The Ridges Sanctuary

Door County Festival of Nature

knewbern — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:56:16 +0000

Exploring Wildflowers, Birds & Conservation

May 18-19, 2012

The Door County Festival of Nature is your opportunity to learn more about wildflowers, geology, birds and insects through field trips and hands-on programs. Our field trip leaders will guide you through some of the most pristine and unique natural areas in the county, some of which are not typically open to the public. Conservation organizations in Door County will share ways in which they are working to preserve our rich natural heritage for the future. And, along the way, you’ll have an opportunity to share your love of the natural world with other conservation-minded participants from all over the Midwest.

Highlights of the 2012 Festival

Photography workshops
Early morning birdwatching trips to local hotspots for waterfowl, warblers and more
Visits to properties using renewable energy technologies
Wildflower outings
Evening frog walk and bat monitoring program
Recognition of Baileys Harbor as a “Bird City USA”
An old-fashioned Barn Dance and Social to wrap up the weekend’s activities

Keynote Program – Friday, May 18, 7:00 PM

The Festival welcomes Sadie O’Dell, Biologist with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, as our keynote presenter. Ms. O’Dell will speak on “The Island Refuges of Door County: Connecting Habitat, Wildlife and People.” This program is open to the public and will be held at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall.

Registration

Online registration is the fastest and easiest way to register for the Festival! You will find up-to-date information on field trips that are filled, and be able to reserve trips immediately. You will have the option of paying by credit card, or you can print your registration form and mail to The Ridges Sanctuary with payment by check or debit/credit card.

Mail-in registrations are also accepted. Download and print the� brochure (1 MB PDF), fill out the registration form, and mail in with payment (check or credit card). Please indicate first, second and third choices of field trips in case field trip sessions are filled. Mail-in registration deadline is May 11, 2012.

Walk-in registration is also available at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall during the following times: May 17, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.; May 18, 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. or 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.; or May 19, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Please note that many field trips fill very quickly, and walk-in registrants may have a limited number of field trips from which to choose. Pre-registration, either online or by mail, is strongly suggested.

Field Trip Updates

As of May 4, the following field trips are FILLED:

A12, State Natural Areas Sampler
C1, The Birdies Bus
C2, Warbler Walk at Weborg
D12, Mud Lake Meander

The following field trips have 5 or fewer openings:

A2, Baileys Harbor Bird City Tour
A7, Wild Pictures
A13, North Bay SNA/Three Springs Preserve
B2, Meridian Park/State Natural Area
B10, Schultz Property/Woods at Monument Point
C11, Ecology and Habitats of the Miller Property
D2, North Bay SNA/Three Springs Preserve
D3, What Plant is That?
D6, Wildflower Photography

The following field trips have been CANCELLED:
A5, Niagara Escarpment Geology-Ecology Tour (full day)
A8, Trees and Shrubs of Northern Door County

Festival Sponsors

Many thanks to the following for their financial support of the 2012 Door County Festival of Nature:

Door Property Owners

Ecology Sports

Baylake Bank

Staudenmaier Chiropractic Wellness Center SC

Niagara Escarpment Resource Network

Ministry Door County Medical Center

Fish Creek Kite Co.

Village Green Lodge

Door Landscape and Nursery

Pheasant Park Resort

————————————————————————————–

The Festival of Nature is brought to you by the cooperative efforts of The Ridges Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy, The Door County Land Trust, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Crossroads at Big Creek, and The Clearing Folk School.

No Family Left Inside

knewbern — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:23:20 +0000

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 Ridges Sanctuary (920-839-2802) or the Northern Door YMCA in Fish Creek (920-868-3660). Fee for each program is $15 per family for members of The Ridges and/or YMCA, $20 per family for general public.

Upcoming No Family Left Inside Programs:

Signs of Spring Hike
Saturday, May 12, 2:00 PM
Funday Mondays
Each Monday from June 18 through August 13, 2:00 PM
(check calendar of events for weekly topics)

Summer Nature Adventures for Kids

knewbern — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:36:33 +0000

“Must we always teach our children with books?… Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth. They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education.” — Rachel Carson

The Ridges Sanctuary is an ideal location for a child’s outdoor learning. Here, children (and adults!) can search for dragonfly larvae in a sedge meadow, examine animal tracks along the beach, and learn about the appetites of insect-eating pitcher plants and sundews. They can become animals in an active game of predators and prey, help build a tree model, or dress up as a bat. All these activities, and many more, are a part of the Ridges’ popular Summer Youth Programs.

Our summer programs are offered for children in preschool (4 years old) through 6th grade. Some classes meet once a week, and others sessions meet on three consecutive days. Each program session runs from 9:00 a.m. until noon, and includes learning time, stories, games, a craft activity and snacks. In addition, trail hikes give us an opportunity to explore the Sanctuary and its many components, both plants and animals.

Dates for the 2012 programs are now on our calendar, or you can download and print complete program information.

Signs of Spring!

cschuster — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:44:20 +0000

SIGNS OF SPRING!

Saturday
May 12
2:00 PM

$15/Family Ridges members,
$20 per family general public

Find signs of reawakening life as we hike the woods and check the waters. The woods and puddles are teeming with life as the snow melts and the days grow longer. Find out who the early ‘birds’ and early ‘worms’ are that try to get a head start on Spring!
A No Family Left Inside program.

