October 2014
Wonders of Water: Session 2 (Brownie Girl Scouts)
Learn to LOVE, SHARE, and SAVE water during this fun-filled program! We’ll help you earn your LOVE water journey award as we learn all about the water cycle and the importance of wetlands to water quality as we search for critters in the pond.
Find out more »November 2014
Green Buildings Month
The Aldo Leopold Nature Center was recently awarded Sustainable Small Business of the Year Award by In Business Magazine --- explore our exhibits this month to find out why! Learn how conscientious construction, efficient performance, renewable energy, and sustainable practices can make a huge difference in saving energy, curbing emissions and having positive impacts on the environment. View special shows, interact with our green building digital curriculum, and take a tour of our building and grounds to explore our green features. Programs…
Find out more »Green Buildings Month
The Aldo Leopold Nature Center was recently awarded Sustainable Small Business of the Year Award by In Business Magazine --- explore our exhibits this month to find out why! Learn how conscientious construction, efficient performance, renewable energy, and sustainable practices can make a huge difference in saving energy, curbing emissions and having positive impacts on the environment. View special shows, interact with our green building digital curriculum, and take a tour of our building and grounds to explore our green features. Programs…
Find out more »By The Light Of The… (T)
…Beaver Moon. Furs and trapping. Don’t get caught napping. Singing, playing. Are the traders paying? Fun while learning. Today will keep you yearning! For all things beaver and more!
Find out more »Trees and Seeds
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 31, 2014
Seeds and trees are both packed full of energy! We’ll start our adventures with a hike to identify trees and plants then we’ll go on a seed scavenger hunt to learn the many ways in which seeds can travel.
By The Light Of The… (W)
…Beaver Moon. Furs and trapping. Don’t get caught napping. Singing, playing. Are the traders paying? Fun while learning. Today will keep you yearning! For all things beaver and more!
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »By The Light Of The… (F)
…Beaver Moon. Furs and trapping. Don’t get caught napping. Singing, playing. Are the traders paying? Fun while learning. Today will keep you yearning! For all things beaver and more!
Find out more »Leader Of The Pack (T)
Coyotes are wiley. Coyotes are fun. Come learn about these “barking dogs” until the day is done. We’ll play games and craft, sing songs that are daft. You’ll be howling with delight! Today and later at night!
Find out more »Autumn Adaptations
Registration Deadline: Friday, November 7, 2014
Fall is a time of change, for people, plants, animals and weather. From beetles to bergamot, learn how different species adapt to the changing seasons and prepare for the long winter ahead.
Leader Of The Pack (W)
Coyotes are wiley. Coyotes are fun. Come learn about these “barking dogs” until the day is done. We’ll play games and craft, sing songs that are daft. You’ll be howling with delight! Today and later at night!
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »Nature, Camera, Action!
Live from Monona…starring you! Ever wanted to create or star in a nature film or documentary? Join us for a day of nature observation, exploration and digital media!
Find out more »Leader Of The Pack (F)
Coyotes are wiley. Coyotes are fun. Come learn about these “barking dogs” until the day is done. We’ll play games and craft, sing songs that are daft. You’ll be howling with delight! Today and later at night!
Find out more »Take a Hike! (Brownie Girl Scouts)
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 »Creepy Crawly Critters (Brownie Girl Scouts)
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. We will get a close-up look and learn to identify some of the fascinating insects that can be found right in your own backyard.
Find out more »Extended Day Add-On: Gobble Gobble and Weird Science
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods.
Find out more »Gobble Gobble (T)
Did you know turkeys roost in trees? Want to know more? Just ask please! Come find out a thing or two about a wild birdie before you chew. Come gobble up the fun!
Find out more »Quadrats Are Where It’s At
Registration Deadline: Friday, November 14, 2014
A quadrat is a simple device for marking out a small area. By recording information from a number of quadrats placed within a larger study area, scientists obtain a sample of the whole area, which may be too big to describe in full. We’ll spend the afternoon plotting in the prairie and measuring the maple field!
Gobble Gobble (W)
Did you know turkeys roost in trees? Want to know more? Just ask please! Come find out a thing or two about a wild birdie before you chew. Come gobble up the fun!
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »Gobble Gobble (F)
Did you know turkeys roost in trees? Want to know more? Just ask please! Come find out a thing or two about a wild birdie before you chew. Come gobble up the fun!
Find out more »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 »Nuts To You (T)- CANCELLED!
CANCELLED-- Red, gray, flying and fox; squirrels must be sneaky and watch out for hawks! Come gather some acorns and squirrel away some knowledge about our furry fall friends.
Find out more »All about Birds
Registration closes at midnight the night before programming.
