nature passport...aldo leopold foundation e13701 levee rd, baraboo • 608-355-0279 aldoleopold.org...

Nature PassportTake a Romp with Ringo on a...

Nature Scavenger Hunt!

The Environmental Learning Network

#NatureHappens...All Year Long!

What is nature net?Have you ever been part of a team? You all work together, right? Well, that’s how Nature Net works. We are your favorite nature centers, parks, and museums teamed up to share the wonders of the world around us. When Nature Net sites work together, we can provide ideas and tips on the best nature experiences for your family or classroom. By working together, Nature Net makes learning about the environment fun, easy, and exciting.

Find out more at naturenet.org.

Nature Net Sites1. Aldo Leopold Foundation2. Aldo Leopold Nature Center3. Bethel Horizons4. Cherokee Marsh5. Henry Vilas Zoo6. International Crane Foundation7. Jackson School Forest8. Lussier Family Heritage Center9. MacKenzie Center

10. Madison Children’s Museum11. Owen Conservation Park12. Olbrich Botanical Gardens13. Sandburg Woods Conservation Park14. Community GroundWorks 15. Turville Point Conservation Park16. UW Arboretum17. UW Geology Museum18. Upham Woods

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my Nature passportFill in your information to make this Nature Passport

your very own, then visit Nature Net sites to explore Ringo Racoon’s favorite local

spots and learn fun nature facts!

Find the Nature Passport box at each site to stamp your passport!

Draw your passport picture here!

Your Name:

Your Birthday:

Your Favorite Animal:

Your State:

Date of Issue:

Signature:

Aldo Leopold FoundationE13701 Levee Rd, Baraboo • 608-355-0279

aldoleopold.orgApril-October: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat, 10am-4pm

November-March: Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm

DID YOU KNOW? Phenology is the study of the timing of seasonal events. Each year, Leopold recorded hundreds of phenological observations, including the first Pasque Flower of spring and the last Sandhill Crane of fall. Shifts in these events over time can reveal how plants and animals adapt to changes in climate.

Your nature Mission: Throughout his life, Aldo Leopold kept a journal to record his outdoor observations. Walk the trails at the Leopold Center. Write or draw all the things you see and hear.

Imagine walking the same trails six months from now. How would your observations change? What would stay the same? Keep a

journal like Aldo Leopold would here!

Stamp here

Aldo Leopold Nature Center330 Femrite Dr, Monona • 608-221-0404

aldoleopoldnaturecenter.orgNature Center: Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm; Sat & Sun, 10am-2pm

Grounds: Daily, dawn until dusk

DID YOU KNOW? If your adult has a phone or tablet with a QR code reader, you can scan Digital Docent codes along the trails and learn about phenology, local species, habitats, and

climate change impacts happening right here in Wisconsin. A paper version is available inside if you don’t have a QR reader.

Your nature Mission: When you arrive at the Center, stop inside to check out a Family Trailside Backpack or trail guides to help you identify species along the way! Identify as many plants and animals

as you can, and draw pictures or keep a list here!

Stamp here

BETHEl Horizons4651 Hwy ZZ, Dodgeville • 608-257-3577

bethelhorizons.orgGrounds: Daily, dawn until dusk

DID YOU KNOW? There are 11 cliffs at Bethel Horizons. Fossils in these cliffs show that Wisconsin was covered by a shallow ocean hundreds of millions of years ago - that’s before the dinosaurs!

Your nature Mission: Bethel Horizons spans over 548 acres, which allows room for many different ecosystems! Explore prairies, cliffs, forests, and wetland habitats and learn about how the land

has been shaped by time. Record how many different types of ecosystems you can find!

Stamp here

CHEROKEE MARSH - North conservation Park6098 N. Sherman Ave, Madison • 608-266-4711cityofmadison.com/parks/cherokeenorth

Grounds: Daily, dawn until dusk

DID YOU KNOW? Cherokee Marsh is the largest wetland in Dane County. Wetlands are important because they filter sediments and pollutants from water. They also store flood

waters and release them slowly, helping to prevent flooding.

Your nature Mission: Explore the Cherokee Marsh by walking the trails or paddling through the waterways. Look for geese,

Sandhill Cranes, ducks, Red-winged Blackbirds, frogs, and insects. Do all of these animals live here year round? Draw a picture of

one animal you see that migrates south during the winter.

