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, April 4, 2008
• Governor Nelson State Park, Waunakee, (608) 831-3005 - Woodcock Watch. Discover the American Woodcock and its aerial mating flight. Meet at the park office for an introduction to its habits and habitat followed by a hike to witness this phenomenon. Dress to be outdoors and in tall marsh grass. Bring flashlights and rubber boots! Meet at the park office. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Nature Storytime: Pink-Toed 'Possums. What has pink toes, a hairless tail and a pouch? An opossum, of course! Discover other interesting facts about the only North American mammal with a pouch. 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, April 5, 2008
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 or e-mail - Family Program: Squirrels—Nuts of the Forest. Squirrels are some of nature’s clever creatures. We’ll do some activities inside and then go outside to look for their homes, signs, and hopefully see a squirrel or two! Environmental Awareness Center. 10:30 a.m. - noon. No admission sticker required.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Southern Unit, Eagle, (262) 594-6200 or e-mail - 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.
• MacKenzie Environmental Education Center, Poynette, (608) 635-8110 - Maple Syrup Festival. Guided tours of the sugarbush and maple syruping process, horse-drawn wagon rides (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.), wildlife exhibit and museums (until 2 p.m.), all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast sponsored by Poynette Optimist Club (Resident Center Lodge, 8 a.m. - noon), demonstrations of home-made ice cream churned by an antique engine and how to make maple syrup in your own backyard, live music, raffle drawing (1 p.m.) The Friends of MacKenzie will be offering refreshments and selling maple sundaes and souvenirs. Sponsored by Friends of MacKenzie, Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. No admission sticker required.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 5277-0232 - Preschool Storytime: What’s Hatching Out of That Egg? Eggs come in a wonderful variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. Find out about the tiny lives growing inside them. Environmental Awareness Center. 9:30-10:30 a.m. No admission sticker required.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
• Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Creating a Five-star Bird Attraction in Your Yard. Author Mariette Nowak will show how to increase the number and variety of birds in your yard by growing native plants offering natural habitat and a year-long smorgasbord of berries, nuts, seeds and insects for the birds. She also will discuss the importance of native plants versus cultivated plants for birds and problems with invasive non-native plant species. This program is most appropriate for adults and youth over age 10. Ice Age Visitor Center. 7-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
• Harrington Beach State Park, Belgium, (262) 285-3015 or e-mail - Geocaching— Learn About It!—Experience It! Learn the basics of geocaching with hands-on experience at Harrington Beach. Pre-registration [exit DNR] is required by Thursday, April 10. Sponsored by the Friends of Harrington Beach. Meet at the Alliance Bible Church. Informal presentation 4-5 p.m., hands-on experience 5-6:30 p.m., social 6-8 p.m.
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 or e-mail - Discovery Saturday: Play in the Mud. Now that the snow has melted, there is lots of mud to play with! Use microscopes to observe tiny living creatures in the mud, and take a close-up look at some worms. Drop in anytime 9 a.m. - noon. No admission sticker required.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Exploring Nature: All Tied Up In Knots. There is a knot for every kind of job. Learn how to tie some basic knots and how to do some simple lashing. To practice your new skills, you will lash together a special project. Please call by April 10 to register. This program is best for participants age 8 and older. Ice Age Visitor Center. 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Southern Unit, Eagle, (262) 594-6200 or e-mail - 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.
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5606 or e-mail - Kiwanis Accessible Cabin Dedication. The public is invited to the dedication ceremony for the new Westosha Kiwanis Cabin [exit DNR] for disabled campers. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the amplitheater with tours of the cabin available afterward. Admission to the park is free for people attending the cabin dedication. Food, beverages, and entertainment will be provided by Westosha Kiwanis at Shelter #3. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Kayak Connections. Tom Koeppen and friends fro the Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers will introduce you to the sport of kayaking. They will cover what gear and skills are needed, where to go kayaking and how to connect with classes and kayaking groups. This program is most appropriate for adults and youth over 10 years old. Ice Age Visitor Center. 7-8:30 p.m.
