The 2024 Wisconsin Science Festival celebrating Agriculture continues this week at Crossroads.  Even our Family Trails & Treats Event on Friday evening will feature a Wisconsin agricultural product – Pumpkins!

At one of last week’s Wisconsin Sci Fest events, families learned about pumpkins before they carved them into Jack-o-lanterns. Those carved pumpkins and luminaries will light a trail through the Big Creek Preserve. Costumes are encouraged as families to take the trail (a third of a mile) and visit stations at which costumed volunteers will hand out treats. This event is free and open to the public. No reservations required.

I used to be a middle school science teacher, and I dreaded the unit on Simple Machines. I just couldn’t get excited about “devices used to modify motion and the magnitude of a force in order to perform work.” Yawn!

That all changed when I started visiting the Madden Tool Museum. Their hand tools are simple machines, and they are incredibly innovative and surprisingly effective. It is great fun to have the opportunity to see these tools used and better, to actually attempt to use antique agricultural implements. 

So as an event of the Wisconsin Science Festival, the Crossroads Saturday Science will move across the trail to the Tool Museum and where interpreters will demonstrate and give kids and learners of a all ages the opportunity to learn the value of simple machines.

Several years ago, Frank Kutka presented a Library-sponsored presentation at Crossroads and ever since, we have been trying to schedule his return. When the agriculture theme was select of this year Sci Fest, Wild Ones-Door Peninsula offered to sponsor the lecture “Menominee Agricultural History,” on Tuesday, October 22 at 6:30.  

Our speakers will explain how Menominee agriculture has been rediscovered in the forests of our region through the observations of forester and knowledge keeper Jeff Grignon (Paemapameh) and through years of effort by the Menominee Historic Preservation Department. 

Then, they will explore what archeologists, anthropologists, and agronomists must tell us about this important part of the Menominee economy over the centuries. Our speakers will be Jacob Grignon (Cultural Resource Protection Officer, Menominee Historic Preservation) and Frank Kutka (Sustainable Agriculture Faculty, College of Menominee Nation).

Celebrate Agriculture with us this week as we wrap up another exciting Science Fest Celebration!

– 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, October 14

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Environmental Exploration – Mushroom Prints

This program is intended for elementary school students but is open to all ages. Collect mushrooms with the help of our naturalist, and and use them to create make & take prints!

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

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5:30 – 7 p.m. Climate Impacts to Apple Flavor

Presentation discussing how climate conditions impact apple flavor with Peninsular Agricultural Research Station Superintendent Becky Wiepz.

Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of donors like you. Part of Wisconsin Science Festival.

Tuesday, October 15

6:30 – 7:30 pm Hive Chemistry 101

The Door County Beekeepers Club will put on several demonstrations processing bee products, including

• Making Mead – a brief introduction into wine making with honey
• Household Products – furniture polish, wood contitioner, food wraps, and candles
• Personal Care Products – lip balm, lotion bars, hand salve, and soap
• Honey Heater – how to adapt your own appliance for safely heating honey to clarify cloudy or crystalized honey

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

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Wednesday, October 16

1:30 – 2:30 pm Wandering Wednesdays – When Crossroads was a Farm

Join a naturalist-led hike and explore Crossroads campus and learn about its agronomic roots.

Easy walking. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors. Part of Wisconsin Science Festival.

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3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Bumbles & Crops

This program is intended for elementary school students but is open to all ages. Join this indoor / outdoor program to learn how bumble bees use buzz pollination for crops. (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. Part of Wisconsin Science Festival.

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5:30 – 7 p.m. Soil-Veggie Connection

Join Jamie Patton, USDA Soil Scientist, to learn how soils influence growth, taste, and nutrition of veggies and fruits.

Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of donors like you. Part of Wisconsin Science Festival.

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Friday, October 18

6 – 7:30 pm Trails & Treats

Kick off the “Hallow-days” and trick o’ treat on our luminary and jack o’lantern lit trails. Costumes encouraged!

Open to the public and free thanks to to the generosity of our donors.

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Saturday, October 19

2:00 – 4:00 pm Science Saturday – Simple Machines

Join Crossroads at Big Creek and the Madden Tool Museum to learn about pioneer tools. This weekly family program is intended for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome.

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