“You always can tell what a bird does eat when you look at its beak and you look at its feet.” Students will learn how birds make a living with our hands-on activity. We’ll examine study mounts before exploring the land with binoculars in search of our resident species.
Gobble Gobble
Registration Deadline: Sunday, November 23, 2014
Calling all Jakes and Jennys! Come join us for a very “fowl” morning of fun as we learn all about turkeys. Learn how (and why) they to gobble, explore the habit and habitats of wild turkey, and how to identify turkey scat through fun games, crafts and outdoor explorations.
Nuts To You (W)
Red, gray, flying and fox; squirrels must be sneaky and watch out for hawks! Come gather some acorns and squirrel away some knowledge about our furry fall friends.
Find out more »Lunch Bunch
Registration Deadline: Sunday, November 23, 2014
Your child will relax and enjoy nature stories read aloud by our naturalists while eating lunch. Afterwards, we’ll burn off some energy playing games outside with a nature theme!
Weird Science
Registration Deadline: Sunday, November 23, 2014
Weird and wacky science experiments await your discovery! We’ll learn some basic science principles of science while conducting science experiments, including our famous “electric pickle” experiment, volcanic eruptions, and many, many more!
Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »December 2014
Winter Webs (T)
Spiders come and spiders go-- even in the winter! Get stuck in a web of fun and take home an egg-sac full of memories.
Find out more »Winter Wonder Bugs Tuesday Package
Save with our Winter Package Option! This package includes all of the Tuesday sessions December 2nd through February 24th (11 sessions). Each class is held from 9:30-10:45am.
Find out more »Beyond the Naked Eye
Registration closes at midnight the night before programming.
Explore objects too big or too small to see with the naked eye! From water molecules to the atmosphere we’ll use microscopes to enlarge small objects & organisms, learn about and build molecules. We’ll make the far away and extremely small come to life!
Winter Webs (W)
Spiders come and spiders go-- even in the winter! Get stuck in a web of fun and take home an egg-sac full of memories.
Find out more »Winter Wonder Bugs Wednesday Package
Save with our Winter Package Option! This package includes all of the Wednesday sessions December 3rd through February 25th (11 sessions). Each class is held from 9:30-10:45am.
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »Winter Webs (F)
Spiders come and spiders go– even in the winter! Get stuck in a web of fun and take home an egg-sac full of memories.
Find out more »Winter Wonder Bugs Friday Package
Save with our Winter Package Option! This package includes all of the Friday sessions December 5th through February 27th (11 sessions). Each class is held from 9:30-10:45am.
Find out more »Deer John (T)
You are in luck! Deer do not write goodbye letters for the winter. They bed down here and leap over there. Today the songs, games, and fun a-bound!
Find out more »Astronomy 101
Registration closes at midnight the night before programming.
Join us for an afternoon under the stars as we explore our solar system; including planets, moons and constellations. We’ll get an up close and personal look at these celestial bodies using one of our newest tools – NOAA’s Science on a Sphere.
Deer John (W)
You are in luck! Deer do not write goodbye letters for the winter. They bed down here and leap over there. Today the songs, games, and fun a-bound!
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »NASA “Ask Us” – Change Over Time: Investigate Climate Change Impacts in the Midwest
Spring flooding in the Upper Midwest - NASA Earth Observatory Calling all educators and interested public! The Aldo Leopold Nature Center is excited to be hosting a live webcast and Q&A with climate experts from NASA! ALNC was identified as a Midwest host organization, and we will be connected live with experts from NASA Langley Research Center. We hope you can join us for this one-of-a-kind online Earth System Science educator professional development opportunity from NASA's ESTEEM (Earth Systems, Technology…
Find out more »Deer John (F)
You are in luck! Deer do not write goodbye letters for the winter. They bed down here and leap over there. Today the songs, games, and fun a-bound!
Find out more »Snow Art: Session 1 (All Scout Levels)
We will use our natural world to make some beautiful paintings and even paint with ice! Learn how to paint an outdoor landscape, try painting without a brush and even work together to paint a mural! Bring your creativity and nature will provide the rest.
Find out more »Snow Art: Session 2 (All Scout Levels)
We will use our natural world to make some beautiful paintings and even paint with ice! Learn how to paint an outdoor landscape, try painting without a brush and even work together to paint a mural! Bring your creativity and nature will provide the rest.
Find out more »Signs of Life (T)
Sometimes animals leave us clues like scat or tracks that tell us about their actions. Come be a nature detective and find the animal clues that might be right under your nose-- or your foot!
Find out more »Snowshoeing Basics
Registration closes at midnight the night before programming.
See and learn about snowshoe styles from past to present as we learn the science and culture behind this mode of winter travel. Afterwards, we’ll head outside to explore the winter landscape on snowshoes, practice basic skills, and play some games!
