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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SHOWING THE KIDS IT'S EASY TO BE GREEN
Wisconsin's Ripe with "Green" Things to Do with Kids
MADISON, Wis. (Feb. 15, 2008) - What's one of the best ways to keep a movement going? Get kids involved. Kids can be powerful advocates in any effort -- especially in the one to save the planet -- because they bring new enthusiasm, interest and curiosity. Teach them the importance of recycling and turning off the lights, and you'll find yourself with a new recruit to the "planet police."
To feed that curiosity and to fuel that enthusiasm, spend a day in the great outdoors with your favorite young person. The knowledge and appreciation they gain will pay dividends - for them and for the planet we all will share for generations to come. Opt for the tried-and-true favorites like camping and hiking or go out on a limb with a naturalist program at a nature center or state park.
Naturalist Programs
Wisconsin is home to dozens of science and nature centers, and many of them offer programs specifically designed for children and families. The mission of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona is "to teach the student to see the land, understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands" in the spirit of famed Wisconsin conservationist Aldo Leopold. Through hands-on, guided experiences, children and adults come to discover and explore the wonders of the natural world. Outdoor nature programs -- including celebrations of Arbor Day and maple syrup -- celebrate the seasons year-round, designed with families in mind.
In Door County, The Ridges Sanctuary offers regularly scheduled, naturalist-guided hikes from mid-May through mid-October along five miles of trails featuring delicate w ildflowers and other rare plants, including more than 25 varieties of native orchids. Spring and summer events include the "33rd Annual Midwest Crane Count" on April 19 and "Door County Festival of Nature," May 22-24, which includes naturalist-guided field, canoe and kayak trips through some of Door County's most unique and beautiful scenery.
In northern Wisconsin, The Cable Natural History Museum serves up a "junior naturalists" program with a variety of workshops including "Pollution Patrol," "Something in the Air," and "What a Wonderful World." In addition to educating young people, the natural history museum offers summer lecture series, field trip series and wildlife displays.
The Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland offers a free "Summer Northwoods Adventure Series" Monday through Saturday from 10 am to noon, June through August. Suitable for all ages, the Northwoods Adventure Series explores a variety of nature topics including native landscaping, animals, bugs, fur trade, area settlement and visits from Smokey Bear.
Near Eau Claire, Beaver Creek Reserve encompasses 380 acres of picturesque natural habitat where people can discover, learn and appreciate the mysteries of our natural world. Make your first stop the Wise Nature Center for hands-on learning stations, interpretive displays of local fauna and flora, and live animal exhibits. A butterfly house gives kids an up-close and unique experience with nature while the two telescopes at the Hobbs Observatory provide opportunities for viewing the night sky.
Just about two miles from downtown Green Bay, The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a 700-acre, urban wildlife refuge with live animal exhibits, an interactive nature center, trails and a wildlife rehabilitation site. The Sanctuary's "Spring's Wings Birding and Art Festival" on May 10 will introduce families to the many and varied ways humans interact with birds through demonstrations, art and activities.
Havenwoods State Forest and Environmental Awareness Center is literally an "oasis" of 237 acres of fields and woods located in the heart of urban Milwaukee. Havenwoods offers free nature programs for families with preschoolers and school-aged children throughout the year. Families can learn how to cook food using the sun and everyday household materials in "Solar Cooking" on June 7. Preschoolers and school-aged kids are sure to love the June 17 program "Life in a Rotten Log" that uncovers the plants and animals that make rotten logs their cherished home.
The Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, located south of Hudson, has identified as its mission the development and enhanced appreciation for the natural world for visitors of all ages and capabilities. The Wisconsin campus offers hiking and biking.
Fishing
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Tackle Loaner program makes trying fishing a cinch. The DNR has equipment for loan at several DNR offices, state parks and facilities participating in the program. There is no charge to borrow the equipment. Fifteen sites also have Fish Packs that contain various games and activities. In addition to basic fishing equipment, the program provides knot-tying practice equipment and Backyard Bass (a casting game). Some sites have equipment in classroom quantities and others have just enough for a few families, so check with the nearest site when planning a fishing outing.
