We are past the meteorological fall, the autumnal equinox, and crowds of fall festivals, but for us at Crossroads, the new season starts when the maple trees start to change color, and with the new season comes several new activities.

Don’t worry, we aren’t dropping any of our regular programs, but this week we are starting the Fall Session of Junior Nature Club, plus an adult program called “Current Ecological Events Club.”  The Wisconsin Science Festival is scheduled from October 14-20, but Door County organizers — Crossroads and the Door County Library — with help from our friends from the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society, will offer a “pre-fest” lecture on Tuesday, October 8 featuring this year’s Science Festival theme: Agriculture.

Later in the month, we will schedule “School’s Out Excursions” on school vacation days.

The Tuesday Current Ecological Events Club is in response to a survey conducted by our colleagues from the Door County Seed Library. It seems, and is indeed reasonable, now that the hours of daylight are decreasing, that many life-long learners are reluctant to drive at night. So, while we will continue to host evening programs at Crossroads, we have decided to try offering daytime educational programs for adults every Monday. Programs will range from webinars and films to discussion groups.

The Current Ecological Events Club is envisioned as a combination of a current events club and a book club. Meeting the first Monday of each month, adults who love to read will take a deep dive into current articles about the environment by gathering for lively discussions, new friendships and a deepening understanding about the natural world. 

Reservations are not required, and drop-ins will be welcome. Interested adults are invited to stop by the Collins Learning Center to pick up copies of the articles whether or not they plan to participate in the discussion. This month, the topics will be “Fear Mediated Food Webs”, “Fire Ecology”, and “30×30 Initiative.” 

Not surprisingly, our Science Saturdays program on October 5 will feature maple trees and the DPAS Viewing Night will focus on fall constellations, and on Wednesday, the Wandering Wednesdays hikers will enjoy the fall foliage. 

But then watch our website for the schedule of Door County Wisconsin Science Festival programs focused on Agriculture.

Fall and agriculture… at least agriculture as we know it… are indisputably linked. Scholars from astronomers and ecologists to anthropologists have speculated about how life would be different if the Earth’s axis were not tilted, and if we had no seasons. We will never know.

Presumably, without seasons, deciduous trees would not have evolved which would mean we would have no fall colors. 

But what we do know for certain is that without agriculture, there would not be enough food to feed the world’s human population. Most of the grains and vegetables we grow to feed ourselves and our livestock are planted in the spring, grow in the summer sun and are harvested in fall. Our orchard trees and grapes bloom in spring, develop their fruit in summer and are harvested in fall. They require winter cold to go through dormancy. The cold of winter also protects us from insect-borne diseases and crop destruction. We depend on seasons.

It’s the beginning a fall… the time for crisp air, glorious colors and harvest bounty. Throughout history and in many cultures, this is a time of celebration. Celebrate at Crossroads.

– 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 30

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Nature Explorations – Leaf Colors

This program is intended for elementary school students but is open to all ages. This will be an outdoor program looking for examples of early fall colors, but we will offer demonstrations in the lab if the weather does not cooperate. 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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Wednesday, October 2

1:30 – 2:30 pm Wandering Wednesdays – Fall Colors

Join the naturalist on a guided hike to observe fall colors. 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: Milkweed Seeds

This program is intended for elementary school students, but is open to all ages.  Indoor / outdoor program exploring milkweed seeds. (Dress for the weather.) 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, October 4

1:00 – 2:00 pm Junior Nature Club: Fall Session

Junior Nature Club is a free, six-week series aimed at connecting pre-school aged children and their families to the natural world around them. Through the use of storytelling, games, activities, and play in nature, the Junior Nature Club promotes physical well-being, social engagement and curiosity about nature in both children and their parents or guardians.

Classes start on October 4, 2024, and occur every Friday morning from 10 to 11 a.m. through November 8. This is a family program so parents or guardians are expected to remain with the group throughout each class. Siblings and family members are welcome to participate. The class meets rain, snow or shine. Come dressed for outdoor exploration. If the weather is too bad to be outdoors, we will do nature-related activities inside.

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1:00 – 2:00 pm 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, October 5

9:00 am – 12:00 pm Science Saturday – Maples

This weekly family program is intended for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome to join this indoor / outdoor program to learn about the unique attributes of maple trees. (Dress for the weather.)

Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of donors like you!