Leopold Discovery Day

Bring the whole family to celebrate the life and legacy of Wisconsin’s premier conservationist, Aldo Leopold! Hands-on activities, games and scavenger hunts throughout the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery will highlight some of Aldo’s favorite pastimes such as, tree identification, fishing, phenology and much, much more.

• Search for birds in the Town Center Atrium trees!
• Go on an animal track identification hunt around the Mesozoic Garden!
• Enjoy author Nancy Nye Hunt's reading of her new children’s book, “Aldo Leopold's Shack: Nina's Story”!
• Dress up and pose for pictures at the "Look Like Leopold" station!
• Watch a screening of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center's "Learning from the Land" documentary and much, much more!

Leopold Discovery Day is sure to be a day your family will cherish, so mark your calendars now!

Date/Time: Saturday, March 2, 2013, 10 am - noon
Location: Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, 330 North Orchard St., Madison, WI 53715
Registration: No registration required. For more information, please call 608-221-0404.
Fee: Free

Creatures of the Night!

Fall Fest is the place to be this Friday!

WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Curious what tricks and treats we have up our sleeves for this Friday's Fall Fest? Check out this preview with Miss Alanna, joined by a creepy resident critter!

Remember, Fall Fest is this Friday, October 26 from 5:30-7:30 pm at our Monona Campus (330 Femrite Drive, Monona, WI) and it is FREE for members!!!

 Not an ALNC member? Register for Fall Fest for just $50 and we’ll give you a COMPLIMENTARY family membership!

In addition to attending Fall Fest for free and receiving the great benefits of an ALNC membership, from today - October 26th, when you join or renew your ALNC Membership, you’ll be entered to win a prize drawing for one of three terrific prize packages including a Family Fun and Fitness Package, Wine Tasting for Four and a Backyard Birding Package!


Click here to join today!

Father's Day Weekend at ALNC

Celebrate Father's Day Weekend with the Aldo Leopold Nature Center at a special Wonder Weekend all about fish! In addition to exploration of new interactive exhibits, this weekend will include:

Saturday, June 16
Fly-Fishing: How Climate Change Is Affecting Trout Fishing in WI
11 am - 4 pm
This captivating video will use breathtaking footage to show out how climate change will affect Wisconsin's 10,266 miles of trout streams, tourism, and fly fishing in the Driftless Area and throughout the state.

Flow: Science On a Sphere Presentation
11 am - 4 pm
Travel on a virtual trip exploring oceanic thermohaline circulation - the system of global ocean currents that cycle warm and cold water across the planet with this special presentation on the Science On a Sphere.

Lake-Atmosphere Interactions in the Great Lakes Basin
2:00-2:45 pm
Katie Holman, PhD student in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, will discuss lake-atmosphere interactions in the Great Lakes Basin. Learn about climate in the region, how the lakes and atmosphere interact, water budget of the lakes, and more!

Sunday, June 17
Family Fishing Fun
9:30-11:30 am
Fishing was one of the activities most enjoyed by Aldo Leopold as a youngster; join us to learn why in this introduction to angling! You'll see examples of different types of rods and reels, play the Backyard Bass fishing game to practice casting, learn how to tie basic fishing knots, and catch worms to use as bait as you fish in our pond! Can you reel in the biggest bullhead, bluegill or minnow?

Additional fee for this program: ALNC members: $6/person or $20/family; Non-members: $7/person or $25/family

Fly-Fishing: How Climate Change Is Affecting Trout Fishing in WI
Noon - 4 pm
This captivating video will use breathtaking footage to show out how climate change will affect Wisconsin's 10,266 miles of trout streams, tourism, and fly fishing in the Driftless Area and throughout the state.

Flow: Science On a Sphere Presentation
Noon - 4 pm
Travel on a virtual trip exploring oceanic thermohaline circulation - the system of global ocean currents that cycle warm and cold water across the planet with this special presentation on the Science On a Sphere.

Do Fishes Care About Climate Change?
12:30-1:15pm
John J. Magnuson, Emeritus Professor of Zoology and Limnology at the University of Wisconsin, will discuss how Wisconsin's lakes and fishes are affected by climate change.

A full schedule is available online at http://www.naturenet.com/alnc/wonderweekends.html.

Location: Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Drive, Monona, WI 53716
Date/Time: Saturday, June 16, 11 am – 4 pm and Sunday, June 17, Noon-4 pm
Fee: $5.50/person; ALNC members receive free admission for three people.
Information/Register: www.naturenet.com/alnc or 608-216-9371

Hope to see you there!

Stars & Stripes for 57 Years! Celebrate Memorial Day with Nature!

Join us this Memorial Day, March 28 for the 57th Annual Monona Memorial Day Parade!

Each year, the Monona Chamber of Commerce puts together this wonderful event to honor those that have and continue to serve our country, and the Aldo Leopold Nature Center will have a fun float featuring some special fuzzy guests, special giveaways and more!

The Parade will run from 10 am - 1 pm. The 1.5-mile route will start just past Monona Grove High School, continue down onto Monona Drive, then right onto Owen Road until it disperses at Village Lanes.

This is the state's largest (more than 100 units!) and longest running Memorial Day Parade, so please join us and support ALNC! Hope to see you there!

See Your Art Go Global!

Kids—Your Art Can Be Seen “Around” the Globe at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 21 from 11 am – 3 pm!

Calling all budding artists! Here’s your chance to create a piece of artwork that can be seen around the globe at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s free Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 21 from 11 am – 3 pm! To enter, draw, paint or make a collage of your favorite nature spot using the template on the back side of this entry form.  This could be your backyard, a park, ALNC or anywhere else that is special to you! Get creative—your art can include animals and plants or anything else you can imagine! 

Two entries from each age category (3-6, 7-9, 10-13,  and 14-18 years old) will be selected to be transformed into a 6 foot-wide spinning globe during the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s Grand Opening Celebration onSaturday, April 21 from 11 am - 3 pm which will unveil exciting new interactive exhibits and programs. Winning artists will also receive a free ALNC membership for their family ($50 value).

Click here to find out more or here download anentry form. Entry forms are also available for pick up at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center.

Contest is open for ages 3 to 18 years old. One entry per child.  Winners will be contacted with further instructions. This entry form and artwork must be emailed to devcomm@naturenet.com, mailed, or dropped off at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center (Attn: Globe Contest, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Drive, Monona, WI 53716) by Noon on Wednesday, April 4^th 2012.