October 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.

October  2008
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13 Columbus Day	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31 Halloween

Friday, October 3, 2008

• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Nature Storytime: Trees of Many Colors. Red, orange, and yellow leaves twirling in the wind are a sure sign of autumn. Learn why our tall, tall trees lose their leaves before winter. 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, October 4, 2008

• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Family Program: Fall Leaf Hike. Fall is a perfect time to take a hike through Havenwoods and check out all of the colorful trees. We’ll crunch through some leaves and look for signs of wildlife. Bring your hiking shoes and a sense of adventure! 10:30 a.m. - noon. No admission sticker required.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Exploring Nature: Tree Art. Celebrate the wonders of the forest by creating some tree art. We will be doing leaf printing, nut stamping, paper making and more. For leaf printing bring a T-shirt or bandanna or buy one that day. This program is best for families/groups with children between the ages of 5 and 12 years. Ice Age Visitor Center. 9:30-11:30 am.
• MacKenzie Environmental Education Center, Poynette, 608-635-8110 or e-mail - Hootenanny. Join us for a sing-along. Bring your voices and/or acoustic instruments for an evening of free family fun. Take a photo with Smokey Bear and help yourself to free refreshments. The Friends of MacKenzie will be choosing the winner of the beautiful "Tumbling Maple Leaves" quilt created by members. The quilt will be on display and raffle tickets will still be available at the Hootenanny. Main lodge (residence center). 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

• Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - Fall Open House. A fun-filled day of events - a fall hike, children's games, entertainment, and a visit from Smokey Bear. No admission sticker is required on Open House Day . Nature Center open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• La Crosse River State Trail, Ontario, (608) 337-4775 or e-mail - Always on a Sunday: Prairie Walks [exit DNR]. Here's your chance to learn about native wildflowers and grasses on this remnant of railroad prairie. These are leisurely walks on level terrain. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat to block the sun. Enjoy the afternoon along the trail with local columnist and naturalist, Bob Lee! Downy gentian, little bluestem, and sweet everlasting and are among the plants you will see. Meet at the trail crossing on Commercial St. (County Hwy J) in Rockland. 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 5277-0232 - Preschool Storytime: Autumn Leaves are Falling Down! Red, gold, and purple leaves are everywhere these days! Let’s play with the leaves and enjoy the fall colors. Environmental Awareness Center. 9:30-10:30 a.m. No admission sticker required.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Plight of the Polar Ice Caps. Are the polar ice caps really melting? If they are, how much have they shrunk? What role does global climate change play? Join Kevin Koski, a NASA Solar System Ambassador, as he shares the answers to these questions, and discover what tools NASA is using to monitor the polar ice caps. This program is most appropriate for adults and youth over 12 years old. Ice Age Visitor Center. 7-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Discovery Saturday: Fall Seeds. Look closely in the woods and fields, and you’ll find seeds that are waiting to grow into next year’s plants. Stop in to pick up a seed bingo card, then head outside to see what kinds of seeds you can find. Environmental Awareness Center. Drop in anytime between 9 a.m. and noon. No admission sticker required.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Exploring Nature: Finding Your Way. Would you like to venture off the beaten path, but don't feel comfortable leaving the familiar trail behind? Then join us to learn how to use an orienteering compass, determine your pace and keep yourself from becoming lost. This program is best for people over the age of 8 years. Long Lake Recreation Area Picnic Shelter. 9:30-11 a.m.
• Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - Halloween in the Park. Celebrate Halloween early at Kohler-Andrae. Campers are encouraged to decorate their campsites for this sixth annual event. Guided candlelight hike, pumpkin carving, crafts, star gazing, and entertainment around the campfire. Children may dress in costume. Sorry, pets are not allowed on the hike or in the shelters. Enclosed shelter. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Friday-Saturday, October 17-18, 2008

• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Halloween Nature Hikes. The creatures of the night are awake and waiting to tell you their stories! Take a fun-filled stroll through the dark autumn woods to meet some animal characters of the dark including a spotted salamander, a striped skunk, a gray tree frog and a little brown bat. This is not a scary hike and is appropriate for those over 5 years of age. While waiting for your hike, play some fun-filled games, make a craft to take home, or snack by the glow of a campfire. In the event of severe weather, the event will be canceled for that night. Long Lake Recreation Area. Groups leave every 6 minutes from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Each hike lasts about one hour.

