When we at Crossroads at Big Creek selected “Bubbles” for the topic for Science Saturdays on the final day of August, the idea was to offer an effervescent fun-filled final fling to end our summer programming. Who doesn’t delight in blowing bubbles? And we all know about soap suds, carbonated beverages, and the little air bubbles in fish tanks. But what do bubbles have to do with science? Quite a bit!

In fact, a few years back, the BBC produced a documentary called “Pop! The Science of Bubbles.” According to their promotional material,” Dr. Helen Czerski presents one of those rare science programs, which — if you’re not a physicist — is quite likely to change the way you see the world…

“The study of bubbles,” explains Dr. Czerski, “is helping scientists solve some of the toughest mathematical problems in nature. By observing the colors on the surface of a soap bubble they can follow fluid flows and study systems that would otherwise be inaccessible or invisible — say the storms in Jupiter’s atmosphere…”

“Emperor penguins store air in their feathers which they release to form bubbles, reducing the density of water and increasing their speed by up to 50 percent…”  and on and on and on.

This week’s Science Saturday program will start with several clips from this documentary and will introduce several concepts about these floating iridescent spheres which enhance our beverages, make ice cream soft enough to eat, and carry oxygen to our lungs and the oceans. Finally, (weather permitting) participants will have a bubble blowing summer-ending fling outdoors.

But the science concepts may bubble up in our other programs this week. Our Wandering Wednesday will visit Big Creek (which this time of year might better be called “Itsy Bitsy Creek.”) But if a torrential downpour refills the creek, we may find large mounds of suds in the water. When dead plant parts – leaves, sticks, logs – decompose, they release organic surfactants not unlike soap, which release the surface tension of the water so bubbles form. Mounds of suds add energy (and hiding places) to the creek.

When we wade into our wetlands during the afterschool Nature Exploration on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., we may encounter another kind of bubbles. Called swamp gas, these bubbles are produced in wetlands when organic matter breaks down in waterlogged soils creating a mixture of methane, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, and trace phosphine. (Yes, it smells bad.)

But beneficial air bubbles are formed when wind creates small waves that add oxygen into the watery environments.

Finally, we can’t resist mentioning “Trails & Ales,” the upcoming Crossroads fundraiser scheduled for Saturday, the 7^th of September. What would ales be without bubbles and foam? In the case of beer, the bubbles are carbon dioxide gas. This carbonation occurs naturally because carbon dioxide and alcohol are produced when the yeast digests the sugar. And sometimes a brewer will force addition carbon dioxide into a keg or container. Anyway, when the container is unsealed and the pressure is released, the carbon dioxide rises to escape and creating the bubbles and a head of foams. Bubbles!

For more information please check out our Crossroads calendar or stop by the Collins Learning Center and pick up a printed calendar. Our trails are open all day every day, free of charge, thanks to the generosity of our donors.

Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center and Nature Preserve is located at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay. Crossroads is a 501(c)3 organization committed to offering education, conducting research and land restoration, and providing outdoor experiences to inspire environmental stewardship in learners of all ages and from all backgrounds. We welcome your support. 

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Upcoming Activities

Monday, August 26

10:00 – 11:00 am Monday Make & Take – Note Cards

This week, each participant will make notecards to take home. Suitable for all ages. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors.

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Tuesday, August 27

10:00 – 11:00 am Summer Nature Programs – Native Flower Colors

Join one of our naturalists for some free family-oriented activities and nature exploration as we explore the colors of native flowers. Suitable for all ages. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

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Wednesday, August 28

10:00 – 11:00 am Summer Nature Programs – Rocks

Join one of our naturalists for some free family-oriented activities and nature exploration as we learn about Door County’s unique geology! Suitable for all ages. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donor.

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Wednesday, August 28

1:00 – 2:00 pm Wandering Wednesdays – Ida Bay Preserve

Join the naturalist on this weekly guided hike through the trails of Crossroads. This week we will wander through the Ida Bay Preserve. Meet at the parking lot for the Ida Bay Preserve, 1195 Canal Rd. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors.

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Friday, August 30

1:00 – 2:00 pm Friday Afternoons with Bertha – Hanson House Tour

Delve into the past recalling of history by touring the Hans and Bertha Hanson House hearing stories of Big Creek and The Cove Estuary from a costumed interpreter. Meet at the Hanson House. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors. 2022 Utah Street (across from The Cove Estuary).

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Saturday, August 31

2:00 – 4:00 pm Science Saturdays – Bubbles

Science Saturdays are back by popular demand!

Not only are bubbles fun, they also can introduce us to a number of science concepts, not to mention motor skills and coordination. We will have bubble activities for all ages.

This program is intended for school aged children, but learners of all ages are welcome. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors.