- Trails are open 24/7 at no charge. Enjoy a Winnie-the-Pooh themed TRAIL TALES Storybook Walk.
What’s Happening: Aldo Leopold Day
In 2004, Governor James Doyle designated the first Saturday in March as “Aldo Leopold Day” in Wisconsin and at the suggestion of Nancy Rafal, in 2007 Crossroads at Big Creek, in collaboration with other Door County environmental organizations, brought Aldo Leopold Weekend to Door County.
Every year since, Crossroads, in various ways, has celebrated on the first Saturday in March—often in collaboration with others. This year, Crossroads is joining with the Door County Master Gardeners Association and Wild Ones-Door Peninsula to sponsor an Aldo Leopold Day Sunset Hike for the community on Saturday March 1 at 4:30 p.m.
But the whole weekend will relate in some way to Aldo Leopold, who in addition to writing inspiring essays about nature, is known as the “Father of Wildlife Ecology,” because in 1933 he wrote “Game Management”, the first textbook which defined the techniques for managing and restoring wildlife. But what does fish have to do with him?
According to Curt Meine, a Senior Fellow at the Leopold Foundation, “rivers and fishing were in Leopold’s DNA,” as he had grown up near the Mississippi (in Iowa). Leopold started thinking early in his career about how landscape and vegetation changes in a watershed affect water quality and aquatic habitat.”
The Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. Fish Tales Lecture “The Status of Lake Whitefish in Lake Michigan and Green Bay” was prepared by Scott Hansen, WDNR Senior Fish Biologist who oversees the management of Lake Whitefish in Lake Michigan/ Green Bay, and will be presented by Nick Legler, WDNR Fisheries Supervisor. The free program will explore why Lake Whitefish are now much more abundant in Green Bay than in Lake Michigan and how invasive zebra and quagga mussels were involved in causing such a significant change. This popular program is free and open to the public. But those who cannot attend in person can watch using Zoom at https://doorcountylibrary.org/event
On March 1, our weekly family program, Saturday Science, which starts at 2:00 is called “Learning from Aldo Leopold” and learners of all ages are invited to share videos and activities inspired by the wisdom of this environmental pioneer.
Families and the whole community are invited to participate in the Aldo Leopold Day Sunset Hike, which if conditions unfavorable, will be offered as a Fireside gathering inside the Collins Learning Center. In any case, it will start at 4:30 p.m. Volunteers from Wild Ones, Master Gardeners and Crossroads will, at selected spots along the trail, read the poignant words of Leopold. At Sunset, participants will share a moment of silence.
Our Current (Ecological) Events discussion group, which meets the first Monday of each month, will discuss several articles discussing current research pertaining to wildlife management. Folks are invited to pick up copies of the articles at the reception desk in the entry of the Collins Learning Center, but do not need to attend the discussion to pick up the articles. And all are welcome, whether they read the articles in advance.
We will never stop being inspired by the words of Aldo Leopold, but the final Leopold celebration activity will be our Environmental Exploration afterschool program which will involve Predator/ Prey Games at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4.
Ski-for-Free will be offered when conditions allow. Check the ticker at the top of our website to learn of trail conditions and Ski-for-Free hours.nd Ski-for-Free hours of operation during which, free of charge, we will lend skis, poles, boots, snowshoes and kick sleds to Door County residents and visitors.
– 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, February 26
1:30 – 2:30 pm Wandering Wednesday – Naturalist-Led Hike
Join a naturalist-led hike. Easy walking. About an hour. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors.
Thursday, February 27
7-9 pm Fish Tales: Status of Lake Whitefish in Lake Michigan & Green Bay
Prepared by Scott Hansen, WDNR Senior Fish Biologist who oversees the management of Lake Whitefish in Lake Michigan/ Green Bay, and will be presented by Nick Legler, WDNR Fisheries Supervisor. The free program will explore why Lake Whitefish are now much more abundant in Green Bay than in Lake Michigan and how invasive zebra and quagga mussels were involved in causing such a significant change.
Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Healthy Water Door County.
Join us in-person at Crossroads at Big Creek or via Zoom. To participate via ZOOM or Facebook Live, go to https://doorcountylibrary.org/event on the date of each talk, to find the link.
Saturday, March 1
2 p.m. Science Saturday – Learning from Aldo Celebrate the life of Aldo Leopold through videos and activities. Geared for elementary students, but open to learners of all ages.
4:30 p.m. Aldo Sunset Hike Hike the trails at Crossroads while along the way, volunteers with share inspiring Aldo Leopold quotes. We will pause at sunset for a moment of silence. Dress for the weather.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.
Monday, March 3
1:30 p.m. Current Ecological Events Club
Love reading? Join our ecological article club, where we deep dive into current ecological articles for lively discussions, new friendships, and deepening our understanding of the natural world! This adult discussion group will meet each month to review articles about current ecological issues.
The topic this month will be “Wildlife Management.” Folks can pick up a packet of selected articles at the front desk at the Collins Learning Center during open hours.
Drop ins always welcome! Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of donors like you!
Tuesday, February 25
3:30 p.m. Environmental Exploration – Predator/ Prey Games
During Aldo Leopold Week, this after school program will explore the predator/prey relationships. Geared for elementary students, learners of all ages are welcome to attend. Meet in the lab at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of donors like you.