Another "can't miss" with the kids is "Free Fishing Weekend," held annually the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June throughout the state of Wisconsin. All the waters of the state are open, including state waters of the Great Lakes and rivers bordering Wisconsin. Residents and nonresidents of all ages can fish without a fishing license (or trout or salmon stamps) during the two days. However, all other fishing regulations (length limits, bag limits, etc.) apply. Because children under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license to fish on any day of the year, the motto for Free Fishing Weekend could be, "Take a grown-up fishing!"
Canoeing
Viewing flora and fauna from a rare vantage point such as a river or lake is nothing short of awe-inspiring. With more than 15,000 lakes and 33,000 miles of rivers and streams, Wisconsin provides plenty of on-water options. The southern 92 miles of the Lower Wisconsin River, below Prairie du Sac, are perfect for family outings because there are access points and canoe rentals available at many towns along the way; plus, there aren't any dams to portage. Traversing Sauk County, the Baraboo River provides a relaxing canoe outing with no rapids or falls and plenty of opportunities to catch nature in action.
Camping
Roughing it is one of the best ways to create a personal relationship with Mother Nature. But, when you're with kids, you also want to be sure there's plenty to do to keep boredom at bay. Perrot State Park offers more than 1,200 acres of land surrounded by bluffs, where the Mississippi and Trempealeau Rivers meet. Not only are the natural surroundings a haven for campers, but the park offers a multitude of activities and amenities including hiking, biking and canoeing. In the park, you should make sure to hike on Brady's Bluff to catch some of the most spectacular views of the Mississippi River and Trempealeau Mountain.
Hiking
One of Wisconsin's most popular hiking destinations is Door County's Peninsula State Park, which features nearly 40 miles of trails and 23 miles of winding roads through hardwood and evergreen forests, along cobblestone shorelines and atop towering limestone bluffs. Views of Michigan's Upper Peninsula shoreline and many islands are visible from the park's 75 foot observation tower.
Blue Mound State Park located 25 miles west of Madison is a favorite hiking spot in southwestern Wisconsin. Set atop the westernmost of two mounds, walkers can experience wooded trails, including the Military Ridge State Trail, and a spectacular view of the countryside from the park's perch, the highest point in southern Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Ice Age Trail, one of the country's eight National Scenic Trails, offers some of the best scenery in the state and an educational trek that teaches kids about continental glaciation and the effect of the Ice Age on Wisconsin's landscape. Interpretive centers like the Henry S. Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center in Dundee welcome families looking to supplement their experiences on the trail with Ice Age exhibits, learning activities and naturalist programs. The Ice Age Trail covers a thousand miles and passes 30 Wisconsin counties. Hikers can travel through towering forests, prairies, stand atop the beds of glacial lakes and streams and visit the sites of former lumber camps.
For free Wisconsin travel information and travel-planning guides, including the 2008 Wisconsin Spring/Summer Event Guide or the Wisconsin Activity Guide, visit travelwisconsin.com or call the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's toll-free number 1-800-432-TRIP/8747. Travelers can also obtain guides and information at the Wisconsin Welcome Centers, located in select state-border cities.
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Aldo Leopold Nature Center
608/221-9095; www.naturenet.com/alnc
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
920/391-3671; www.baybeachwildlife.com
Beaver Creek Reserve
715/877-2212; www.beavercreekreserve.org
The Cable Natural History Museum
715/798-3890; www.cablemuseum.org
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center
651/437-4359; www.carpenternaturecenter.org
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
715/685-9983; www.northerngreatlakescenter.org
The Ridges Sanctuary
920/839-2802; www.ridgesanctuary.org
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
1-888-WDNRINFO/936-7463; www.dnr.state.wi.us
Wisconsin Ice Age Trail
608/663-8278; www.iceagetrail.org