On this hike, discover the lessons that nature provides through the pages of The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl. While exploring the trails, we will pause at various locations to read excerpts from the book. In addition, there will be activities and artifacts to deepen your connections with the...
Join us this summer at the Menomonee Falls Public Library for a Reptiles & Amphibians program! These crawling, slithering, and swimming creatures inhabit our local ponds, prairies, and gardens. Participants will learn some amazing adaptations these animals have developed to survive throughout our varied seasons. The focus is on native...
Families, Free with Membership, Raptors, Wheelchair Accessible
Let's celebrate Bald Eagles! Meet one of our resident eagles and learn about this national symbol as we compare this species to other eagles around the world and to other charismatic raptors of Wisconsin. We’ll discuss how far conservation efforts have come and what we can continue to do to...
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’...
Embark on an exploration of the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere and beyond with amateur astronomer Jim Hahn. Learn about meteors, satellites, halos, auroras, noctilucent clouds, and other denizens of the near sky. Which occurs at the greatest altitude: meteors, northern lights, or satellites? Once we make these connections, we can...
Adults, Birding Academy, Free with Membership, Guided Hikes
Join a welcoming community of bird enthusiasts on the second Wednesday of the month. Anyone aged 14 and older who is interested in learning more about birds is welcome, regardless of prior experience. You will learn and enhance identification skills from experienced birders. This program is hosted by Schlitz Audubon Environmental...
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...
Families, In the Community, Raptors
Wisconsin is home to many raptor species, including the Bald Eagle. Compare a Bald Eagle to a hawk, falcon, and owl to appreciate the awesome size and power of our national symbol. Live birds from our Raptor Program provide a memorable beak-to-nose experience and artifacts allow for additional interpretation and...
Art, Early Childhood, Families
At the peak of the summer, there are many smells, sounds, and bright colors that are fun to explore. In this child/adult pair program, join Environmental Educator Melanie Ziolecki as we explore our prairies, forests, and ponds to search for the colors of the rainbow and sounds of mammals, birds, and other critters. Each child...
Adults, Art, Wheelchair Accessible
Saturdays, July 11 & July 18 Explore basic watercolor painting during this two-day workshop designed for beginner and intermediate level painters looking to spend time with other nature enthusiasts. You will learn simple techniques while exploring elements of nature and wildlife found at the Center. This workshop is self-paced with...
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, Birding Academy, Guided Hikes
Almost all bird species hunt and consume insects at some point in their lives. The relationship birds have with insect populations shapes their habitat use, migration patterns, behavior, and overall survival. During this guided hike, we’ll observe how different species utilize unique adaptations to hunt for invertebrates, from ground foraging thrushes to acrobat swallows in the sky. This field experience is...
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’...
Butterflies, bees, and birds – oh my! Pollinators help keep our world colorful and beautiful, spreading life wherever they go. Join us in appreciating, celebrating, and conserving these marvelous species. Environmental Educator Aubrey Fulsaas will lead you on a journey through the world of pollination, including learning the parts of a plant, identifying native pollinators, and discovering how you can help...
Nature can inspire and help us create enchanting, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. We’ll go down to the beach as a group to look for our own unique pieces of beach glass. Then we’ll head inside to learn wire wrapping techniques that capture the glass’s aquatic beauty. By the end, you will have your own hand-crafted pair of earrings and a necklace...
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...
Tuesdays, July 14 – August 4 These four sessions invite you to bring kind awareness to the present moment to live more intentionally. On this journey, you’ll learn mindfulness meditation techniques which have multiple health benefits, including reducing stress, anxiety, and cortisol levels. Each week we will bring awareness to different aspects of our...
Wednesdays, July 15 – July 29 This three-part series will feature eight excellent exercises developed by Professor Cheng Man Ching to improve health, balance and flexibility, reduce stress, and generate well-being in body and mind. Each class will include a warm-up, basic training exercises, instruction, and review of previous material....
Rock on with your friends at the beach! During this 21+ night out, join our Environmental Educators for activities that create memories as lasting as the fossils along our shoreline. The evening will include exploring the beach and learning about the rock cycle, a temporary tattoo station, fossil and natural...
Adults, Birding Academy, Free with Membership
We welcome all those interested in birding for a guided bird walk on the third Saturday of the month. We’ll search for summer resident birds among the Center’s varied habitats. This is a great opportunity for new birders to learn and practice bird identification. Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteers will be...
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...
Art, Early Childhood, Families
Create art from treasures you find at the beach! In this child/adult pair program, join Environmental Educator Alison Schrad for a hike down to Lake Michigan to collect colorful and unique beach rocks. Afterwards, we will use the pebbles we collected to create beautiful masterpieces on canvas. Each pair will work together to...
