Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit
January - April 2010 Programs



Click here for Kettle Moraine Winter into Spring brochure

Wake Up Groundhog! Nature Storytime
February 5, 9:30 am - 10:30 am (Friday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Groundhog Day has just past! Learn if groundhogs can really predict the coming of spring and other tidbits about their lives. This hour of nature fun awaits 3 to 6 year olds with accompanying adults.

Candlelight Ski/Hike
February 6, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm (Saturday)
Zillmer Trail Area (located off Hwy SS between Hwy G and Hwy 67 near New Prospect)
Cross-country ski or hike in the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest by candlelight. At the bonfire join fellow hikers and skiers for hot drinks and snacks provided by the Friends of the Kettle Moraine. The trail is perfect for novice skiers with no steep hills or sharp turns.

An Evening with Nature
Wind Energy - Wildlife Interactions: What We Know and Don't Know
February 11, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Thursday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Presenter: Noel Cutright, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
How many birds and bats does a modern wind turbine kill in a year? Noel Cutright answers this question and more, plus he examines what goes into constructing a wind farm in Wisconsin. This program is most appropriate for adults and youth over the age of 10 years.

Learn to Ice Fish Exploring Nature Program
February 13, 9:30 am - 11:30 am (Saturday)
Mauthe Lake Recreation Area Picnic Shelter (located off Hwy GGG south of Hwy SS near New Prospect)
Learn the tricks of winter fishing with some experienced ice anglers. We will start inside the warmed Mauthe Lake picnic shelter for a presentation on safety tips and appropriate gear and tackle. Then it's off to Mauthe Lake to try our best at luring those fish out of the water. Equipment, tackle and bait will be provided. This program is best for people over 6 years old. To Register call (920) 533-8322 by February 10. Special surprises await all who pre-register.

Whose Tracks are These? Nature Storytime
February 19, 9:30 am - 10:30 am (Friday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Join us as we explore the woods and fields for animal tracks. We'll even discover a few tricks to determine whose tracks they are. This hour of nature fun awaits 3 to 6 year olds with accompanying adults.

Loud-mouth Jays Nature Storytime
March 5, 9:30 am - 10:30 am (Friday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Screech! Chatter, chatter! The blue jays announce their presence to the world. Join us as we try to decipher what the jays are trying to say. This hour of nature fun awaits 3 to 6 year olds with accompanying adults.

An Evening With Nature
The Thunderbirds
March 11, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Thursday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Presenter: Herman Bender, America Septen History Company
The Thunderbird is probably one of the most ancient and widespread Native American traditions in North America. Its image has been pecked into rock art for more than 7000 years. Mr. Bender will share many rock art images of Thunderbirds and help figure out what may have inspired the artists to create them. This program is most appropriate for adults and youth over the age of 10 years.

Celebrate Spring's Return Exploring Nature Program
March 13, 9:30 am - 11:00 am (Saturday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
March ushers in spring's return. We will look for signs of spring and celebrate the reawakening of the earth after a long winter. This program is best for families/groups with children between the ages of 6 and 12 years.

Rat-a-tat-tat, Who's There? Woodpeckers Nature Storytime
March 19, 9:30 am - 10:30 am (Friday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Why do woodpeckers peck trees? What are they looking for? We'll find out the answers to these questions and a lot more about woodpeckers. This hour of nature fun awaits 3 to 6 year olds with accompanying adults.

April Showers Nature Storytime
April 2, 9:30 am - 10:30 am (Friday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Drip, drop, pitter-pat. April showers fall to the ground. We'll discover just how these rains help awaken the spring flowers. This hour of nature fun awaits 3 to 6 year olds with accompanying adults.

An Evening With Nature
Dealing with Nuisance Backyard Wildlife
April 8, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Thursday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Presenters: Ricky Lien, DNR Wildlife Biologist
Are raccoons knocking over your garbage cans? Are deer eating all your tulips? Do groundhogs dine daily in your garden? If yes, then join Ricky Lien as he shares tips and techniques to deal with these nuisance animals and others. This program is most appropriate for adults and youth over the age of 10 years.

Recycled Art Exploring Nature Program
April 10, 9:30 am - 11:30 am (Saturday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Don't throw that away! It can be turned into a work of art! Come create inner tube rubber stamps, paper bead necklaces, juice can lid wind chimes and some other unique projects. To register call (920) 533-8322 by April 8. This program is best for families/groups with children between the ages of 6 and 12 years.

