Frriends of Crex Meadows Web site at: crexmeadows.org (exit DNR).
Sunday, May 11, 2008
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Mother's Day Wildflower Hike. Show Mom (or anyone special) a bouquet they will always remember. Bring your camera to take the memories, not the flowers, home. Trail is rough and wet. Meet at the Visitor Center but prepare to drive. 2-4 p.m.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Adopt a Highway. Help pick up litter along the highway in front of the park. You must be at least 12 years old. Equipment provided. Sponsored by Bong Naturalist Association . Meet at the Visitor Center. 6 -7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5607 - Knee-High Naturalist. Explore nature with a child. Bring your 3-5 year old to this fun and involving nature program. A new topic every month! Dress to go outside. Visitor Center. 10 -11:30 a.m.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
• Havenwoods State Forest, (414) 527-0232 - One Wild Saturday Morning Drop-in: Fabulous Frogs. Spring is time to listen to the frogs sing. Drop in and listen to some frog calls, meet some live frogs, make a frog to take home, and much more. Environmental Awareness Center. 9 a.m. - noon. No admission sticker required.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Southern Unit, Eagle, (262) 594-6200 - Volunteer Work Day. Help build some technical, challenging and environmentally sustainable mountain bike trails in the Kettle Moraine. Work gloves, long pants, long sleeve shirts and bottled water are recommended. We will supply tools, expertise and guaranteed fun! If the weather looks questionable, check the Trail Information Line (262) 594-6202 on Friday to make sure the work day is not canceled. Meet at the John Muir parking lot at 8:30 a.m. and work from 9 a.m. - noon.
• Pattison State Park, Superior, (800) 254-7944 - 2008 Greentouch Program. Community volunteer day at Pattison State Park. Paint picnic tables, do trail work, pick up litter, and clean up the picnic grounds. East Central Energy will provide lunch. Sponsored by East Central Energy. Meet at the Shelter Building. 9 a.m. - noon.
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Camping 101. Learn what equipment you need and how to make camping fun and safe whether you are car camping or backpacking. Meet at the Amphitheater. 10:30 a.m. - noon. Bird Migration Hike. Experience the magic of migration. Bring your binoculars and we will try to spot newly-arrived birds, especially warblers. Trail may be wet. Meet at the Vista Picnic Area. 7-9 a.m.
• Rock Island State Park, Washington Island, (920) 847-2235 - Lighthouse Sesquicentennial Celebration. Rock Island’s Pottawatomie Lighthouse is 150 Years Old! join us for cake and refreshments. Washington Island musician Julian Hagen will perform, commemorative lighthouse items will be for sale, and there'll be a raffle for an original lighthouse painting and a handmade lighthouse quilt. Sponsored by Friends of Rock Island. Lighthouse grounds, or in case of inclement weather, Jackson Harbor Ranger Station on Washington Island. 1 p.m. Lighthouse Sesquicentennial Banquet. Dinner, lighthouse favors, and a chance to win door prizes. Space is limited to the first 120 people who sign up. Send a check for $25 per person payable to Friends of Rock Island to Jeanell Dailey, treasurer, 526 Clemons Ave., Madison WI 53704, by April 15. Sponsored by Friends of Rock Island. Karly's, Washington Island. 5:30 p.m.
• Sandhill Wildlife Area, Babcock, (715) 884-6333 or (715) 884-2437 - Frogging. Learn more about Wisconsin’s marshland frogs and toads and their ecology from a herpetologist ( specialist in amphibians and reptiles). Dan Nedrelo will talk about the status of Wisconsin frogs and toads and then lead a search for the croakers in their marshland homes. Hip boots are required and are available upon request. Bring a meal and refreshments if desired. Register by mailing $20 per person by May 9 to Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center, PO Box 156, Babcock, WI 54413. Outdoor Skills Center, 20 miles west of Wisconsin Rapids on County Highway X, 1 mile north of Highway 80 near Babcock.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
• La Crosse River State Trail, Ontario, (608) 337-4775 - Always on a Sunday: Prairie Walk . Here's your chance to learn about native wildflowers and grasses on this remnant of railroad prairie. A leisurely walk on level terrain. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat to block the sun. Enjoy the afternoon along the trail with local columnist and naturalist, Bob Lee! Downy phlox, hoary pucoon, columbine, bird's-foot violet, and great Solomon's seal are likely to be in bloom. Meet at the trail crossing on Commercial St. (County Highway J) in Rockland. 1:30 p.m.
