30th Anniversary Open House

July 21 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Let’s celebrate!!

2024 marks 30 years of children’s environmental education at Aldo Leopold Nature Center! Whether you’ve connected with us before or have never been, join us for food carts, family-friendly nature activities, live music, community building, and more. Adventure awaits.

Bring a blanket and join us for lunch…

We’ve partnered with some of your favorite local food carts to bring you lunch at 90s prices! Food carts include PA’PA’S BBQ, Jakarta Cafe, The Walking Jerk, and REAP Food Group’s Uprooted, and Piglet Taco Truck!

90s prices, what does that even mean? According to the US Inflation Calculator, the cumulative rate of inflation, since our founding in 1994, is 111.9%… Therefore, a little more than half the cost of your meal is on us! Meaning, a sandwich that normally costs you $15 today, will only cost you about $7 at the open house.

Bring your reusable water bottle…

Or buy one at the event! Madison Water Utility will be onsite with the water wagon, helping us limit plastic waste at our 30th Anniversary Open House.

Activities include:

Plant Identification: Take a hike through the prairie, learning how to identify iconic plants along the way.
Pond Dipping: Discover the creatures that live in our wetland pond, while exploring this vital ecosystem.
BINGO: Search high and low for the items on the card – BINGO wins a prize.
Fort Building: Practice your engineering skills and take your imagination to new heights.
Nature Mandala: Using items found in nature, create ephemeral art in community with others.
Phenology Journal: Make your own phenology journal to record your observations all of your adventures.
Live Music: Nostalgic Groove will be jamming on the back deck.
50/50 Raffle: Bring some cash for a chance to win some cash while raising money for children’s environmental education.

We are public land and ALL are welcome! Our trails are free and open daily from dawn until dusk.

Food Carts

Lodging

Thinking about making a weekend of it? We’ve reserved room blocks with special rates for the 30th Anniversary Open House at Country Inn & Suites