Pre-registration Required!
The Ridges: 839-2802
Northern Door Y: 868-3660

Discovery Bird Hikes

cschuster — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:10:35 +0000

DISCOVERY BIRD HIKES

May 12 and 26
Each Saturday in June & July at 6:30 AM
Meet at the Marshall cabin
The Ridges Sanctuary

Whether you’re a novice birdwatcher or an experienced one, you’ll want to join us for our Discovery Bird Hikes. Held on Saturday mornings from May through July, these outings are led by local volunteers who will take you to some of the best birding spots around Baileys Harbor. From boreal forest, to Lake Michigan shoreline, to inland areas, we’ll learn from each other as we check out various habitats in search of all things feathered and flying.

Discovery Bird Hikes meet at the Marshall Cabin, 8288 Hwy Q, Baileys Harbor, at 6:30 AM. Hikes are free for Ridges members, a $5 donation is suggested for general public.

Bring your binoculars, spotting scopes and field guides, or borrow equipment from The Ridges.

May 14, 2011 Bird List (includes Not So Early Bird List
May 21, 2011 Bird List
June 4, 2011 Bird List
June 11, 2011 Bird List (includes Not So Early Bird List)
June 18, 2011 Bird List
June 25, 2011 Bird List
July 2, 2011 Bird List
July 9, 2011 Bird List (includes Not So Early Bird List)
July 16, 2011 Bird List
July 23, 2011 Bird List
July 30, 2011 Bird List

For those who can’t make the early morning hikes – check out the Not So Early Bird hikes

‘Not So Early’ Bird Hikes

cschuster — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:50:35 +0000

For those who enjoy birds but do not enjoy getting up at the crack of dawn!

Saturday Mornings
May 12, June 9, and July 14 at 9:00 AM
Meet at the Marshall cabin
The Ridges Sanctuary
Members are free • $5 for general public

May 14, 2011 Bird List (includes Not So Early Bird List
June 11, 2011 Bird List (includes Not So Early Bird List)
July 9, 2011 Bird List (includes Not So Early Bird List)
Aug 13, 2011 Not So Early Bird List

Wildflowers of The Sanctuary

knewbern — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:24:50 +0000

The Ridges Sanctuary is internationally recognized for the incredible diversity of plant life found here. Nearly 500 vascular plants find their home in this rich complex of boreal forest and wetlands. Some, like the delicate Twinflower, are typically found much further north, but can survive here because of the cooling effects of Lake Michigan. Others, like the insect-eating Pitcher Plant and Sundew, prefer the acidic waters of the swales. Twelve endangered or threatened plant species are protected within the Sanctuary.

Among all the plants found here, perhaps none are better known and sought after than the orchids. Over 25 native orchids bloom in The Ridges Sanctuary. These range in size from the tiny Heartleaf Twayblade to the tall, elegant Showy Lady’s-slipper. In order to protect these rare beauties from damage or theft, exact locations of most orchid species are usually not disclosed except to qualified researchers.

Ride for Nature

cschuster — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:18:12 +0000

2012 Ride for Nature

to benefit The Ridges Sanctuary

June 16, 2012

Check out this video from the 2010 Ride for Nature

Ridges Ride for Nature from Boreal Sky on Vimeo.

Then sign up for your own leisurely ride through the backroads of Door County

Wildflowers Gallery

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:25:51 +0000

The photos shown above are just a few of the wildflowers and other plants found in the Sanctuary. They are arranged chronologically so that you can view an entire blooming season, from early spring through late fall.

Blooming Months Chart

knewbern — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:28:53 +0000

Common Name	Scientific Name	Typical Blooming Dates
Arctic Primrose	Primula mistassinica	May 1 – June 19
Dwarf Lake Iris	Iris lacustris	May 10 – June 23
Indian Paintbrush	Castilleja coccinea	May 18 – August 30
Gaywings	Polygala paucifolia	May 18 – June 21
Bog Buckbean	Menyanthes trifoliata	May 24 – June 15
Pink Moccasin Flower	Cypripedium acaule	June 5 – June 30
Yellow Lady’s-slipper	Cypripedium calceolus var. pubescens	June 5 – July 1
Labrador Tea	Ledum groenlandicum	June 5 – June 30
Twinflower	Linnaea borealis	June 12 – July 12
Shrubby Potentilla	Potentilla fruticosa	June 12 – October 10
Pitcher Plant	Sarracenia purpurea	June 12 – July 5
Thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	June 15 – July 6
Lance-leaved Coreopsis	Coreopsis lanceolata	June 15 – August 9
Wild Rose	Rosa blanda	June 15 – August 10
Wood Lily	Lilium philadelphicum	June 23 – July 20
Grass Pink Orchid	Calopogon pulchellus	June 23 – July 18
Showy Lady’s-slipper	Cypripedium reginae	June 22 – July 14
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta	June 23 – September 14
Ohio Goldenrod	Solidago ohioensis	July 29 – September 1
Grass of Parnassus	Parnassia glauca	August 5 – September 14
Dune Goldenrod	Solidago simplex	August 21 – September 14
Fringed Gentian	Gentianopsis procera	August 24 – October 1

A more comprehensive blooming list, with 100 species of The Ridges, can be downloaded here.

Related Plant Links

University of Wisconsin Herbarium – the website features a searchable database of Wisconsin plants and lichens, including photos, habitat descriptions, distribution maps and more.

Orchids of Wisconsin – a somewhat technical site, with detailed descriptions and photos of all Wisconsin orchid species.