Nature program winter schedule [PDF] - Wisconsin DNR

Winter
2013 - 14
December–January–February
Nature Center
Monday – Friday
7:45 am – 4:30 pm
Saturdays
9 am – 2 pm
Closed Sundays
Hiking Trails
6 am – 8 pm daily
Phone
414.527.0232
Address
6141 N. Hopkins Street
Milwaukee, WI 53209
1 block west of
Sherman Blvd.
Websites
dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/
name/havenwoods/
www.friendsofhavenwoods.org
Friends of Havenwoods
Become a member!
Havenwoods State Forest
This is the time of year when nature’s palette changes from greens to
browns. Some of us rejoice at that first snowfall, because it covers the brown
landscape with a blanket of white. Others look forward to the glimpse of a
cardinal or blue jay. How about you? Do you enjoy the changing seasons or
are you just wishing for the first green sprout next spring?
Exploring Nature in the City
Visit the ponds, grasslands, and woods, How does the color
palette change with the habitat? After a closer look, you might
discover that winter isn’t drab—it’s just different.
highbush
cranberry
wild
turkey
Be Quick
Try to see the berries before
the animals eat them! Highbush
cranberries, staghorn sumacs,
wild roses, hawthorns, and
other shrubs can hold berries
well into winter.
Catch a Glimpse
Most mammals are shades
of gray, black, brown, and
white, but red foxes stand
out against the white snow.
While you are watching for a
fox, watch for ermine (shorttailed
weasels). Their brown
summer coats turn white in
winter.
Watch Birds
Cardinals and bluejays make big splashes of color
on our winter landscape. Don’t forget the little
splashes. Watch for red-headed woodpeckers,
bluebirds, red-tailed hawks, cedar waxwings, house
finches, and wild turkeys.
ermine
Go Native
While turf grasses
go brown, native
plants stay a little on
the colorful side, showing
off beautiful shades of red
and bronze. Big bluestem grass
and red-osier dogwood are two
you won’t want to miss.
big
bluestem
altocumulus
clouds
Look Up
The winter sky brings different kinds
of clouds and new shades of blue
and gray. Winter sunrises and sunsets
can be spectacular shades of red,
pink, orange, and purple.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources provides equal opportunity
in its employment, programs, services,
and functions under an Affirmative
Action Plan. If you have any questions,
please write to the Equal Opportunity
Office, Washington, DC 20240. This
publication is available in alternative
format (large print, Braille, audiotape,
etc.) upon request. Please call
414.527.0232 for
more information.
PUB-PR-585 REV 11/2013
mourning
cloak
Watch Often
On warm winter days, you
might be treated to the flight
of a mourning cloak butterfly.
It is truly amazing to see a
butterfly flying when there is
snow on the ground!
Think Small
Lichens on rocks, trees, and
buildings stay green, yellow,
rust, and gray all year.
foliose
lichen
Look for Green
Pines, spruces, and
cedars stay green all
winter, providing
shelter for animals.
white
pine

Mammals: Surviving the Big Chill
Saturday, February 15, 2014
10 am to 4 pm
Watch for more details—
www.friendsofhavenwoods.org
Winter NatureFest
A day of winter fun and nature activities
for families and youth groups.
Free admission! Snow, Rain, or Shine!
Festival Highlights
Programs featuring live mammals
Tracking hikes for all ages
Snowshoes to borrow
Mammal scavenger hunt
Crafts to make & take
Family Hikes
Spend an hour with a naturalist on a family-friendly hike. We’ll use magnifiers,
binoculars, super-duper outdoor lookers, and other exploring tools to discover
what’s happening in nature.
Tracking Down Deer
December 7, 10:30 – 11:30
(Saturday)
White-tailed deer are on the move,
making it easier for us to find the
signs they leave behind. We might
even see one or two on our hike!
Dress for the weather. We’ll use
snowshoes if there is enough snow!
Tracking Trek
January 4, 10:30 – 11:30 am
(Saturday)
Do you know who’s living at
Havenwoods? Let’s find footprints,
scat, holes in the ground, and
feeding signs. Dress for the weather.
We’ll use snowshoes if there is
enough snow!
Let the Games Begin!
February 1, 10:30 – 11:30 am
(Saturday)
Tired of waiting for the Olympics?
Come try out a snowshoe obstacle
course, build the biggest snow
animal, and compete against the
world’s strongest, fastest, and most
agile animals. Snow or no snow—
we’ll have fun!