Friday, October 17, 2008

• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Nature Storytime: Going Batty. We'll enter a bat's world to learn about these nighttime bug eaters and why they are our batty friends. This hour of nature fun awaits 3- to 6-year-olds with accompanying adults. Ice Age Visitor Centers. 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - One Wild Saturday Morning Drop-in: Bones. All vertebrate animals have bones - femurs, ulnas, tibias, and many more. Assemble some skeletons, make a skeleton to take home, compare some different animal skeletons, and much more. You and your family or youth group can drop in between 9 a.m. and noon to discover cool things about nature through hands-on activities, experiments, crafts, games, and picture books. Environmental Awareness Center. No admission sticker required.
• Lake Kegonsa State Park, Stoughton, (608) 873-9695 or e-mail - Candlelight Hike. Spend a beautiful fall evening hiking along the 1.2 mile White Oak Nature Trail, which will be lit with hundreds of glowing jack-o-lanterns and luminaries. Warm up by the bonfire and enjoy refreshments provided by the LKSP Friends Group. Grills will be provided to cook on. Sorry, no pets are allowed on the White Oak Nature Trail. There is no fee for this event, but a valid park admission sticker is required. This event is weather permitting. 6-9 p.m.
• Roche-A-Cri State Park, Friendship, (608) 339-6881 - Pumpkin Walk. Games 3-4:30 p.m. Non-Haunted Hay Rides 3-5 p.m. Presentation by Naturalist Janna Misener 4:30 p.m.. Haunted Hay Rides 6:00-8:30 p.m. Last tickets sold at 8:30 p.m. Walk around the 1-mile pumpkin-lit mound road. Food and drink concession available. Free admission. Hay rides $2. Games and face painting are free. Starts at office picnic area. 3-8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 5277-0232 - Preschool Storytime: Chipmunks on the Move. Now you see them, now you don’t! Find out why chipmunks are busy this time of year. Environmental Awareness Center. 9:30-10:30 a.m. No admission sticker required.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

• Governor Nelson State Park, Waunakee, (608) 831-3005 - Halloween Hike. A festive event to celebrate Halloween. Hike a torchlit trail and enjoy snacks by a campfire. Costumes are welcomed but not required. Dress to be outside. 6-9 p.m.
• Harrington Beach State Park, Belgium, (262) 285-3015 or e-mail - Halloween Candlelight Hike. Take a candlelight hike on a haunted trail through Harrington Beach. Telescopes for the public to view the night sky will be provided by the Northern Cross Science Foundation [exit DNR]. Meet at the Ansay Welcome Center and Puckett's Pond. Sponsored by the Friends of Harrington Beach and the Northern Cross Science Foundation. Candlelight and haunted hike 6-9 p.m., public viewing of the night sky 6-11 p.m.
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Adult Program: Snowshoe Making Workshop. Preregister by October 17. Environmental Awareness Center. 10 a.m. - noon. No admission sticker required.
• MacKenzie Environmental Education Center, Poynette, 608-635-8105 or e-mail - Haunted Hay Ride. Join us for a fun and spooky hay ride around the MacKenzie Center property. Lumberjack Zombies, Witches, Graveyards, Ghosts and more! Sponsored by Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Friends of the MacKenzie Center, and Department of Natural Resources. 6:30-9:30 p.m.
• Willow River State Park, Hudson, (715) 386-5931 - Halloween Bash. A fun-filled family event with crafts, games, snacks, and storytelling. Fee $2 per person. 6-8 p.m.

Friday, October 31, 2008

• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Learn the Sky with your Naked Eye. Join Mary and Joe Glover to learn about the night sky - at night! First learn how to use a star chart, look for constellations, and find the North star. After the program, we will go outside and look for the stars we just learned about. If you have already been to the program, just meet us outside to look for the stars. Dress warm! Program at 6 p.m., stargazing at 7. No admission sticker required.

For more information, ask Wisconsin State Parks, (608) 266-2181.