Events Search and Views Navigation
May 2015
The Fungus Among Us
From puffballs to morels, fungus is all around us! We’ll learn some common types of fungus, some that are edible and some to avoid, dissect a mushroom, learn how to make spore print and much, much more!
Find out more »Smella the Mustela (W)
Minks and pine martens and fishers, oh my. This family of critters will catch you by surprise. So many games, crafts and fun you might think you “stole” something.
Find out more »Natural Painting AM Session (Brownie Girl Scouts)
There are so many colors and images that nature provides. We will use our natural world to make some beautiful paintings.
Find out more »Natural Painting PM Session (Brownie Girl Scouts)
There are so many colors and images that nature provides. We will use our natural world to make some beautiful paintings.
Find out more »Lizard Wizard (T)
Chameleons are lizards that can change color; it’s almost like magic! A palette of games and activities will amaze you.
Find out more »Team Building
All of us work on teams in some part of our lives. Families, sports leagues, music groups, and other clubs or groups are all forms of teams: people working together to accomplish a shared goal.
Find out more »Lizard Wizard (W)
Chameleons are lizards that can change color; it’s almost like magic! A palette of games and activities will amaze you.
Find out more »Whoop- There It Is! (T)
Cranes we mean. Whooping or Sandhill, these long-legged birds are sure to captivate you. Discover their amazing stories and come hear them for yourself.
Find out more »Slime and Scales
Become a herpetologist for the day and search for frogs, toads, snakes and salamanders in this “ribbiting” investigation! We’ll visit the pond and marsh to listen closely for croaks, chirps, trills, and whistles of frogs and toads to learn how to identify them.
Find out more »Whoop- There It Is! (W)
Cranes we mean. Whooping or Sandhill, these long-legged birds are sure to captivate you. Discover their amazing stories and come hear them for yourself.
Find out more »Build Your Own Canoe Paddle (Cancelled)
Join local paddle maker and teacher, Jeff Bach, for a series of sessions to learn to build your own beautiful and functional bent-shaft paddle to take home and out on the water. Throughout this series, we will spend time laminating, gluing, sanding, applying fiberglass and epoxy and learning basic woodworking skills.
Find out more »Camping Days. . . (T)
…Are here again. Want to learn some tricks or feel like you have practiced once before heading on your own adventure? Then join us today for a whirl wind campout!
Find out more »Pondering Aquatic Life
Follow us to the pond where we’ll meet some aquatic life! We’ll use nets and bug boxes to catch and identify the critters that live, breathe, and eat underwater. Scan nearby trees for wetland birds and submerged logs for signs of turtles.
Find out more »Camping Days. . . (W)
…Are here again. Want to learn some tricks or feel like you have practiced once before heading on your own adventure? Then join us today for a whirl wind campout!
Find out more »June 2015
Neat-O Mosquito (T)
We won’t just scratch the surface today! There’s more than bites the eye with games, songs, and crafts- oh my. Are you itchin’ to join us?
Find out more »GROW!
Let’s get the garden planted! We’ll get our hands dirty by transplanting seedlings into our phenology & vegetable garden. We’ll also spend time in the greenhouse, learn about vermiculture (worm composting) and study the soil.
Find out more »Neat-O Mosquito (W)
We won’t just scratch the surface today! There’s more than bites the eye with games, songs, and crafts- oh my. Are you itchin’ to join us?
Find out more »Fishing Fun Month – June 2015
Plunge headfirst into this month’s programs and get hooked! Travel on a virtual tour of Earth’s oceans, enjoy hands-on family fishing activities, visit our pond, learn about lakes and rivers, and discover the connection between climate change and fishing. Plus, join us on Father’s Day for a special Family Fishing Program – learn to fish in our pond, tie basic knots, hunt for bait, practice your casting, and more! Here's a glance at some of the activities and programs lined up…
Find out more »Fishing Fun Month – June 2015
Plunge headfirst into this month’s programs and get hooked! Travel on a virtual tour of Earth’s oceans, enjoy hands-on family fishing activities, visit our pond, learn about lakes and rivers, and discover the connection between climate change and fishing. Plus, join us on Father’s Day for a special Family Fishing Program – learn to fish in our pond, tie basic knots, hunt for bait, practice your casting, and more! Here's a glance at some of the activities and programs lined up for…
Find out more »Fishing Family Fun
Fishing was one of the activities most enjoyed by Aldo Leopold as a youngster; join us to learn why in this introduction to angling! You’ll see examples of different types of rods and reels, practice casting, learn how to tie basic fishing knots, and catch worms to use as bait as you fish in our pond!