Stamp here

HENRY VILAS ZOO702 S. Randall St, Madison • 608-266-4732

vilaszoo.orgBuilding: 10am-4pm; Grounds: 9:30am-5pm

DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that the Zoo is committed to sustainability and conservation? Our Arctic Passage exhibit saves 6.7 million gallons of water annually, and we are increasing our use of solar panels throughout the Zoo. What can you do to live more sustainably?

Your nature Mission: What are the animals doing? Each time you visit the Zoo throughout the year, watch how the animals

act and what plants are blooming in different seasons. There is a rhythm to life at the Zoo, and everything is constantly changing!

Draw a picture of your favorite animal!

Stamp here

INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATIONE11376 Shady Lane Rd, Baraboo • 608-356-9462

savingcranes.orgFree admission with your Nature Passport!

April 15-October 31: 9am-5pm

DID YOU KNOW? Many cultures throughout the world have incorporated the graceful movements of cranes into their

traditional ceremonies and dances. Crane dances are performed by cultures in North America, the Mediterranean, China, Siberia,

Japan, and Australia.

Your nature Mission: Did you know that cranes dance year round? Cranes are known for their unique dances, which they use for courtship, social skills, exercise, and just plain fun. Their dances include jumps, leaps, spins, wing flaps, and twirls. Keep watch for crane dancing behavior and write down action words or sketch a

crane behavior you observe.

Stamp here

JACKSON SCHOOL FOREST1660 Fritz Rd, Verona • 608-204-4580

environment.madison.k12.wi.us/school_forest/Park in Madison School Forest Lot/Olson Oak Woods State Natural Area

Grounds: Daily, dawn until dusk

DID YOU KNOW? When Grandfather Oak was young, it stood by itself in a prairie. Think about how many changes this tree has seen - it was already old when the European settlers came!

Your nature Mission: Walk down the Prairie Relic Trail to the right of the large parking lot sign to find the Grandfather Oak (look to the left). This tree is very large and very old! How do you think

this tree looks during other seasons and what food might it provide for animals throughout the year? Draw how this tree might look

during the summer and the winter!

Stamp here

LUSSIER FAMILY HERITAGE CENTER3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison • 608-224-3604

countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/heritage/Building: 8am-4:30pm; Grounds: Dawn-10pm

DID YOU KNOW? Most of the animals in our park live here year-round but Sandhill Cranes migrate in the fall and return

in the spring. You’ll have to look closely to spot one - they sometimes paint their feathers with mud.

Your nature Mission: Take a stroll on one of the trails and jot down any animals you see. If you don’t see any, can you find any clues that they have been here? Look for prints, tracks, or trails.

Are these animals here year-round or seasonal visitors?

Stamp here

MACKENZIE Environmental education CENTERW7303 Cty Hwy CS, Poynette • 608-635-8105

dnr.wi.gov/education/mackenzie/Building: 10am-4pm Daily (May-Oct); 10am-4pm Mon-Fri (Nov-Apr)

Grounds: Daily, dawn until dusk

DID YOU KNOW? Look for a Giant Water Bug in the pond. Did you know that Giant Water Bugs catch their prey with their clawed front feet? They will catch prey as big as a frog, small fish or a salamander!

Your nature Mission: Explore MacKenzie Center nature trails that wind through forest, prairie, and pond ecosystems. Sketch or write about one plant, animal or insect that you see along the way.

Stamp here

MADISON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM100 N. Hamilton St, Madison • 608-256-6445

madisonchildrensmuseum.org9:30am-5pm (closed Mondays during the school year)

DID YOU KNOW? Green rooftops contribute to biodiversity by creating natural habitats in urban environments for

birds, insects, plants, and animals.

Your nature Mission: Visit the Rooftop Ramble and take a sensory journey. What does the weather feel like? Smell a plant or seed head. Look for birds and insects. What can you discover

through the seasons? Write your observations here!

Stamp here

owen CONSERVATION PARK6021 Old Sauk Rd, Madison • 608-266-4711

cityofmadison.com/parks/owenGrounds: Daily, dawn until dusk

DID YOU KNOW? Most of Dane County was covered with native prairie grasslands and oak savannas when the European settlers arrived here in the 1830s. Settlers grew farmland crops on the rich soil created by the prairies. How has the landscape changed since then?

