Do you remember your childhood experiences with nature? Maybe you had a creek or pond that you could stomp around in, catching frogs and crayfish and getting muddy. Perhaps you and your best friend made dandelion chains in the field behind your school. You may remember catching fireflies in the backyard, or imagining shapes in the clouds while lying in a grassy field. The Ridges is partnering with the Door County YMCA to offer “No Family Left Inside” a series of programs designed to provide these same experiences, and many more, to parents and children who want to explore Door County. Each month, we will offer fun activities to give your family more “outdoor time” and learn some things about nature, too!

All programs will be held at The Ridges Sanctuary, but you must register with the Northern Door YMCA in Fish Creek (920-868-3660). Fee for each program is $10 per family.

Signs of Spring: Birds, Bugs and Buds

Saturday, April 17, 10:00 AM – 12 noon

Be the first to sight a sign of Spring! Look high and low and in-between to catch the creatures and plants as they come out of their winter sleep. Watch for the first birds, or listen for quack of the Wood Frogs, or dig in the leaf litter for scurrying bugs as they welcome warmer weather.

Frog Walk

Friday, May 14, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

All the male frogs in the Sanctuary are proclaiming their love for some little green cutie in the swales. Learn how to identify different frogs by their calls, listen to their chorus and learn a little about their watery lifestyle during this early evening hike.

Skittering Water Critters

Saturday, June 12, 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Use nets, buckets, hands or feet to scoop up some macro-invertebrates (water creatures that are big enough to be seen without a microscope) at Peil Pond. The water is shallow, so don’t be afraid to get your feet wet! Once you start looking, you’ll notice polliwogs, caddisfly larvae, whirligig beetles, diving beetles, and all sorts of tiny skittering critters.