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.
Friday, October 2, 2009
? Capital Springs State Recreation Area, Madison, (608) 224-3606 anglers- Harvest Moon Fall Festival. Enjoy a night out with the family under the harvest moon. Take a stroll on a illuminated trail, stargaze with the University of Wisconsin's popular Universe in the Parks program. Enjoy numerous interpretive presentations along the illumined trail on Wisconsin small mammals, bats, wolves and more. Bid on a silent auction item, listen to bluegrass music around a howling campfire while roasting s'mores with the kids. Smokey Bear is planning on attending. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Sponsored by Friends of Capital Springs State Park and Recreation Area. Lussier Family Heritage Center. 6-9 p.m.
? Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 anglers- Nature Storytime: Night Eyes. Red, yellow, green and white eyes. Whose eyes do we see at night? Join us as we find out what animals' eyes are open while ours are closed. This hour of nature fun awaits 3- to 6-year-olds with accompanying adults. Ice Age Visitor Center. 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
? Council Grounds State Park, Merrill, (715) 536-8773 - Candlelight Hike. Come enjoy a fall candlelight hike at Council Grounds from 7 to 10 p.m. Refreshments will be available for purchase at the Shelter House. All proceeds go to the Friends of Council Grounds State Park.
? Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 anglers- Family Hike: Autumn Leaves. The trees are full of bright colors this time of year. Join us on a leaf hunt to find the largest, most colorful, smallest, or reddest. Spend an hour on a family-friendly hike through Havenwoods. We'll use magnifiers, binoculars, and super-duper outdoor lookers to spend the morning in nature. 10:30-11:30 a.m.
? Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 anglers- Exploring Nature: Let's Go Nutty! Round and smooth, oval and sticky, nuts come in all shapes, sizes and textures. We'll explore the autumn woods for nuts and learn from what trees and shrubs they came. There may be even some tasty nut treats to try. This program is best for families/groups with children between the ages of 5 and 12 years. Ice Age Visitor Center. 9:30-11 a.m.
? Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - Four Seasons of Wisconsin. Wildlife photographer Myron LaPean presents a narrated slide presentation on the "Four Seasons of Wisconsin." Bring the family, but no pets please. Free Program. Vehicle admission sticker is required. Meet at the Sanderling Nature Center. 6-9 p.m. Movie Night at the Park. Come to enjoy the DVD "Hope Takes Wing". Follow along on a 1,200 mile ultralight-guided journey guiding a young flock of whooping cranes from Wisconsin to Florida. Sanderling Nature Center. 7 p.m.
? MacKenzie Environmental Education Center, Poynette, (608) 635-8105 - Hootenanny. Bring your voices and/or acoustic instruments for an evening of music and family fun. We'll be singing nature songs, Wisconsin and American folk songs, and whatever you want to add. Music and lyrics will be provided for some of the songs. Take a photo with Smokey Bear and help yourself to refreshments. Resident Center Lodge. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
? Mirror Lake State Park, Baraboo, (608) 254-2333 - Full Moon Hike. We will be hiking the Northwest Trail. The Northwest Trail covers rolling terrain with wonderful views of the lake, and then it takes you deep into woods. We will be looking for moon shadows and listening for night activity in the park. The hike will be two miles and last about an hour. Meet at park headquarters. 7:30 p.m.
? Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, (920) 868-3258 anglers- Hemlock Trail Hike. Traverse a sedge meadow wetland, a hemlock woods, and up a small bluff. Learn about park ecology and history. Moderate hiking. Meet at Weborg Shelter. 1-2:30 p.m. Universe in the Park. Peninsula welcomes astronomers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. First, we'll see star-studded images of the universe. Then, we'll go outside to view constellations through a high-powered telescope. Nature Center. 7 p.m.
? Potawatomi State Park, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 746-2890 anglers- Run Wild. Ten-kilometer run, 3-mile run/walk, and a 1/3-mile Smokey Bear fun run for kids ages 4 to 10. Enjoy the fall colors and collect trophies, t-shirts, and door prizes. Refreshments and water stations provided. Free child care is available with advanced notification. The park entrance fee will be waived until noon on the day of the race. Sponsored by Friends of Potawatomi State Park and others. Registration 8-9:30 a.m., races 10 a.m., Smokey Bear run 11:15. For more information or to register, visit the Run Wild Web site.
? Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Gourd Bowl Workshop. Make a beautifully decorated gourd bowl using dried apple gourds. Space is limited, please pre-register and pre-pay. Fee is $15. Sponsored by Bong Naturalist Association. Visitor Center. 9 a.m. - noon.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
? Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, Grantsburg, (715) 463-2739 - Crex Meadows Wildlife Festival. A variety of programs and demonstrations including wild edible plants, wildlife games, wild mushrooms, prairie plant identification, ?Wolves: the Crex Pack, wildflowers of Crex?, ?Wetland Wonderlands,? featuring live birds and other critters. Wildlife Education and Visitor Center east of the intersection of County Roads ?D? and ?F?. From the stoplights on Highway 70 in Grantsburg, follow the geese painted on the road. Friends of Crex will provide food and refreshments while The Bog Shoe store offers a wide assortment of wildlife related books, gifts, and souvenirs. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 11 a.m., 1, 3, and 5 p.m.General bus tours, of Crex Meadows lasting ninety minutes. Expect to see many kinds of birds and other wildlife. 4 p.m. ?Wetland Gems? dedication ceremony by the Wisconsin Wetlands Association.. 7 a.m. One-hour, sunrise tour for sandhill crane viewing, 10 a.m. Three-hour tour including short walks and discussions on the operations of Crex Meadows.
? Gandy Dancer State Trail, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-1250 anglers- Gandhi Dancer Family Bike Ride. Choose from four different routes of 10, 28, 45 or 100 miles for a fall ride through northwest Wisconsin. Part of all routes travel on the Gandy Dancer State Trail. There is a fee for registration and t-shirts are available for sale. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. For more information, visit Gahdhi Dancer Family Bike Ride.
? Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - Fall Open House. Come to Kohler-Andrae for a fun filled day of events - a fall hike, children's games, and a visit from Smokey Bear. Don't miss the opportunity to spend a day at the park while enjoying all of these events. Free Programs; No admission sticker required on Open House Day. Stop at the park office for information and location of events. The Nature Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
? Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 anglers- Preschool Storytime: Spot the Ladybugs! Are ladybugs welcome visitors in your neighborhood? Find out what they eat, who eats them, and why they have spots. This program is for preschoolers, ages 3-5, and their parents, grandparents, or other adult, not for day care centers or organizations. 9:30-10:30 a.m.
? Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, (920) 868-3258 anglers- Sentinel Trail Hike. Red oaks should be blazing along 2-mile Sentinel Trail. Learn to identify trees in the autumn woods while taking this moderate walk. Meet at Eagle Tower. 10 a.m.
? Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Adopt A Highway. Join us for the last clean up of the highway in front of the park. All equipment provided. You must be at least 12 years old to participate. Sponsored by Bong Naturalist Association. Visitor Center. 5-6 p.m.
Thursday-Friday, October 8-9, 2009
? Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - Smoky Hollow Muzzle Loader Encampment. Visitors to Kohler-Andrae are invited to join camp members as they re-enact life as it was in the early to mid 1800s. Demonstrations and activities happen as interest develops. Spend an hour or the entire day viewing activities reminiscent of the frontier days. South picnic area.