Your nature Mission: Much of this park is covered with oak trees - an important habitat for many species of birds. Carefully observe their behavior, looking to see if you can determine what

kind of food they are seeking out, or how they are using their ecosystem. Keep count here of how many species you see.

If you can get close enough, draw a picture of one!

Stamp here

OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS3330 Atwood Ave, Madison • 608-246-4550

olbrich.orgConservatory: 10am-4pm, Daily

Outdoor Gardens: 9am-8pm April-Aug; 9am-6pm Sep-Oct; 9am-4pm Nov-Mar

DID YOU KNOW? For a long time, people have created shadow puppets to tell stories using light and shadows. Keep

this activity in mind as you play outside and find natural items to help tell your own stories. Because the sun shines all year

long, you can create shadow puppets all year long too!

Your nature Mission: Take a walk through the Starkweather Creek Shade Garden. Plants in this garden like shade more than

sun. Look up, down, and around and draw a picture of something that makes shade or shadows in this garden. Think about what this

garden looks like during other seasons. Tell a story here about what happens when the leaves fall off the trees!

Stamp here

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DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that squirrels often bury their nuts and go back for them during the winter when there is less food available? Sometimes, they forget where they are, resulting in a new tree being planted! They can also find food buried beneath a foot of snow and are very intelligent!

Sandburg woods2902 Independence Lane, Madison • 608-266-4711

cityofmadison.com/parks/sandburgGrounds: Daily, dawn until dusk

Your nature Mission: Sandburg Woods has many different trees that produce food for animals at different times of the year. How

do animals survive when the trees aren’t producing food? List three adaptations animals might have here!

Community groundworks: troy gardens500 Block Troy Dr, Madison • 608-240-0409

communitygroundworks.orgGrounds: Daily, dawn until dusk

DID YOU KNOW? Local actions have global impacts when we work together. Did you know that purchasing locally-

produced food can reduce pollution? If food isn’t shipped from far away, we can save on transportation costs and

emissions. This helps local people as well as wildlife and ecosystems across the earth!

Your nature Mission: Troy Gardens grows many different types of fresh fruits and vegetables. As you walk around, identify as many as you can! You can buy a lot of the produce grown here year round

at the supermarket - where do you think it comes from when it’s winter in Wisconsin? Map out where you think

your food comes from here!

Stamp here

TURVILLE POINT CONSERVATION PARK1155 Olin-Turville Ct, Madison • 608-266-4711cityofmadison.com/parks/turvillepoint

Grounds: Daily, dawn until dusk

DID YOU KNOW? You probably knew that many birds head south during the wintertime, but how about dragonflies? The Common Green Darner, a regular summer resident, migrates too. They can be found as far south as Mexico - that’s a far flight for a small insect!

Your nature Mission: As you walk, pause to look and listen each time you notice a change in your surroundings. How do the smaller plants and amount of sunlight change where there are lots of trees,

or where there are none? How far can you see? Draw a picture of your favorite spot.

Stamp here

UW ARBORETUM1207 Seminole Hwy, Madison • 608-263-7888

arboretum.wisc.eduVisitor Center: Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4pm; Sat & Sun, 12:30-4pm

Grounds: 7am-10pm

DID YOU KNOW? The Arboretum has over 20 miles of trails you can hike through wetland, prairie, forest, and savanna

ecosystems. Most of the habitat was restored from cultivated fields and pastures that were no longer being used - the land

has made quick a comeback!

Your nature Mission: Prairie, savanna, woodland, and wetland plants and animals have unique ways (adaptations) of surviving

extreme cold, heat, flooding, drought, and other challenges. As you hike the Arboretum trails, draw or write about one plant and one animal adaptation for this time of the year!

Stamp here

UW GEOLOGY MUSEUM1215 W. Dayton St, Madison • 608-262-1412

geologymuseum.orgMon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm; Sat, 9am-1pm

DID YOU KNOW? Some of the most common fossils found in Wisconsin are from corals, brachiopods, cephalopods, snails and trilobites. These fossils came from a time when Wisconsin was covered by a warm sea. Do you think changes in the seasons were more or less extreme back then?

