Annual Midwest Crane Count Training Session
Saturday, March 16, 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Be a part of the Midwest Sandhill Crane Count taking place on Saturday, April 13. Anyone interested in participating in the count must attend this training session. We will review an instructional video, learn about crane biology, receive site assignments and learn how to enter our data into an online database. Sign up for sites in both Outagamie and Waupaca Counties will be held during this session.
No charge
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25th Anniversary Musky Magic
Sunday, March 17, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
New London Intermediate/Middle School, 1000 W. Washington Street.
Our featured speakers are Mike Hulbert, a musky fishing guide from Ft. Wayne, IN and Dan Lazzeroni, Laona, WI guide, both talking about their favorite fish. A mini seminar will be presented by Kevin Pischke, a Green Bay guide. Vendors, pool-side demonstrations, food sales, raffles and more are planned for this daylong musky fishing expo.
Admission is $8/adults and $6/youth 14 years and younger.
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Third Thursday Lecture Series:
Keeping Track of Nature
March 21, 9:30 – 11:00 AM
We welcome Vicki Medland, UW Green Bay Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, who will help us understand phenology, the study of the timing of natural events. Phenological records alert us about the events of nature and provide interesting comparisons between years and among different geographic regions. If recorded carefully and consistently, these records also have scientific value for understanding the interactions between organisms and their environment and for assessing the impacts of climate change.
$6/person, $4/students, seniors & FOMH
Registration and payment due March 13.
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Composting Basics
Saturday, April 6, 9:00 – 10:30 AM
Don’t throw away your yard trimmings and food scraps: compost them! You’ll be surprised by the results. Compost saves money, benefits your soil, reuses resources, provides a rich fertilizer for your lawn and garden and much more. In this workshop with naturalist Mary Swifka, you’ll learn the basics of composting and decomposition, how easy it is to compost, and view the center’s compost learning station. Handouts will be available.
$6/person, $4/students, seniors, FOMH
Registration and payment due April 2.
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Cottonwood Bark Carving Class
Thursday – Friday, April 11 – 12, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Carve a whimsical house from cottonwood bark with instruction by Lee Belanger. This class is different than most other carving classes as there are no patterns to follow. Bring your ideas and your imagination and leave with a unique, one-of-a-kind carving. All skill levels are welcome, but some carving experience is advantageous.
$75/person
Registration and payment are due April 2.
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Annual Midwest Crane Count
Saturday, April 13, 5:30 – 7:30 AM
The Annual Midwest Crane Count is a tradition dating back to 1976. It is one of the largest citizen-based inventories in the world. One of the primary purposes of the Crane Count is to allow the International Crane Foundation to monitor the abundance and distribution of both Sandhill and Whooping cranes in the Upper-Midwest. Each year, the Count involves more than 3,000 volunteer participants throughout 100 counties in five states. Anyone interested in assisting with the count needs to attend the training session on Saturday, March 16.
No charge
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Third Thursday Lecture Series:
Want to Save the Planet? Start with Your Yard!
April 18, 9:30 – 11:00 AM
An avid believer in thinking globally and acting locally, naturalist Steve Petznick will share valuable information on how you can select native vegetation in your yard to make a difference on a larger scale. From the ground up, learn ways to improve your yard by using native plants to meet your landscaping goals. Join us for coffee and conversation following the program.
$6/person, $4/students, seniors & FOMH
Registration and payment due April 10.
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Saturday Morning Bird Walks
April 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18, 25, 7:00 – 10:00 AM
Join us for any or all of these Saturday morning walks. All skill levels are welcome. Bring your binoculars (or borrow a pair of ours), field guides, waterproof boots and dress for the weather.
No charge
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Spring Fever Fundraiser
Tuesday, April 23
We’re MOVING! Check out the fundraiser page for details on this year’s event, which will be held at the nature center.