Find out more »2015 Run Wild in the Woods: 10K/5K Run/Walk
Congratulations to all of the Run Wild 2015 participants – thank you for joining us and for supporting Aldo Leopold Nature Center programs! Race results are listed below. Photos can be found on the ALNC's Facebook Page, in the album Run Wild 2015. 2015 10K Race Results: Jenkins, Patrick 44:45:00 1st Place Male Deibler, Jadrien 46:54:00 2nd Place Male Frion, Austin 47:14:00 3rd Place Male Latorraca, Kate 61:21:00 1st Place Female Bock, Karla 72:59:00…
Find out more »July 2015
Puzzling Pond Critters (Family Public Program)
Join us to spend your morning at the pond! Our naturalists will show you how to use nets to catch and identify the critters that live, breathe, and eat underwater.
Find out more »Public Lecture: Migrations of Cranes – A Talk by George Archibald
The Aldo Leopold Nature Center and the Madison Science Museum are pleased to bring you a free public lecture by George Archibald, Co-founder & Senior Conservationist at the International Crane Foundation and visionary leader in international conservation efforts for four decades. When people commit to saving cranes, we join together to take action based on our shared values for cranes and their landscapes. Cranes are powerful ambassadors for international goodwill and collaboration. From the wedding kimonos of Japan, to the colorful textiles in…
Find out more »August 2015
August – Gardens and Greenery
Things are really in bloom these days, and it’s a great time to celebrate the plants, gardens, and wildflowers around us! Bring the whole family to ALNC, explore our gardens, identify plants, see what’s growing, and discover how climate change is impacting farming and vegetation in Wisconsin and around the globe. Check out our greenhouse and gardens! Our beautiful gardens are growing fast and ready for you to explore. Pick up a Garden Guide and head outside! Science on a Sphere: View…
Find out more »August – Gardens and Greenery
Things are really in bloom these days, and it’s a great time to celebrate the plants, gardens, and wildflowers around us! Bring the whole family to ALNC, explore our gardens, identify plants, see what’s growing, and discover how climate change is impacting farming and vegetation in Wisconsin and around the globe. Check out our greenhouse and gardens! Our beautiful gardens are growing fast and ready for you to explore. Pick up a Garden Guide and head outside! Science on a Sphere: View high-resolution…
Find out more »September 2015
Family Public Program: Geocaching Adventure!
Join us for a modern day treasure hunt! Geocaches are hidden containers that you track down using GPS units. Learn how to use a GPS unit and spend the afternoon on a geocaching adventure at ALNC’s Black Earth campus to find caches.
Find out more »Family Public Program: Fall Family Campout!
Back by popular demand, bring the whole family for an overnight campout at our Black Earth Campus filled with nature activities and stargazing around the campfire on a fall night.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: 2015 Fall Package (Tuesday)
Save with our Fall Package! Join us this fall to explore a different seasonal topic each week through hikes, outdoor exploration, music, puppetry, songs, stories and more. This package includes all of the Tuesday sessions September 15th through November 24th.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Hum Diddly Dum (Tuesday)
"The hummingbird made my eyes numb. Its wings beat so fast. They were a blur going by super-fast. Hum diddly dum."
Find out more »Home School: 2015 Fall Package
Registration Deadline: September 14th, 2015
Let us add an environmental education component to your home school curriculum with our package option (and save 10%!). This package includes all 14 sessions from September 15th through December 15th.
Home School: Circle of Insect Life
Summer is “bug season” to us, but where do insects go during the winter? Explore the life cycles of some of nature’s most amazing short-lived creatures!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: 2015 Fall Package (Wednesday)
Save with our Fall Package! Join us this fall to explore a different seasonal topic each week through hikes, outdoor exploration, music, puppetry, songs, stories and more. This package includes all of the Wednesday sessions September 16th through November 25th.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Hum Diddly Dum (Wednesday)
"The hummingbird made my eyes numb. Its wings beat so fast. They were a blur going by super-fast. Hum diddly dum."
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Hum Diddly Dum (Friday)
"The hummingbird made my eyes numb. Its wings beat so fast. They were a blur going by super-fast. Hum diddly dum."
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Gall-ee! (Tuesday)
A larva parasitized me! Come uncover the appalling world of galls! But don’t let them rub you the wrong way; we’ll discover why galls really are important.
