Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
At the Center, we continuously work on land restoration to provide sustainable habitats for the diverse array of birds that live here. In this seminar, learn what attracts birds in a natural landscape and how you can replicate these features in your own spaces. Starting with an indoor presentation, we...
Adults, Guided Hikes, Wellness
Deepen your relationship with the natural world during a guided Forest Bathing Walk through our Green Tree Loop trail. Participants will slowly travel through the forest while receiving a sequence of spoken invitations. These open-ended prompts encourage the participants’ senses to open and experience the environment in a way that...
Families, Free with Membership, Guided Hikes, Wheelchair Accessible
On Sunday afternoons volunteer Nature Ambassadors provide education by introducing visitors to our reptile and amphibian ambassadors, offering guided hikes, and sharing knowledge of our ecosystems. Stop in the Great Hall of our Visitor Center to find out which activities our Nature Ambassadors are offering on this day. Free with...
Children are never too young to learn about and enjoy nature’s wonders. Join Nature School Early Childhood Educator Jade Ratliff for a sensory-rich morning of nature exploration. We will meet indoors for a story and sensory play time, then head outside for a guided hike on the trails. This program...
Children are never too young to learn about and enjoy nature’s wonders. Join Nature School Early Childhood Educator Jade Ratliff for a sensory-rich morning of nature exploration. We will meet indoors for a story and sensory play time, then head outside for a guided hike on the trails. This program...
Join Early Childhood Educator Allie Furru in nurturing a sense of wonder in nature with your little one. We will meet outdoors in one of our specially designed outdoor classrooms to explore, play, and create art. Be prepared for your child to get a little messy, it is all part...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
Four Saturdays, May 23 - June 13, 2026 Taught by Director of Education Tom Finley, Environmental Educators Michelle Allison, Aubrey Fulsaas, and Laine Cotteleer This four-week certificate program is designed for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the key bird species found at the Center. Through a combination...
Early Childhood, Families, Guided Hikes
Discover how different animals and insects use the power of invisibility to survive. In this child/adult pair program, join Environmental Educator Alison Schrad to learn the importance of camouflage and later hike the trails in search of hidden critters. Afterwards, we will make our own camouflaged critters to take home!...
Families, Free with Membership, Wheelchair Accessible, Guided Hikes
On Sunday afternoons volunteer Nature Ambassadors provide education by introducing visitors to our reptile and amphibian ambassadors, offering guided hikes, and sharing knowledge of our ecosystems. Stop in the Great Hall of our Visitor Center to find out which activities our Nature Ambassadors are offering on this day. Free with...
Join Early Childhood Educator Allie Furru in nurturing a sense of wonder in nature with your little one. We will meet outdoors in one of our specially designed outdoor classrooms to explore, play, and create art. Be prepared for your child to get a little messy, it is all part...
Families, Free with Membership, Wheelchair Accessible, Guided Hikes
On Sunday afternoons volunteer Nature Ambassadors provide education by introducing visitors to our reptile and amphibian ambassadors, offering guided hikes, and sharing knowledge of our ecosystems. Stop in the Great Hall of our Visitor Center to find out which activities our Nature Ambassadors are offering on this day. Free with...
June 1 – 4 (Four consecutive days) What is more fun than a morning of outdoor exploration and play with your two-year-old? Four consecutive days of fun and wonder! This new four-day series is facilitated by Early Childhood Educator Allie Furru. Introduce your little one to the joy and wonder...
Art, Early Childhood, Families, Guided Hikes
Spring is the best time to see beautiful wildflowers bloom. In this child/adult pair program, join Environmental Educator Alison Schrad in hiking the trails to learn about different wildflower species and what makes them unique! As we hike, we will take time to sketch and paint the stunning wildflowers we...
Early Childhood, Families, Guided Hikes
Discover a whole new world through a magnifying glass as we get down in the soil to find the insects and their relatives crawling under our feet. In this child/adult pair program, join Children’s Event Lead and Environmental Educator Melanie Ziolecki as we investigate the soil in our forest for...
Families, Free with Membership, Wheelchair Accessible, Guided Hikes
On Sunday afternoons volunteer Nature Ambassadors provide education by introducing visitors to our reptile and amphibian ambassadors, offering guided hikes, and sharing knowledge of our ecosystems. Stop in the Great Hall of our Visitor Center to find out which activities our Nature Ambassadors are offering on this day. Free with...
Uncover the hidden world of Southeastern Wisconsin moss and lichen, living organisms that have fascinating relationships with each other and the forest around them. Through a presentation, discover their habitats, life cycle, and what makes these organisms so unique. On a guided hike, we will look for the species that...
Children are never too young to learn about and enjoy nature’s wonders. Join a Nature School Early Childhood Educator for a sensory-rich morning of nature exploration. We will meet indoors for a story and sensory play time, then head outside for a guided hike on the trails. This program is...
Adults, Birding Academy, Field Trips, Guided Hikes
Early summer birding is a treat among the 22,000 acres of the Southern Kettle Morain State Forest, stretching from Dousman to Whitewater, with its variety of landscapes like mature hardwood forests, lush prairies, and wetlands. The day begins at the historic Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail, along Highway ZZ, near Ottawa...
Children are never too young to learn about and enjoy nature’s wonders. Join a Nature School Early Childhood Educator for a sensory-rich morning of nature exploration. We will meet indoors for a story and sensory play time, then head outside for a guided hike on the trails. This program is...
Join Early Childhood Educator Allie Furru in nurturing a sense of wonder in nature with your little one. We will meet outdoors in one of our specially designed outdoor classrooms to explore, play, and create art. Be prepared for your child to get a little messy, it is all part...
Adults, Art, Clubs, Free with Membership, Guided Hikes
Nature offers extraordinary opportunities for photography at every turn. Each month, we welcome photographers of all skill levels to gather and enhance your artistic skills as you explore distinct settings, capturing beautiful nature moments through your lens. Learn tips and tricks with other members of this growing community and return...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
After the flurry of spring migration, birds become quieter and more secretive as they nest and raise young. The Center’s diverse habitats located along the Lake Michigan shoreline provide plenty of nesting sites for breeding pairs. We will explore these varied habitats in search of birds concealed by the dense...
Families, Free with Membership, Guided Hikes, Wheelchair Accessible
On Sunday afternoons volunteer Nature Ambassadors provide education by introducing visitors to our reptile and amphibian ambassadors, offering guided hikes, and sharing knowledge of our ecosystems. Stop in the Great Hall of our Visitor Center to find out which activities our Nature Ambassadors are offering on this day. Free with...
Children are never too young to learn about and enjoy nature’s wonders. Join a Nature School Early Childhood Educator for a sensory-rich morning of nature exploration. We will meet indoors for a story and sensory play time, then head outside for a guided hike on the trails. This program is...