Your nature Mission: Explore the museum and draw a picture of your favorite Wisconsin fossil. Draw or describe how the landscape

looked back when the fossilized creature was alive. Wisconsin has changed a lot over time - be creative!

Stamp here

UPHAM WOODSN194 Cty Rd N, Wis Dells • 608-254-6461

fyi.uwex.edu/uphamwoods/Open by reservation; Visit website for more info

DID YOU KNOW? Upham Woods composts about 10 pounds of food waste each day. What food waste from your home can

you compost instead of throwing it in the garbage? You can use this compost to start a backyard garden if you have the space!

Your nature Mission: Upham Woods offers adventures all year long! Imagine you are spending a night there during the summer

and the winter. List the different clothes and supplies you would need for each.

Stamp here

Calendar OF EVENTSCheck out some of our favorite events happening all year long!

Aldo Leopold Foundation: Spring Open HouseSaturday, May 19th, 12 - 4 pm

UW Arboretum: Family Nature ProgramsJune 24th, July 22nd, August 26th, 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Cherokee Marsh: Let’s Look for Frogs!Sunday, July 1st, 1:30 - 3 pm

International Crane Foundation: Cranes of the World FestivalSaturday, August 4th, 9 am - 5 pm

Community Groundworks: Family Field TripsKids’ Garden: June 22nd, July 6th and 20th, August 12th 12:30-2 pm Youth Farm: June 26th, July 10th and 24th, August 7th 12:30-2 pm

MacKenzie Center: Fall FestivalSaturday, October 13th, 10 am - 3 pm

Aldo Leopold Nature Center: Fall FestFriday, October 26th, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Henry Vilas Zoo: Zoo LightsNovember 23rd - December 31st

Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Children of the RainforestSaturday, January 19th and February 16th with performances at

10:30 am and 1:30 pm

Stay up to date with these events and many more at naturenet.org/events/

The Environmental Learning Network

Meet Our New Members!We are so excited to announce that we are adding three new

sites to Nature Net! Be sure to visit them this year and look out for them in next year’s Nature Passport!

Cave of the Mounds: Cave of the Mounds National Natural Landmark is the premier cave in the upper Midwest and the jewel box of America’s major show caves! Guided tours depart daily all year long - be sure to check the

website for specifics, as the hours change in different seasons. caveofthemounds.com

MMSD Planetarium: The Madison Metropolitan School District Planetarium (MMSD Planetarium) provides immersive experiences for groups and public audiences, bringing out-of-this-world concepts down to Earth. A field trip destination for explorers of all ages, group programs are offered during the school day, but a limited number of after school

and evening programs can be scheduled as well.planetarium.madison.k12.wi.us

Welty Environmental Center: The Welty Environmental Center offers year-round programs for all ages. The center is a place where both children

and adults can gain hands-on encounters with biological, physical, and chemical elements of nature!

weltycenter.org

“Nature happens everywhere! Whether you live in an urban or rural area or somewhere in between, nature is all around us. We simply have to stop to look, listen, and observe. Observing and appreciating nature is easy with your Nature Passport which gives you fun and engaging ideas on what to look for and do when you’re outside. We hope you’ll enjoy your Passport adventure while soaking in your surroundings and finding the many ways that #NatureHappens.” - Renee Anderson, Fund for Children Board Chair

Disclaimer for MMSD backpack mail: This is not a school sponsored activity and the Madison Metropolitan School District does not approve, support, supervise, or endorse this program/activity.

This Nature PassportRingo the Raccoon has always been a scavenger, hunting for nature’s treasures. This year, his missions for you are inspired

by the fact that #NatureHappens...all year long! with a focus on adaptations and changes that happen throughout the seasons.

Take your time completing this passport. A lot changes at our sites throughout the year - have fun learning about them!

Nature Net: The Environmental Learning NetworkA project of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center330 Femrite Drive • Monona, WI 53716naturenet.org • (608) 216-9377 • info@naturenet.org

Nature Passport is made possible by:

Support for Passport printing provided by

Outdoor tips from Ringo:Dress for the weather. In the summer, wear a hat, long sleeves, sturdy shoes and pants to protect yourself from sun and insects.

In the winter, wear a hat, gloves, and a warm coat!

Respect our wild areas – please don’t pick, leave litter behind, or stray from the trails.

And most importantly... Enjoy!

With generous support from:

2018