As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we invariably see an increase in the numbers of hikers, dog walkers, and families on the trails of Crossroads at Big Creek. They tell us that they are so very grateful for a beautiful and safe place to be outside during the annual hunting season.

While we welcome this influx of visitors during the nine-day gun season, we are grateful during each of the “52 Weeks at Crossroads,” and that is the title for a nature program scheduled for Monday, November 25 at 1:30 p.m. The show presents 52 stunning images, one for each week of the year, featuring the beauty of Crossroads. We offer this program to demonstrate our gratitude to all the donors, funds and foundations that over the years, have supported our on-going efforts to transform a degraded piece of land into a community retreat.  

This week, as usual, we will offer guided hikes, after-school activities, and our weekly Saturday Science experience… all free of charge. But alas, these scheduled programs are often not an option for working parents.

We have come to realize that many parents spend a great deal of time waiting. Suppose one child is at a rehearsal or practice or gymnastics class or a dentist appointment, and the siblings and parent have perhaps 30 to 40 minutes “to kill.”  It is not worth going home for that amount of time.

Understanding that, we dreamed of creating a place where, during their wait time, young families could engage in nature play with or without staff involvement. 

Research indicates that the way children learn is significantly different from that of adults. Children learn through hands-on, interactive play and self-discovery. In contrast, most adults experience nature visually, and usually just as a background to something else they are doing. While kids love our fish and wildlife dioramas, our “don’t touch” displays do not meet the development needs of young visitors.

We briefly toyed with the idea of installing high-tech interactive displays, but child development professionals believe watching wild places on screens causes children to think of nature as “somewhere else”, thus diminishing their concern for the local environment. That does little to further our mission to inspire environmental stewardship.  

We believe experiences during early childhood should nurture the perception of the child as a part of nature. So rather than filling the building with glitzy displays, we created a makeshift nature play area with materials we had on hand. And kids LOVE it!

In the coming week… in the coming 52 weeks and beyond, we will offer activities for learners of all ages, and we are able to do this because of the generosity of our donors.

We are truly grateful.

The Collins Learning Center will be closed Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday, but trails will be open.

– 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 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. 

---

Upcoming Activities

Wednesday, November 20

1:30 – 2:30 pm Wandering Wednesdays – Naturalist Led Hike

Join a naturalist a gentle, but fragrant hike through the late autumn forest. Easy walking. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors.

---

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Enviornmental Exploration – Squirrel Middens

This program is intended for elementary school students but is open to all ages. Indoor / outdoor program and learn how red squirrels prepare for the winter by visiting a squirrel midden. (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!

---

Saturday, November 23

2:00 – 4:00 pm Science Saturday – Meet the Turkey

Join this indoor / outdoor program and learn about the bird that made Thanksgiving famous! This weekly family program is intended for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome. 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!

---

Monday, November 25

1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Lecture: 52 Weeks at Crossroads

This lecture explores the beauty of the Big Creek preserve throughout the year.

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

---

Tuesday, November 26

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Wild Ones Annual Meeting & Program: Our Adopted Parks

Following a very brief business meeting, a slide presentation will introduce the two city parks adopted by Wild Ones.

Free and open to the public (though only WO members can vote).

Open to the public. Sponsored by Wild Ones – Door Peninsula Chapter