At Crossroads at Big Creek, we and many of our friends, find ourselves obsessing about clouds. Appropriately, “Clouds” will be the topic for the weekly “Science Saturday” program… but clouds—the presence or absence of clouds—will affect most of the programs and projects we have planned.

For example, on Friday, September 27, the fifth grade from Sunrise School will celebrate Astronomy Day at Crossroads, and will we host the event with assistance from the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society.

Despite the fact DPAS is a science-based organization, their members are (in jest, we hope) superstitious about clouds, joking that that the more they pay for a new piece of astronomical equipment, the longer they will experience cloud cover. And a fabulous new astronomical camera (purchased with funds from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium matched by member donations) will arrive just about then. Weather or not, the Sunshine School (and with luck, sunshine) will be with us on Friday.

Then on Saturday morning, the Door County Mushroom Club will hold their Fall Fungi Fest at Crossroads from 9:00AM to 12:00 noon and that event will include a mushroom hike at 11:45. These people are yearning for clouds—rain clouds! —because mushrooms foraging tends to be best a couple days following significant rainfall.

This is not superstition. It is fungi survival. [And just saying, human survival depends on fungi survival].  A fungus is not a plant nor is it an animal, but it is a living organism classified in Kingdom Fungi.

Some, but certainly not all, species of fungi produce fleshy fruiting bodies which we call mushrooms. Mushrooms rarely appear during a dry spell. But they do seem to pop up almost overnight to disperse their tiny spores when the moisture and temperature are adequate for spore germination.

The mushroom hike be far more productive if rain clouds dump on us soon. And for that matter, when our Junior Nature Club [we still have a few openings—see our website for information and to register a child] has their lesson on fungus, we hope there will be more mushrooms than we find now.

We do not anticipate a salmon run in Big Creek this year. The water in the creek is just too low. And in the same vein, our restoration team is hoping for a few good drenchings so we go into winter with moisture in the soil.

But whatever the weather, our free weekly kids’ program “Science Saturday,” will include a video, “states of matter” demonstrations using dry ice, and several experiments about clouds. While this program is geared for kids—we encourage learners of all ages to take part.

Even our Nature Exploration After School program on Monday will be sun/cloud dependent. The colors of autumn leaves are determined, in part, by the amount of sunshine they receive in late summer and early fall.

– by Coggin Heeringa, Interpretive Naturalist

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 donors like you!

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, September 23

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Nature Explorations – Wetlands

This program is intended for elementary school students but is open to all ages. It will begin with a short lesson on wetlands. Weather permitting, participants then will visit a wetland, which by fall, is dry enough for easy exploration. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of our donors.

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Tuesday, September 24

6:30 – 7:30 pm Wild Ones Native Flower Show – The Grand Finale

The native fall flowers of Door County are glorious, but they also are essential because they provide the nectar that enables butterflies to migrate and honeybees to take to their hives to make honey so they can survive the winter. Fall flowers also provide the pollen and nectar that many native bees require to provision their nests, providing food for the next generation. And the seeds of these flowers are the winter rations for our birds.

Learn which plants are both beautiful and beneficial, and the best ways to plant them. Our friends from the Door County Seed Library will offer free native wildflower seeds.

This program is co-sponsored by Wild Ones-Door Peninsula, Door County Master Gardeners, and Crossroads at Big Creek.

Meet in the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. Program is FREE and open to the public.

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Wednesday, September 25

1:30 – 2:30 pm Wandering Wednesdays – North Bridge and Aboretum

Join the naturalist on a guided hike through the spruce forest, over the North Bridge and through the Arboretum, observing the flowers that provide nectar for butterflies and bees. No preregistration required. About an hour. Easy walking. Open to the public; Free thanks to the generosity of our donors. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

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3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Nature Explorations: Meet the Beaver

This program is intended for elementary school students, but is open to all ages.  It will begin with a short video and learning game. Then participants will visit the Crossroads Wisconsin Wildlife Exhibit to “meet the beaver” face to face. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of our donors.

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Friday, September 27

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, September 28

9:00 am – 12:00 pm Mushroom Club – Fall Fungi Fest

Sponsored by the Door Peninsula Mushroom Club. Mushrooms, mushroom products, mushroom art! Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms Presentation at 10:00 am. Mushroom Hike at 11:45 am. Held at the Collins Learning Center. Contact the Door Peninsula Mushroom Club for additional info.