Drop-In on Nature
Families, friends, and youth groups are invited to head over to Havenwoods on the second and/or third Saturdays
of each month. “Drop in” any time between 9 am and 2 pm.
Owls
December 14 & 21, 9 am – 2 pm
(Saturdays)
Havenwoods is home to several
owls—great horned, long-eared,
and screech. Drop in to dissect an
owl pellet, learn how owls find their
prey in the dark, and make an owl
puppet. Then take a map outside to
look for owls and pellets.
Preschool Storytimes
We’ll use stories, crafts, and activities to explore a different topic each storytime. Preschool
storytimes are for children ages 3-5, and their parents, grandparents, or other adult. These
programs are not for day care centers or organizations.
Evergreen Magic
December 10, 9:30 – 10:30 am
(Tuesday)
Explore the magic of real evergreens
and their importance to nature.
We’ll even decorate a tree just for
the animals.
Snowshoes!
You can borrow snowshoes to use
at Havenwoods any time there is
enough snow on the ground and
the nature center is open. Call for
details.
Snowflakes
January 11 & 18, 9 am – 2 pm
(Saturdays)
Discover the different types of snow
crystals, solve some snow mysteries,
print snowflakes on a bandanna,
and get ready to really enjoy the
next snowstorm!
Animals in Winter
January 7, 9:30 – 10:30 am
(Tuesday)
Some animals stay active during
our long cold winters. How do
you think they find food and keep
warm?
Star Stories
January 21, 9:30 – 10:30 am
(Tuesday)
Listen to some magical star stories
and create your own glow-in-thedark
star picture.
Tracking Down Mammals
February 8, 9 am – 2 pm
(Saturdays)
With snow on the ground, winter
is a great time to look for animal
tracks. Stop inside the building to
learn how to identify tracks and
play some tracking games. Then
grab a tracking guide and head
outside to look for real animal
tracks.
Owls: Nighttime Hunters
February 4, 9:30 – 10:30 am
(Tuesday)
While you are sleeping, the owls are
flying about. Find out what these
nighttime birds are doing.
Fox Tales
February 18, 9:30 – 10:30 am
(Tuesday)
What would you do if you had
pointed ears, a long nose, and a
furry tail? Find out how a fox uses
these things to help it survive.
Watch
willow
branches
brighten
up in late
winter.
Watching for Spring Colors
If you are simply enduring winter and waiting for spring,
watch for these changes that start in February or March:
• Starlings’ beaks turn yellow.
Watch male
• Skunk cabbages emerge from the snow.
goldfinches turn
• Early mushrooms pop up.
from olive yellow
to gold and black.
• Goldfinches start to molt.
• Red-winged blackbirds return.
• Branches on some trees and shrubs change from drab yellows,
greens, and reds to brighter shades.
• Male turkeys’ heads become brilliant red, white, and blue.

Havenwoods State Forest
WI Dept. of Natural Resources
6141 N. Hopkins Street
Milwaukee, WI 53209
PRESORT
STANDARD
US POSTAGE
PAID
MILWAUKEE WI
PERMIT 4426
Enjoying Nature’s Colors
While cold winds blow and gardens sleep, you can still enjoy nature’s palette.
Play with Nature Crayons
Crushing, rubbing, and
pounding natural materials on
paper or cloth are fun ways
for people of all ages to enjoy
nature’s colors. You can play
with soil, plant materials, and
rocks. When warm weather
returns, you can “color” with
flowers and leaves, too. Check out The Art and Craft of
Pounding Flowers by Laura C. Martin or Hand Printing
from Nature by Laura Donnelly Bethmann.
staghorn
sumac
pounded leaves with
and without outlines
Experiment with natural dyes
While flowers and fresh leaves are
not available in winter, you can still
experiment with walnut hulls, onion skins,
lichens, tree bark, coffee beans, sumac
berries, and much more. Borrow a book
from the library or search online to find
out about dye recipes, mordants, utensils,
and textiles.
Bring natural
materials inside
Potted plants,
grapevine wreaths, rock
or shell collections, dried
plants, interesting seedheads,
pressed flowers, and other found objects will help to
keep you connected to nature during the short, chilly
days of winter.
Incorporate nature’s colors
The next time a room needs redecorating, look to
nature for your color scheme. Natural shades of paint
like sky blue and mossy
green will look great with
natural materials. Instead
of purchasing art for the
walls, enlarge your photos
of favorite natural areas
and frame them using
second-hand frames.