June 2008 Events at Wisconsin State Parks, Forests, and Trails
Watchable Wildlife Opportunities and Interpretive Programs

Note: Events and times may change due to weather and other factors beyond our control; please call ahead. Most events are free of charge; State Parks Vehicle Admission Sticker required unless stated otherwise. Check at the park office for additional events not listed.

Take a moonlight hike in a state park or forest when there's a full moon.

June  2008
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2	3	4	5	6	7 National Trails Day
8 State Parks Open House	9	10	11	12	13	14 Flag Day
15 Fathers' Day	16	17	18	19	20 Summer begins	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

• Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 -
  • Children's Storytime. Children ages 4-10 are invited to hear nature stories read by a volunteer storyteller. Children need to be accompanied by an adult. No pets allowed. Sanderling Nature Center. 1:30 p.m.
  • Young People's Wildlife Poetry Workshop. Young people in grades 1-8 wishing to sharpen their wildlife observation skills, hear wildlife poetry and try their hand at writing wildlife/plantlife poetry are invited to take part in Gerald Bertsch's workshop. Half hour program with majority of time devoted to each young person creating his or her own "memory moment" set to the music of poetry. Young people must be accompanied by an adult. No pets allowed. Sanderling Nature Center. 3-3:30 p.m.
• Whitefish Dunes State Park, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 823-2400 or e-mail - Weekly Weeders! Help control invasive plans as the evening sets at the park. Dress for the weather (long pants are preferable). Come for one or two hours. We provide water, gloves, snack and complimentary vehicle sticker. Adults and children. Sponsored by Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park. Meet at the Nature Center, Nature Center. 6-8 p.m.

Thursday, June 26 - Saturday, June 28, 2008

• Whitefish Dunes State Park, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 823-2400 or e-mail - Big Red Tent on the Beach. Discover the natural world on the beach under the tent. A different theme is featured each day with programs beginning on the hour. Programs feature a craft or game along with beach toys to check out. Themes for each day are; Thursday - Hawks and Owls (with guest speaker Joe Henry, Regional Ecologist), Friday - Bubbles, Saturday - Shipwrecks (with guest speaker Tammy Tamara, State Underwater Archeologist). The tent will be canceled for rain or lightening. Sponsored by the Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park and the Whitefish Bay Association. Whitefish Dunes Beach. 1 - 3 p.m.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

• Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-3747 or e-mail -
  • Nature Storytime. Join Naturalists Julie Fox or Barb Walker for a story and activity chosen especially for children pre-K through Kindergarten and their parents. Please dress the children for outdoor play. 10 a.m.
  • Ancient Abandoned Riverbeds. Take a trip back in time on the Meadow Valley Trail. Meet Naturalist Barb Walker at the Meadow Valley Trail sign near the Beach parking lot for a short hike up the valley. 2 p.m.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Canoe Adventure. Venture with us by canoe around Crooked Lake. Get a close look at the shoreline wetlands and the animals that live there. Basic canoe skills will be taught. To register, call by June 25. Class limit is 24 to 30 people without canoe equipment. No experience is necessary. In the event of threatening weather, the program will be canceled. This adventure is for people over the age of 12 years. Crooked Lake Boat Launch. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - Saturn - The First Four Years of Cassini Exploration. Saturn Observation Campaign Member Kevin Koski will give an illustrated presentation on the recent discoveries of the four-year Cassini mission to the ringed planet and its moons. Come see the water geysers of Enceldus, the landscape of Titan and many exciting new fun facts about Saturn. No pets allowed. Sanderling Nature Center. 2 p.m.

Friday, June 27, 2008

• Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-3747 or e-mail - Pet a Pelt. Meet Naturalist Barb Walker at the Ice Age Center and learn about some Wisconsin wildlife. Did you know that deer hair is hollow? What makes the fur of a beaver or otter different than that of other animals? Stop by to learn more! 2 p.m.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Junior Forest Explorers: Nature's Recyclers. Nature has been recycling for millions of years. Learn what organisms help recycle all the dead stuff of nature. It's sure to be a creepy crawly experience. This fun-filled program is for all 6- to 12-year-old explorers. Ice Age Visitor Center. 9:30-11 a.m.
• Potawatomi State Park, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 746-2890 or e-mail - Forest Invaders. DNR Entomologist, Bill McNee, will be here to talk about invasive insects that threaten Wisconsin's forests. Emerald ash borer and gypsy moths will be covered. Learn how you can protect our trees! Meet at the Potawatomi Amphitheater. 8 p.m.
• Willow River State Park, Hudson, (715) 386-5931 or e-mail - Movie Presentation. Come to the Willow River Nature Center and see a showing of the short movie "The St. Croix: A Northwoods Journey." The 18-minute movie will be followed by a talk given by National Park Ranger Bob Downs. The presentation is free with an annual or daily park pass on your vehicle. 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