Find out more »Home School: Fall Frenzy
The fall season in Wisconsin is a season full of transformation! From the leaves turning color to the changes many animals must make, there is a frenzy happening in nature.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Gall-ee! (Wednesday)
A larva parasitized me! Come uncover the appalling world of galls! But don’t let them rub you the wrong way; we’ll discover why galls really are important.
Find out more »Public Lecture: Forests and Humans
In celebration of ALNC's Forestry month, and to kick off the University of Wisconsin’s Forests and Humans Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), join us for a “Forests and Humans” public lecture from Dr. Catherine Woodward, including a tree identification walk through the ALNC grounds. This public lecture on Wednesday, September 23 from 6:00-7:00 PM at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, will introduce many of the topics to be explored in University of Wisconsin-Madison MOOC Forests & Humans: From the Midwest to Madagascar (led by…
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Gall-ee! (Friday)
A larva parasitized me! Come uncover the appalling world of galls! But don’t let them rub you the wrong way; we’ll discover why galls really are important.
Find out more »Vacation Day Add-On: Extended Day
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm on Monday, September 28th, 2015. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods.
Find out more »Vacation Day: Dip Dip Hooray!
Join us for a full day of watery fall learning in and around our pond and marsh. We’ll investigate how life in the pond is adapting to cooler temps, search for frogs, nymphs, tadpoles and muskrats, watch for migrating fall birds and much, much more!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Slow Motion (Tuesday)
Slugs and snails are here today. Going to leave a trail in your mind I say. Stop in and learn what they’re all about.
Find out more »Home School: Have Seed, Will Travel
How do seeds move without arms and legs? We’ll discover the many ways seeds get around and help some along by making a “Living Locket” to take home and plant!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Slow Motion (Wednesday)
Slugs and snails are here today. Going to leave a trail in your mind I say. Stop in and learn what they’re all about.
Find out more »October 2015
Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Slow Motion (Friday)
Slugs and snails are here today. Going to leave a trail in your mind I say. Stop in and learn what they’re all about.
Find out more »October – Phenology and Technology
Fall is such a lovely time of year to pay attention to seasonal changes like migrating birds, colorful leaves, and insects taking their last flights in the cooling days. This month at ALNC, we’d like to encourage you to visit our exhibits and grounds, learn about Earth’s cycles and phenology, and use some fun new technology to observe and record the world around you. You and your family can have fun with phenology – explore a variety of nature records…
Find out more »October – Phenology and Technology
Fall is such a lovely time of year to pay attention to seasonal changes like migrating birds, colorful leaves, and insects taking their last flights in the cooling days. This month at ALNC, we’d like to encourage you to visit our exhibits and grounds, learn about Earth’s cycles and phenology, and use some fun new technology to observe and record the world around you. You and your family can have fun with phenology – explore a variety of nature records…
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Lend Me Your Cheers (Tuesday)
And you will hear a wild tale about the natural world. Come listen to the sounds of the world around us. Games, crafts, and more will have you giving three cheers for all things wild and free!
Find out more »Home School: Nature’s Recyclers
We’d be neck-deep in last year’s plant litter if it weren’t for the creepy, crawly critters we usually overlook! We’ll turn over logs and dig into the soil to get an up-close view of how nature recycles and reuses its own plant material.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Lend Me Your Cheers (Wednesday)
And you will hear a wild tale about the natural world. Come listen to the sounds of the world around us. Games, crafts, and more will have you giving three cheers for all things wild and free!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Lend Me Your Cheers (Friday)
And you will hear a wild tale about the natural world. Come listen to the sounds of the world around us. Games, crafts, and more will have you giving three cheers for all things wild and free!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Detachable Tails (Tuesday)
Salamanders are slippery. Salamanders are neat. They live on the ground, under your feet. Search for their homes. Discover what they eat. Find out why their tails can’t be beat!
Find out more »Home School: Tree Detectives
Discover the inner workings of trees as they prepare for winter’s return! We’ll “Build a Tree,” make a Tree Detective vest to take home, explore the A-MAZE-ING Basswood tree and enjoy fabulous fall colors!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Detachable Tails (Wednesday)
Salamanders are slippery. Salamanders are neat. They live on the ground, under your feet. Search for their homes. Discover what they eat. Find out why their tails can’t be beat!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Detachable Tails (Friday)
Salamanders are slippery. Salamanders are neat. They live on the ground, under your feet. Search for their homes. Discover what they eat. Find out why their tails can’t be beat!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Keep Away (Tuesday)
Nature is a giant game of eat or be eaten. Discover the tricks that animals and plants use to avoid being a tasty treat.
