RAIN DATE: Thursday, July 30 | 7:00p-8:30p Enjoy a beautiful summer evening hike through the forest, prairie, and wetland. Learn about Wisconsin’s native nightlife and which plants are in bloom as a waxing gibbous moon guides our way. We’ll listen for the frog chorus at Mystery Lake and, if we’re lucky, may even see a few bats flittering about. We’ll conclude our evening walk from the...
Adults, Birding Academy, Field Trips, Guided Hikes
Embark on a journey down the scenic Milwaukee River and search for birds by canoe. Guided by our Environmental Educators, this river trip will showcase the various species that can be found along the wooded banks, including herons, osprey, orioles, and so much more. Canoes will be equipped with a...
Tree identification is an important tool for understanding a forest's health. The diversity and abundance of certain trees can tell us what actions need to be taken to maintain a healthy ecosystem. In this workshop, you will learn strategies that help with identifying different kinds of trees we find living...
Families, Free with Membership, Raptors, Wheelchair Accessible
Join us in the Great Hall of our Visitor Center to see two birds from our Raptor Program! During this meet and greet experience, you can talk with raptor handlers about the specific skills, traits, and adaptations that are unique to that bird. Our Raptor Program educates about raptor ecology, conservation, and these birds’...
Adults, Conservation, Guided Hikes
On this hike, learn about how staff and volunteers care for the land by observing current and past initiatives. You will get a sneak peek at upcoming land management projects and gain overall insight into the Center’s future conservation plans. During the program we will discuss the many invasive species...
Enjoy an up-close encounter with the terrific turtle ambassadors of Schlitz Audubon! Join Environmental Educators Joyce Michelstetter and Mimi Norman to learn about various species, their unique characteristics, and how we care for them at the Center. We’ll also search for wild turtles in our ponds and discover fun facts about them along the way. Participants will receive...
Search our trails using fun clues to find hidden treasures and pieces to your very own puzzle. There will be six treasure chests to find, and each comes with a puzzle piece, an animal artifact, and an educational riddle that will help you on your journey. Environmental Educator Jim Thielke will...
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 membership or admission.
Families, Free with Membership, Raptors, Wheelchair Accessible
Join us in the Great Hall of our Visitor Center to see two birds from our Raptor Program! During this meet and greet experience, you can talk with raptor handlers about the specific skills, traits, and adaptations that are unique to that bird. Our Raptor Program educates about raptor ecology, conservation, and these birds’...
Art, Families, Free with Membership, Wheelchair Accessible
Enjoy a performance by Bella Musik! This dynamic musical duo from Adell, Wisconsin is known for blending heartfelt performance with a warm, engaging stage presence that resonates across generations. Their style centers on a mix of classic hits, light rock, pop, folk, country, and easy listening favorites, tailored to connect with all audiences....
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
Bird activity at the Center on summer evenings can be exciting indeed. As twilight approaches, the crepuscular animals begin to make their presence known. Birds like swallows, Chimney Swifts, nighthawks, owls, Killdeer, and American Woodcocks can all be active during these evening hours. We’ll start inside the building with a...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
Saturdays, August 1 & August 8 The skies are filled with birds once again as they begin their journey south for the winter. In this two-part certificate program, discover the main migratory corridors and how birds use them to navigate the continent. We’ll begin indoors with a presentation showcasing the...
Adults, Art, Families, Guided Hikes
Summer is coming to an end and insects are starting to look for a place to stay during cold weather. What better place than a bug hotel! Join Environmental Educator Melanie Ziolecki on a search for insects hiding under logs, in leaves, and flying around us. We will hike to find and identify different insects and...
Families, Free with Membership, Raptors, Wheelchair Accessible
Join Raptor Staff and the Raptors of Schlitz Audubon to learn more about the taloned hunters of the sky that call Wisconsin home. Meet some of our raptor ambassadors as we dive into their ecology, learn how to identify them out in the wild, and discover ways to help our wild raptor neighbors. Free with membership or...
Adults, Guided Hikes, Wellness
Deepen your relationship with the natural world during a guided Forest Bathing Walk through our South Ravine forest. 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 supports...
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 membership or admission.
RAIN DATE: August 5 | 7:30p-9:00p Stroll the Center’s trails as you enjoy the magical lights of fireflies and the frogs’ chorus. Join Environmental Educators Alison Schrad and Melanie Ziolecki as we learn how to identify these different species, their habitats, and how we play a role in their conservation. We will end the...
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...
Art, Early Childhood, Families, Wheelchair Accessible
Enjoy the summer sun with a morning of music, dancing, and fun! In this child/adult pair program, join Environmental Educator Aubrey Fulsaas for an interactive ukulele concert featuring popular children's songs, animal meet and greets, and a craft creating your own musical shaker instruments. Parents and caregivers can enjoy an iced coffee...
Fruits are an important food source for many Wisconsin birds, especially those that are preparing for their fall migration. The Center’s diverse habitats located along the Lake Michigan shoreline provide a bountiful stop-over site and unique birding hotspot to find many of these fruit foragers. This field experience is ideal...
Adults, Conservation, Wheelchair Accessible
Gardening with native plants provides many ecological benefits, including creating habitats for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Prairie Future Seed Company will offer a wide selection of live plants for purchase. Please stay tuned for online ordering details. In-person shopping is free to all and registration is not required.
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 membership or admission.
Adults, Art, Wheelchair Accessible
Needle felt painting is a simple and fun craft that gives you the freedom to create 2D works of art using wool fibers. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of felting using straightforward techniques, allowing you to craft future felted art from your imagination. We’ll start with a...
Adults, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
From companionship to culture to ecological imbalance, the relationship between humans and birds is woven together throughout our history. Societies have incorporated bird species into utilitarian tasks, scientific and artistic inspiration, cultural symbolism, and conservation. Through classroom presentation and a guided hike, discover how humans have shaped the bird world...