- Trails are open 24/7 at no charge. Enjoy a Winnie-the-Pooh themed TRAIL TALES Storybook Walk.
What’s Happening: Discovery Day
Discovery Day, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Collins Learning Center, will be held at Crossroads at Big Creek on Saturday, May 16.
The event might never have happened at all—if not for a visioning meeting many years ago.
At the time, the building was nearly complete… but not fully paid for. It was clear that the Sturgeon Bay School District could not afford to staff or maintain the new nature center, and it seemed a shame that such a special place would be used only during school hours, for just part of the year.
So, on a Saturday morning, the board of the Sturgeon Bay Education Foundation gathered in the unfinished building—sitting on borrowed, rickety wooden chairs. They had invited a young advisor from the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation to help guide their decisions.
Armed with a rainbow of Post-it notes, he laid out the options:
- Remain part of the school district?
- Become a 501(c)(3)?
- Serve a broader community?
- Go it alone—or collaborate with other organizations?
As ideas were posted across the bare windows (the walls still lacked drywall and plaster) a vision began to take shape.
The board decided to become an independent nonprofit, dedicated to serving residents and visitors of Door County year-round. And, following the advisor’s strong recommendation, they chose to collaborate with other organizations in the community.
That young advisor was Bret Bicoy—now President and CEO of the Door County Community Foundation. His advice to collaborate with other community organizations helped shape what Crossroads has become today. And after twenty-five years, Crossroads at Big Creek is thriving—thanks to the power of vision, collaboration, and generous community support.
Discovery Day will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the introduction of Jim and Cathy Collins, longtime champions of Crossroads, who will announce a $25,000 public matching challenge. Every dollar donated will be matched up to that amount. (Jim’s father, John Collins was part of that original visioning meeting and along with his wife Helen, was among Crossroads’ most generous supporters.)
The event will also mark the retirement of Crossroads’ first staff member, Coggin Heeringa.
The rest of Discovery Day invites the community to discover what Crossroads and some of many collaborating partners can offer. Visitors can experience hover ball archery, guided tours of the Heritage Garden, the Sturgeon Bay Schools Art Show, and along the trails meet an avian ambassador from the Open Door Bird Sanctuary, and take part in demonstrations including electrofishing, water quality testing, solar telescope viewing, and more.
And on the trails between the stations, learners of all ages can simply enjoy spring awakening across the preserve.
The day before the event, the Center will be closed to visitors so more than 300 area students can participate in a variety of educational activities, also thanks to our community partners.
And discovery doesn’t stop there. On Monday, May 18, at 1:30 p.m., we invite the community to discover our Ida Bay preserve by participation in a guided hike.
– 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. Programs are free and our trails are open 24/7, 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) non-profit NGO supported by the community and committed to inspiring stewardship of the environment through education, research, and outdoor experiences. We welcome your support.
Upcoming Activities