• Buckhorn State Park, Necedah, (608) 565-2789 - Tasty Campfire Treats. Join Ranger Wolf and Cindy Mac to learn to make fun, family friendly campfire treats and try them too! You will also get a recipe sheet of other treats to try. Amphitheater. 2-3 p.m.
• Governor Nelson State Park, Waunakee, (608) 831-3005 - Rhythm and Booms. Grab a blanket and some snacks and make it a picnic! Governor Nelson Park offers great views over Lake Mendota of the fireworks at Warner Park. Rain date Sunday, June 29.
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 or e-mail - Adult Program: Butterfly Count. Help count the butterflies at Havenwoods. We'll spend a short time inside learning about what they look like. Then we'll head outside to see how many butterflies we can find. Meet at Environmental Awareness Center. 10 a.m. - noon. No admission sticker required.
• Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-3747 or e-mail -
  • Junior Ranger. Free booklets with fun activities for parents and their children entering grades K-3. Meet the naturalist on the lake side of the Beach House. 2 p.m.
  • Wisconsin Explorer. Free booklets with fun activities for parents and their children entering grades 4 and up. Meet the naturalist on the lake side of the Beach House. 2:30 p.m.
  • The Owl and the Mouse. Meet Aztec the live South American Spectacled Owl and play a game that illustrates the exceptional hearing of some nocturnal creatures that have the best hearing of any animals on earth. A fun activity for the entire family! Grassy area in the center of the North Campground. 4 p.m.
  • Pondering the Potholes and Other Glacial Wonders. Join Naturalist Barb Walker for a relaxing hike on the Pothole Trail while learning about the unique geology of Interstate Park. Meet at the Pothole Trail sign. 7 p.m..
• Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920)451-4080 - Universe in the Park. The Astronomy Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison presents a 20- to 30-minute slide talk covering a broad overview of astronomy or recent astronomical news. At the end of the talk (if the sky is clear) they will go outdoors to set up telescopes and let park visitors view whatever astronomical objects are available. Question-and- answer period takes place around the telescope. No pets allowed. Sanderling Nature Center. 8:45 p.m.
• Potawatomi State Park, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 746-2890 or e-mail - Underwater Archaeology. In 2007, the Wisconsin Historical Society first surveyed the SS Wisconsin wreckage. Join nautical archaeologist Tamara Thomsen on an underwater tour of the site. Hear the ship's storied past, and learn what was discovered in the frigid depths. Meet at the Potawatomi Amphitheater. 8 p.m.
• Whitefish Dunes State Park, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 823-2400 or e-mail - Invasive Destroyers! Join the Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park to tackle dame’s rocket, leafy spurge and hounds tongue and preserve our rare plants! Meet at the Nature Center, dressed for the weather (long pants are preferable). Come for one or two hours. We provide water, gloves, snack and complimentary vehicle sticker. Adults and children. Sponsored by Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park. Nature Center. 9 to 11:30 or 1-3:30 p.m.
• Willow River State Park, Hudson, (715) 386-5931 or e-mail - Nature Presentation. Mike Reiter brings his “Skulls and Bones” presentation to the Nature Center. Ask to see the deer feet with the odd hooves and learn how it happened! The presentation is free with an annual or daily park pass on your vehicle. 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Drop In at the Beach: Summer Sun Celebration. Celebrate the sun reaching its annual zenith. Discover what work the sun can do for us, from cooking food to powering a car or flashlight. Create a special solar piece of art. Try some sun experiments and maybe even get a peek of the sun through a solar scope. There will be something for everyone. Just keep those sunny thoughts. Mauthe Lake Recreation Area Beach. Noon - 3 p.m.

Monday, June 30, 2008

• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Exploring Nature: Life Down Under. Watch your step! A whole world exists just under our feet. Help us unearth the creatures that live down under the leaves, the grass and the soil. This program is best for families/groups with children between the ages of 5 and 12 years. Sponsored by Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit. Ice Age Visitor Center. 9:30-11 a.m.
• Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920)451-4080 - Rock Collecting For Fun. Join Ed Mindock for a presentation on rock collecting as a hobby. A hands-on approach to beginning and understanding rock collecting and having fun doing it. All ages welcome. Sanderling Nature Center. 2 p.m.