Signs of Life (W)
Sometimes animals leave us clues like scat or tracks that tell us about their actions. Come be a nature detective and find the animal clues that might be right under your nose-- or your foot!
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »Signs of Life (F)
Sometimes animals leave us clues like scat or tracks that tell us about their actions. Come be a nature detective and find the animal clues that might be right under your nose-- or your foot!
Find out more »Extended Day Add-On: Winter on the Frontier
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods. Do you only need the morning or only the afternoon? Call 221-0404x0 to register for a pro-rated version.
Find out more »Winter on the Frontier
Life as a pioneer was tough enough but imagine all they had to do to get ready for winter! They had to fine tune their hunting skills, make butter, grind grain, gather firewood, and much more.
Find out more »5 Flowers, 4 Stories, 3 Cheers for Animals: Session 1 (Daisy Girl Scouts)
In the winter time, many animals are hibernating or have migrated, so it is hard to see them, but some animals stay in Wisconsin. We will learn about some wild animals that can be seen in the snow outside our windows, and we will also make bird feeders to help earn the Birdbath Award as we learn to care for animals and help them through the rough winter months.
Find out more »5 Flowers, 4 Stories, 3 Cheers for Animals: Session 2 (Daisy Girl Scouts)
In the winter time, many animals are hibernating or have migrated, so it is hard to see them, but some animals stay in Wisconsin. We will learn about some wild animals that can be seen in the snow outside our windows, and we will also make bird feeders to help earn the Birdbath Award as we learn to care for animals and help them through the rough winter months.
Find out more »Extended Day Add-On: Brrr…It’s Cold!
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods. Do you only need the morning or only the afternoon? Call 221-0404×0 to register for a pro-rated version.
Find out more »Brrr… It’s Cold!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an owl in the winter time? How about a fox? Or a fish? We will get a chance to learn about some of the features, called adaptations, that animals have to survive the winter time.
Find out more »Common Sense: Session 1 (Brownie Girl Scouts)
We will use our five senses to explore our natural world. We will feel the different textures of bark, smell the scents of winter, see what is moving around on or under the snow and even taste a sweet treat that nature provides. All of your senses will be involved as we venture into our winter environment.
Find out more »Common Sense: Session 2 (Brownie Girl Scouts)
We will use our five senses to explore our natural world. We will feel the different textures of bark, smell the scents of winter, see what is moving around on or under the snow and even taste a sweet treat that nature provides. All of your senses will be involved as we venture into our winter environment.
Find out more »Extended Day Add-On: Nature Games
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods. Do you only need the morning or only the afternoon? Call 221-0404×0 to register for a pro-rated version.
Find out more »Nature Games
Who knew?! Winter is a great time of year to be outside! There are many fun games to play in the cold and snow and we will stay cozy and warm while doing so!
Find out more »Extended Day Add-On: Where Am I?
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods. Do you only need the morning or only the afternoon? Call 221-0404×0 to register for a pro-rated version.
Find out more »Where Am I?
Knowing how to navigate from one place to another is a great skill to have! The night sky has provided people for centuries with ways to navigate from one place to another, but we will practice our navigation during the day.
Find out more »Snowshoeing: Session 1 (All Scout Levels)
Join us for an activity that allows us to experience all of winter’s beauty: snowshoeing. We will learn about some of the types of snowshoes that have been used and then strap on our own snowshoes which we will use while we hike the trails.
Find out more »Snowshoeing: Session 2 (All Scout Levels)
Join us for an activity that allows us to experience all of winter’s beauty: snowshoeing. We will learn about some of the types of snowshoes that have been used and then strap on our own snowshoes which we will use while we hike the trails.
Find out more »Extended Day Add-On: Winter Survival
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods. Do you only need the morning or only the afternoon? Call 221-0404×0 to register for a pro-rated version.
Find out more »Winter Survival
Quick! It’s getting dark and you are going to have to spend the night in the woods. What do you do? By the end of the day today, you will be an expert in outdoor survival.
Find out more »Energize!: Session 1 (Junior Girl Scouts)
You will be well on your way to earning your Energize Award after learning all about energy today! What are some forms of energy and how do we see examples of them? What are some examples of renewable and non-renewable energy? We will answer these questions and many more as we plug our brains in to the world of energy.
Find out more »Energize!: Session 2 (Junior Girl Scouts)
You will be well on your way to earning your Energize Award after learning all about energy today! What are some forms of energy and how do we see examples of them? What are some examples of renewable and non-renewable energy? We will answer these questions and many more as we plug our brains in to the world of energy.
Find out more »Extended Day Add-On: Sherlock in the Snow
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods. Do you only need the morning or only the afternoon? Call 221-0404×0 to register for a pro-rated version.