Shhhh! Listen Nature Storytime
April 16, 9:30 am - 10:30 am (Friday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
It's amazing what we can discover when we are quiet and listen. Join us for a listening walk through the fields and forest. This hour of nature fun awaits 3 to 6 year olds with accompanying adults.

Spring Symphony Night Hike
April 23, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm (Friday)
Zillmer Trail Area (located off Hwy SS between Hwy G and Hwy 67 near New Prospect)
Nature awakens from its long winter slumber with a symphony of sound. Journey through the darkening spring woods to discover who are the members of the spring choir. This hike is most appropriate for adults and children over the age of 6 years.

Earth Week Litter Pick Up
Sponsored by the Friends of the Kettle Moraine
April 24, 8:30 am - 12:00 noon (Saturday)
Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive
(Meet at the Forest Headquarters off Hwy G south of Hwy SS near New Prospect)
Help give the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive a spring cleaning. Join others for a morning of camaraderie and litter pick up. Youth and other groups are encouraged to participate. Bring your own gloves. Garbage bags will be provided. Meet at the Forest Headquarters off Hwy G to get your road assignment and after cleaning up for snacks and refreshments. To register groups, call (262) 626-2116.

Previous programs:

Coping with the Cold Exploring Nature Program
January 9, 9:30 am - 11:00 am (Saturday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
The temperature dips below freezing. We bundle up with hats, mittens and warm coats. Join us as we discover how the plants and animals cope with the cold of winter. This program is best for families/groups with children between the ages of 6 and 12 years.

Nordic Heaven Winter Fest
Sponsored by the Northern Kettle Moraine Nordic Ski Club
January 9, starts at 11:00 am (Saturday)
Greenbush Recreation Area (located off Kettle Moraine Drive between Greenbush and Hwy 67)
Pack up and head out to the Greenbush Recreation Area for a day of winter family fun. The cross-country ski trails will be groomed and the shelter heated. The Northern Kettle Moraine Nordic Ski Club will be offering free snowshoeing, free cross-country ski lessons and kids winter games. If skiing or snowshoeing is not your thing, bring your sleds and give the sledding hill a try. Food, refreshments and live music will also be on hand. The festival is weather dependent. For more information go to www.greenbushusa.com.

Retro and Ski Backward Day
Sponsored by the Northern Kettle Moraine Nordic Ski Club
January 10, starts at 1:00 pm (Sunday)
Greenbush Recreation Area (located off Kettle Moraine Drive north of Hwy 67 near Greenbush)
Dust off those old-time cross-country skis and squeeze into those wool knickers for the second annual Retro and Ski Backward Day! Come wearing your oldest ski outfit and retro skis to ski the trails backwards. Join others in the warming shelter for music, food and fun. This event is perfect for all ages. Bring some goodies to share and your beverage of choice. For more information contact Clark and De De Reinke at CDDReinke@gmail.com.

An Evening With Nature
The Marvelous Moon
January 14, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (Thursday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Presenter: Kevin Koski, NASA Solar System Ambassador
The Earth and the moon share a special relationship with each other. Discover the moon's origins, some of its physical features and its affects on the Earth. Mr. Koski will provide an update on what NASA has planned for future moon explorations. This program is most appropriate for adults and youth over the age of 10 years.

Whooo's Awake? Owls! Nature Storytime
January 15, 9:30 am - 10:30 am (Friday)
Ice Age Visitor Center (located off Hwy 67 half mile west of Dundee)
Listen! Whoo, whoo, who, who, who! The owls are awake while we sleep. Come discover some amazing facts about these nighttime hunters. This hour of nature fun awaits 3 to 6 year olds with accompanying adults.

Greenbush Nordic Challenge Ski Races
Sponsored by the Northern Kettle Moraine Nordic Ski Club
January 17, starts at 9:00 (Sunday)
Greenbush Recreation Area (located off Kettle Moraine Drive between Greenbush and Hwy 67)
Breakout your cross-country skis! There will be a 6K high school race, a 3K middle school race, 1K kid's race and a 15K free style all ages race. Events begin at 9:00 am. Food and refreshments will be available. Register at the Greenbush Recreation Area Shelter before the races. For more information go to www.greenbushusa.com.