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Our facility will be closed on Monday, September 1st in honor of Labor Day.

Our building will reopen to the public at 10am on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Everyday, our trails are free and open from dawn until dusk.

Our facility is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm, and from 10am to 2pm on weekends.

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You never know what might happen in the Play Space

You never know what might happen in the Play Space!
The Polliwogs had a busy day avoiding black holes, making their own paint, and creating their own narratives. The space is full of structures and objects that inspire imaginative play. The Polliwogs, like any other group, take full advantage of the space and let their imaginations run wild.
The round swing became a black hole that no one could escape. The sandpit became quicksand that campers needed to carefully avoid. Baking pans, filled with dirt pies, lay ready to be delivered by wagon. Water and chalk combined made a paint that’s easy to clean, so anyone could start over with a blank slate… And isn’t messing it up half the fun?
What adventure will the Polliwogs go on next?
Photos: Kira Breitlow, Aldo Leopold Nature Center
#Polliwogs #SummerCamp #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside

Good morning, Goldenrod! ☀️🌻 This native h

Good morning, Goldenrod! ☀️🌻
This native herbaceous perennial is found across most of the northeastern United States. Worldwide, there are over 150 varieties of goldenrod, with varying reports of 60 to 100 native to the United States. Different varieties of goldenrod can be found in many different habitats, including prairies, meadows, and fields; it can also be found lining woodlands, in the mountains, and along roadsides.
As a late bloomer, goldenrod brightens up the landscape in the late summer and fall months, with flowers blooming for about 3 weeks. At its peak, goldenrod can grow anywhere from 2-6’ feet tall, containing leaves that vary in length of 4-6’ inches, and compact masses of yellow flower heads.
Often wrongfully blamed for late summer seasonal allergies, goldenrod is not the main culprit, ragweed is. Runny noses and sore throats are caused by wind-pollinated species, which rely on a breeze for pollination, such as ragweed. Goldenrod is primarily insect-pollinated thanks to the weight of its pollen, requiring someone to touch the plant or put it near their face to distribute the pollen and trigger their allergies.
Goldenrod’s latin name, Solidago, means “to make whole or heal,” a nod to the plant’s use as an herbal supplement and medicinal property. Most commonly used as a supplement for urinary health and reducing inflammation, goldenrod has also been tested for success in weight loss, cancer prevention, anti-aging, and heart health.
Photo: Aldo Leopold Nature Center
#PhenologyFriday #Goldenrod #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside #NatureAsMedicine

It’s the last week of summer camp!! Where DID th

It’s the last week of summer camp!! Where DID this summer go?
To nature exploration and discovery with new and familiar friends, of course!
This week, we have to give huge, HUGE THANKS to all of our environmental educators and summer camp support staff for another fabulous summer!
The past ELEVEN WEEKS, they have brought it, connecting kids with nature and building lifelong memories. Heat and humidity, rain and cold, mosquitos and ticks, it doesn’t matter…They are still smiling, engaging, and building lifelong memories with the campers. Working a full summer of camp takes adaptability, creativity, and perseverance and these educators did a fantastic job, making sure campers had fun, stayed safe, and maybe even learned something new.
Our summer camps would not run without the educators and our Nature Center would not be the celebrated organization it is without our education team. Thank you to everyone who helped make this summer a success.
Photos: Aldo Leopold Nature Center
#ThankfulThursday #SummerCamp #Educators #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside

Aldo Leopold Nature Center is at Aldo Leopold Nature Center.

11 hours ago

You never know what might happen in the Play Space!The Polliwogs had a busy day avoiding black holes, making their own paint, and creating their own narratives. The space is full of structures and objects that inspire imaginative play. The Polliwogs, like any other group, take full advantage of the space and let their imaginations run wild.The round swing became a black hole that no one could escape. The sandpit became quicksand that campers needed to carefully avoid. Baking pans, filled with dirt pies, lay ready to be delivered by wagon. Water and chalk combined made a paint that’s easy to clean, so anyone could start over with a blank slate… And isn’t messing it up half the fun?What adventure will the Polliwogs go on next?Photos: Kira Breitlow, Aldo Leopold Nature Center#Polliwogs #SummerCamp #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside ...

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Aldo Leopold Nature Center

Contact Us

330 Femrite Drive
Monona, WI 53716

Phone: (608) 221-0404
Fax: (608) 709-1611

alnc@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org

EIN 39-1786897

Building Hours

Monday through Friday: 9am to 4pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 2pm

Hiking Trails

Open daily from dawn until dusk!

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Aldo Leopold Nature Center

ABOUT
VISIT
PROGRAMS
EVENTS
SUPPORT
CONNECT