Find out more »Sherlock in the Snow
Some of the best detective work can be done in the winter time! There is a lot of evidence that animals have been out and about.
Find out more »January 2015
Extended Day Add-On: Snow Science
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods. Do you only need the morning or only the afternoon? Call 221-0404×0 to register for a pro-rated version.
Find out more »Snow Science
Snow is so much fun to play in! But there is a lot to learn about snow.
Find out more »Clover: Daisy Girl Scouts (AM Session)
Our planet is home to many unique habitats, from forests to deserts and polar ice caps. We will learn about three habitats that are found in Wisconsin and why they are important to the plants and animals that call them home.
Find out more »Breathe! (Cadette Girl Scouts)
In this program, we’ll use all our senses to explore air and start you on the path towards earning your AWARE Journey award. Hands-on activities will investigate the concepts of wind speed, sound, cloud types, air pressure and temperature.
Find out more »Clover: Session 2 (Daisy Girl Scouts)
Our planet is home to many unique habitats, from forests to deserts and polar ice caps. We will learn about three habitats that are found in Wisconsin and why they are important to the plants and animals that call them home.
Find out more »Bear-ly Breathing (T)
Winter is a good time for napping if you’re a black bear. Cub and find out something surprising!
Find out more »Winter/Spring 2015 Home School Package
This option includes all Home School sessions (Tuesdays from 1-3pm) from January 6, 2015-June 2, 2015. Registrants cannot use missed sessions on future programs.
Find out more »Under the Snow and Ice?
When snow falls, we love to sled and skate. But at the end of the day, we go home where it is warm and safe. What about all those animals out there in the forests, prairie and pond?
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »Bear-ly Breathing (W)
Winter is a good time for napping if you’re a black bear. Cub and find out something surprising!
Find out more »Bear-ly Breathing (F)
Winter is a good time for napping if you’re a black bear. Cub and find out something surprising!
Find out more »Read Owl About It (T)
Hear ye! Hear ye! Owls are back and they are better than ever! You’ve got to be brave to learn all about these night-time birds.
Find out more »Animal Magnetism
Magnets are in use all around us, from your refrigerator door to doctor’s offices! Did you know the earth is one giant magnet, and that for centuries people and animals have used the north and south poles for navigation?
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC (Cancelled tonight)
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »Read Owl About It (W)
Hear ye! Hear ye! Owls are back and they are better than ever! You’ve got to be brave to learn all about these night-time birds.
Find out more »Read Owl About It (F)
Hear ye! Hear ye! Owls are back and they are better than ever! You’ve got to be brave to learn all about these night-time birds.
Find out more »Extended Day Add-On: Aldo Celebration!
This extended day session runs before programming from 8:30-9:00am and after programming from 4:00-5:30pm. You can drop off and pick up at any point within these time periods. Do you only need the morning or only the afternoon? Call 221-0404×0 to register for a pro-rated version.
Find out more »Aldo Celebration!
Did you know that Aldo Leopold’s birthday is in January? Let’s celebrate his birthday by doing some of his favorite activities!
Find out more »Snowshoeing: Session 3 (All Scout Levels)
Join us for an activity that allows us to experience all of winter’s beauty: snowshoeing. We will learn about some of the types of snowshoes that have been used and then strap on our own snowshoes which we will use while we hike the trails.
Find out more »Snowshoeing: Session 4 (All Scout Levels)
Join us for an activity that allows us to experience all of winter’s beauty: snowshoeing. We will learn about some of the types of snowshoes that have been used and then strap on our own snowshoes which we will use while we hike the trails.
Find out more »Keep on Tracking (T)
...While the snow is stacking! Discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoe (prints).
Find out more »Winter Tracking
Winter is a wonderful time to discover animal signs and homes! Through games, a take-home craft project, and an interpretive hike, youth will search for sign of the inhabitants of Wisconsin’s wetlands, prairies, and forests!
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »Keep on Tracking (W)
...While the snow is stacking! Discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoe (prints).
Find out more »Keep on Tracking (F)
...While the snow is stacking! Discover what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoe (prints).
Find out more »Lights Out (Cadette Girl Scout)
When the lights go out, many animals in nature wake up! We will use our ears as we seek out the animals that are nocturnal while going on a night hike.
Find out more »Snowballs (T)
One, two, three- make some snowballs for me! We will read the story by Lois Ehlert and make our own creations indoors and out.
Find out more »May the “Force” Be With You
Machines, from airplanes to tweezers, are at work all around us. Without the help of machines, it would be much harder for people and animals to do work.
Find out more »Yoga For Good – Evening Yoga Class at ALNC
Join us for an 8-week gentle yoga class at the beautiful Aldo Leopold Nature Center!
Find out more »