Find out more »Home School: Fall on the Frontier
Pioneers had a lot of work to do during the fall harvest time. Aside from harvesting their crops, they had to chop and stack wood, grind corn, and prepare food for the family. There are plenty of chores to be done on our frontier!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Keep Away (Wednesday)
Nature is a giant game of eat or be eaten. Discover the tricks that animals and plants use to avoid being a tasty treat.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Keep Away (Friday)
Nature is a giant game of eat or be eaten. Discover the tricks that animals and plants use to avoid being a tasty treat.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Mighty Mighty Moose (Tuesday)
These large, mysterious deer will delight you. No bull-oney about it, moose are amazing! Ring your bell and get ready for the adventure with games and songs.
Find out more »Home School: Animals of the Night
This time of year is when the night time creatures take center stage. With Halloween just around the corner, it is a perfect time to learn all about the animals that rule the night sky.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Mighty Mighty Moose (Wednesday)
These large, mysterious deer will delight you. No bull-oney about it, moose are amazing! Ring your bell and get ready for the adventure with games and songs.
Find out more »Vacation Day Add-On: Extended Day
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm on Thursday, October 29th, 2015. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods.
Find out more »Vacation Day: Creepy Crawly Critters!
At the “spooky” time of year, we’ll learn all about some of Wisconsin’s “creepiest” critters. We’ll sing songs, and have some hands-on learning all about spiders, snakes, bats, worms, insects and more!
Find out more »Vacation Day Add-On: Extended Day
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm on Friday, October 30th, 2015. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods.
Find out more »Vacation Day: Apple Science
Apples today keep the no-school blues away! Come join us for a smorgasbord of science featuring a favorite fall fruit.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Mighty Mighty Moose (Friday)
These large, mysterious deer will delight you. No bull-oney about it, moose are amazing! Ring your bell and get ready for the adventure with games and songs.
Find out more »November 2015: Blue Marble – Earth from Space
Apollo 17's Blue Marble (Wikimedia) This month, we celebrate our brand new Immersion Theater and NASA software by taking a step back to look at Earth from space. Planet Earth is home to countless ecosystems, overwhelming numbers of species, and billions of people. It’s easy to think about the seemingly endless resources and the vast differences and diversity that cover our globe. But heading out into space and viewing things from another perspective, we are reminded that our fragile planet…
Find out more »November 2015
November 2015: Blue Marble – Earth from Space
This month, we celebrate our brand new Immersion Theater and NASA software by taking a step back to look at Earth from space. Planet Earth is home to countless ecosystems, overwhelming numbers of species, and billions of people. It’s easy to think about the seemingly endless resources and the vast differences and diversity that cover our globe. But heading out into space and viewing things from another perspective, we are reminded that our fragile planet is alone in the vast…
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Field of Dreams (Tuesday)
Don’t get stuck grazing around! There is nothing fictional about this world at our feet. Join in songs, games, crafts, and more all about this understated habitat.
Find out more »Home School: Plants A-Plenty
Plants are everywhere! Some plants smell nice, other plants we call weeds, and still others we can eat! Plants are a very important part of food chains and the ecosystem as a whole.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Field of Dreams (Wednesday)
Don’t get stuck grazing around! There is nothing fictional about this world at our feet. Join in songs, games, crafts, and more all about this understated habitat.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Field of Dreams (Friday)
Don’t get stuck grazing around! There is nothing fictional about this world at our feet. Join in songs, games, crafts, and more all about this understated habitat.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Noisy Neighbor (Tuesday)
Startling birds of a rowdy nature are the topic of today. Let us introduce you to the raucous and wondrous world of starlings.
Find out more »Home School: What’s the Weather Like?
Today, the temperature will be 45 degrees and there is a strong chance of some snow overnight. How do weather forecasters know what the weather will be like?
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Noisy Neighbor (Wednesday)
Startling birds of a rowdy nature are the topic of today. Let us introduce you to the raucous and wondrous world of starlings.
Find out more »Vacation Day Add-On: Extended Day
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm on Friday, November 13th, 2015. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods.
Find out more »Vacation Day: Tree-Mendous!
We’re going out on a limb and saying this day will be ‘tree bien’! We’ll spend the day learning all about the forest, making tree & leaf art, homemade paper, taking measurements in the ALNC woods, examining how and why leaves change color and so many more tree-mendous topics!
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Noisy Neighbor (Friday)
Startling birds of a rowdy nature are the topic of today. Let us introduce you to the raucous and wondrous world of starlings.
