Free and Open to the Public!

Meet at the Big Bay Town Park Pavilion.
A hike for beginners and experts alike.
You never know what we are going to see or hear!
Bring binoculars and wear good waterproof footgear.

Monarch Butterfly Conservation in a Changing World
Professor Karen S. Oberhauser, Director (retired) UW-Madison Arboretum and her students have conducted research on Monarch Butterfly ecology for almost 40 years.  She is passionate about the conservation of the world’s biodiversity and building connections between humans and the natural world.

Reception:  6:00pm, hearty appetizers and wine
Program:  7:00pm
Location:  Madeline Island School of Arts
Cost:  $35.00/person
RSVP Deadline:  Friday, May 16th, or 100-person limit. Click here to RSVP.

Free and Open to the Public!

Meet at the Capser Trail, Middle Road Trailhead, Fire #640

Leader: Samantha Dobson: naturalist, educator, forager and year-round island resident.

Learn about how to ethically and sustainably harvest early season mushrooms. Our hike leader will guide and teach about trees, edible mushrooms and how to find them. Finding mushrooms is not guaranteed but likely.

Free and open to the public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum

Have you ever encountered a black bear?  Did it spark fear or wonder?  Learn fascinating bear information that may cause you to rethink your relationship with bears.

Speaker:  Jane Weber, retired Master Naturalist and Educator. Jane has a passion for presenting fascinating facts about Wisconsin’s wildlife, hoping to promote understanding and coexistence with our unique wildlife neighbors.

Free and open to the public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum

A journey of history, adventure, humor and beauty, turning the eyes from the lure of the exotic and far away to the importance and beauty of the close at hand, and finding a sense of place in the Apostle Islands.

Speaker: Jeff Rennicke, Executive Director, Friends of the Apostle Islands.

Free and open to the public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum

Learn about the bats of Wisconsin, and which bats call the Chequamegon Bay Area home.  Explore the diversity and importance of bats and the role they play in ecosystems around the world.  They are an integral and amazing part of our ecosystems and our everyday lives.

Speaker:  Brian Heeringa, Wildlife Biologist Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Free and open to the public!
Meet at the Burrough’s Trailhead, Fire # 3060 North Shore Road

Finding ways to connect more deeply with nature can offer us support in feeling at home within ourselves, and at home on this planet that we share with so many other beings. By slowing down and being present in the natural world, we can discover ways to feel more joy and wonder.

Leader:  Joan Vorderbruggen, author and certified Forest Therapy Guide.

Free and open to the public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum

Decades of research revealed the physical, emotional, and mental health benefits derived from spending reflective time in nature.  Joan Vorderbruggen will guide us into deeper connections with nature — and better health.

Leader:  Joan Vorderbruggen, author and certified Forest Therapy Guide.