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Cancelled due to low registration
Leave No Family Inside: Froggie Went A ‘Courtin’
Saturday, April 27, 12:30 – 3:00 PM
Did you know that male frogs sing to captivate the hearts of female frogs? Join naturalist Jessica Miller as she introduces you to Wisconsin’s native frogs. An indoor presentation, with a discussion on frog biology and a chance to meet some live frogs, will be followed by a hike on the property to locate frog habitat and listen for “froggies-a-singing”.
$6/individual or $10/household
Registration and payment due April 19.
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An Evening of Stargazing with Newstar
Friday, May 10, 8:00 PM
Learn about double and triple stars and asterisms—complex star patterns seen in the night sky. Newstar member Tom Jorgenson will show you how to find them and explain the significance of their colors. Then head outdoors for an evening of stargazing. Bring your own scope, or take a peek through Newstar members’ scopes.
$6/person, $4/students, seniors & FOMH
Registration and payment due May 2.
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Growing Green
May 11, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Make plans to attend this FREE event that encourages healthier living through gardening, eating well, learning and more. Presentations are planned on gardening, food preservation, attracting garden birds, essential oils, healthy eating and others. In addition, visit with vendors who will be sharing resources and selling healthy and sustainable products. The event also includes garden-themed crafts for kids and healthy concessions. In addition, we will be selling raffle tickets for five extraordinary painted rain barrels. Tickets can be purchased on or before the event at the nature center: 1/$5, 3/$10 or 10/$20.
Schedule of events
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Third Thursday Lecture Series:
Lake Winnebago Sturgeon: Life History and Population Dynamics, by Ryan Koenigs, DNR Biologist
May 16, 9:30 – 11:00 AM
Our speaker, Ryan Koenigs, is the Winnebago sturgeon biologist for the Wisconsin DNR. His presentation will delve into how the Winnebago Sturgeon Management Plan became the gold-standard for sturgeon management world-wide. Years of extensive study to determine their spawning, movement and feeding behaviors, and accurate data on mortality and growth rates have resulted in the world’s largest naturally reproducing population of lake sturgeon.
Join us for coffee and conversation after Ryan’s program.
$6/person, $4/students, seniors & FOMH
Registration and payment due May 8.
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New London's Feather Fest 2013
May 17-19 (Mosquito Hill Nature Center, Hatten Park and New London Museum/Library)
Join the City of New London in their celebration of migratory birds. This year’s theme is The Life Cycle of Migratory Birds. Activities are planned for all ages. Free admission to all programs.
See our Feather Fest 2013 page for more details
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From Orioles to Ocelots: Wisconsin’s Costa Rica Connection
Saturday, May 18, 10:00-11:15 AM
Join Joe Henry from the Department of Natural Resources, as he shares information about the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. The Osa Peninsula is being protected by organizations like The Nature Conservancy’s actions, the Natural Resources of Wisconsin’s Bird Protection Fund and by people like you who care about pristine places that need protection from development. Joe will share of this fascinating land of sloths and howler monkeys as well as orioles, tanagers and warblers that call this place home for a large part of the calendar year. Want to visit the Osa Peninsula in person? Joe will explain how. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear about this exotic land.
No charge - Part of Feather Fest Weekend
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Learning More about Backyard Birds
Saturday, May 18, 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Help celebrate the richness of bird life in Wisconsin by learning more about the avian species that frequent yards in northeast Wisconsin. Naturalist Steve Petznick will help you identify common yard birds and their nesting and feeding preferences. After you find out more about the life cycles of migratory birds you’ll have a much greater appreciation for the tremendous struggles they endure.
No charge. Part of Feather Fest Weekend
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Leave No Family Inside: In Search of Wetlands
Saturday, May 25, 12:30 – 3:00 PM
Wetland definition: “A lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp that is saturated with moisture.” Upon closer examination however, we can see that wetlands are really cool…and beneficial! Join naturalist Jessica Miller as she guides you through one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. Catch aquatic insects to get up close and personal with them, learn how trees and plants survive floodwaters, discover other animals that make wetlands their home and find out why wetlands are so very important to our environment.
$6/individual or $10/household
Registration and payment due May 17.
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For more information or to register for a program, please email us or call the center at (920) 779-6433.