Find out more »Girl Scout Program: Take a Hike! (Brownies) AM session
Open your eyes and your ears to all that nature has to offer. Lace up your boots and join us as we discover nature on a hike. We will learn what we can find outside, how to be safe on the trails and what to bring if you want to hike for a long distance. All you need for this adventure is a desire to explore outside on the trail!
Find out more »Girl Scout Program: Take a Hike! (Brownies) PM session
Open your eyes and your ears to all that nature has to offer. Lace up your boots and join us as we discover nature on a hike. We will learn what we can find outside, how to be safe on the trails and what to bring if you want to hike for a long distance. All you need for this adventure is a desire to explore outside on the trail!
Find out more »Girl Scout Program: Outdoor Painting (Brownies) AM session
Use your creativity to make your own paintings! We will work together to paint a mural, and then allow our own creativity fly as we paint using a variety of materials.
Find out more »Girl Scout Program: Outdoor Painting (Brownies) PM session
Use your creativity to make your own paintings! We will work together to paint a mural, and then allow our own creativity fly as we paint using a variety of materials.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Sing Me a Birdsong (Tuesday)
Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. You probably know that sound and the little bird that makes it! Chickadees’ songs fill the air all year long.
Find out more »Vacation Day Add-On: Lunch Bunch
This Lunch Bunch session runs from noon-1pm on Tuesday, November 17th, 2015. Attendees spend the first 20-30 minutes eating a sack lunch brought from home and listening to a story then get a free choice between a variety of indoor and outdoor options for the remaining time.
Find out more »Home School: Orienteering
“Put Red in the Shed and follow Fred.” If you can say this sentence, you can use a compass!
Find out more »Vacation Day: Map Quest!
Come for just the program or join us for lunch bunch and a fun afternoon of adventure. Join us for an old fashioned treasure hunt!
Find out more »Vacation Day Add-On: Extended Day
This extended day session runs before programming from after programming from 4:00-5:30pm on Tuesday, November 17th, 2015. You can pick up at any point within these time periods.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Sing Me a Birdsong (Wednesday)
Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. You probably know that sound and the little bird that makes it! Chickadees’ songs fill the air all year long.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Sing Me a Birdsong (Friday)
Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. You probably know that sound and the little bird that makes it! Chickadees’ songs fill the air all year long.
Find out more »Girl Scout Program: Creepy Crawly Critters (Brownies) AM session
Our world is full of many different types of bugs and insects. Some insects are so tiny you need a magnifying lens to see them while others may be as big as your hand! We will look under logs, on tall grass and even in the water on our insect hunt.
Find out more »Family Public Program: Families on the Frontier
Celebrate fall and the harvest season by going back in time to a world much different than today!
Find out more »Girl Scout Program: Creepy Crawly Critters (Brownies) PM session
Our world is full of many different types of bugs and insects. Some insects are so tiny you need a magnifying lens to see them while others may be as big as your hand! We will look under logs, on tall grass and even in the water on our insect hunt.
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Something is Rotten (Tuesday)
Don’t be alarmed! It’s not your leftover lunch. It’s a rotting log! This decomposing treat is home to critters large and small.
Find out more »Home School: Gobble Gobble!
It’s almost Turkey Day! Did you know the Turkey was once suggested to be the national symbol of the United States?
Find out more »Vacation Day Add-On: Extended Day
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm on Wednesday, November 25th, 2015. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods.
Find out more »Vacation Day: Pioneer Fall Harvest
Come celebrate the “Fall Harvest” in full pioneer style! We’ll play some traditional outdoor games like Blindman’s Bluff, Drop the Handkerchief, Rolling the Hoop and Sack Races, as well as ‘pioneer dress up!’
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Something is Rotten (Wednesday)
Don’t be alarmed! It’s not your leftover lunch. It’s a rotting log! This decomposing treat is home to critters large and small.
Find out more »December 2015
Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: 2015-2016 Winter Package (Tuesday)
Save with our package option! Join us this winter to explore a different seasonal topic each week through hikes, outdoor exploration, music, puppetry, songs, stories and more. This package includes all of the Tuesday sessions December 1st through February 23rd (11 sessions- no classes Tuesday, December 22nd and Tuesday, December 29th).
Find out more »Wonder Bugs Preschool Program: Those Prickly Pines (Tuesday)
What is as tall as a house and green all year round? Why pine trees of course! Count needles, smell the bark, hug the trunk, and learn all about these evergreen trees!
Find out more »
