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A Place For All Seasons, A Place For Everyone

Fall 2026

Critter Closeup - Beavers pg. 7

Director’s Message Fall at Wehr: Connect, Explore, and Give Back Fall is my favorite time of year at Wehr Nature Center. The buses arrive filled with students eager to discover the wetlands, forests, and wildlife that make Wehr so special. As the leaves begin to change, our trails take on an almost enchanted feel - and we’re gearing up for some of our favorite fall traditions, including Friends of Wehr’s Cider Sunday and our three-night Halloween Haunts. Attending a Wehr program or event is one of the best ways to support the nature center. You get to try something new, connect with others, and spend time in nature while helping us continue to provide meaningful experiences for our community. Don’t forget Wehr’s clubs featured all year, such as Camera Club, Metro Audubon, Wild Ones, and the Astronomical Society.

Looking for a few more ideas for your fall bucket list? Consider: • Gathering your scout or youth group, family, or friends for an Owl Prowl • Get a head start planning for spring at our Intro to Native Gardening Workshop • Celebrating the Winter Solstice at Wehr • Joining us for a full moon walk and more!

Expanding Access to Nature I’m pleased to highlight an important collaboration that is helping bring outdoor learning experiences to more than 1,000 Milwaukee-area students. For a second year, Wehr has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to give Milwaukee youth the opportunity to participate in hands-on environmental learning through our Kids in the Park Scholarship Fund. With a shared mission to inspire current and future generations to love and value the natural world, The Nature Conservancy has generously contributed $5,000 to the fund in 2026 - nearly half of its cost - and has also supported Wehr’s Teen Conservation Club. With your help, we can do even more. This holiday season, please consider giving early to Wehr Nature Center. Our Early Giving Campaign launches November 24 on the Friends of Wehr website. Watch for more information about how you can help make these experiences possible.

Planning for Wehr’s Future There’s more happening behind the scenes, too. Since 2024, Wehr has been working to advance its Site Improvement Plan. In partnership with Friends of Wehr and Milwaukee County Parks, we hope to break ground on a new Stewardship Garage and Service Yard by the end of this year. Be sure to take a look at the plans in this blog.

Students pulling buckthorn at a KIP funded field trip

There’s always something new to discover at Wehr. This fall, we hope you’ll join us on the trails, try a new program, bring someone along, and help us ensure everyone has an opportunity to connect with nature.

Friends of Wehr President’s Message

As we enjoy the beautiful fall colors and the gift of nature along Wehr’s trails, we are grateful for our members, donors, and volunteers. Thank you for your ongoing support. Your donations fund every aspect of the Wehr Nature Center, including accessibility, natural areas stewardship, environmental education, Animal Ambassadors, environmental education scholarships, summer interns, and more. Please join us at our Cider Sunday Festival October 4, 11:30 am-4:30 pm. This is the 40th Anniversary of an event that was created to honor and thank Friends of Wehr members who give so much throughout the year. Members can attend this cherished fall tradition with free admission and know that the proceeds from the raffle and activities benefit environmental education programs and land stewardship at Wehr. Join us for an afternoon of fall family fun, live music, autumn colors, and yummy food. With gratitude, Cindy Lorentzen, Friends of Wehr President

Bob Wilson at the apple press 1988

New Friends of Wehr Administrative Assistant

Please join us in welcoming Heather Lowery, the new Friends of Wehr Administrative Assistant. Heather brings a wonderful combination of administrative experience, organization, and enthusiasm, and we are confident she will be a great addition to our team. She will play an important role in supporting our daily operations, members, volunteers, and events.

Give to Nature First this November Wehr Nature Center is open to you 365 days a year — a place to breathe, wander, and reconnect. This Giving Season, Friends of Wehr is joining over 100 area nonprofits in asking our community to give first before your Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending. Our goal this year: Raise $15,000 to support two initiatives at the heart of Wehr’s mission — Educational Access for All — bringing nature-based learning to every child, regardless of background. These funds support the Kids in the Park Scholarship Program, which last year supported more than 975 students and young adults with disabilities in a hands-on, nature-based program at either Wehr Nature Center or a neighboring Milwaukee County Park. Trail Access for All — keeping our trails welcoming and open to every visitor regardless of abilities. These funds specifically support maintenance of our all-terrain wheelchair program in partnership with Access Ability Wisconsin as well as updated wayfinding signage anticipated to be installed in 2027. Choose the initiative that speaks to you or make a general gift to support both. However you give, you’re giving back to the place that’s already given you the gift of nature. The campaign will run from November 24 to December 8. Watch for communication coming out in mid-November for more information. Thank you for your support!

Friends of Wehr Membership Campaign Start or renew your membership now and receive the remaining months of 2026 plus all of 2027 at no additional cost. It’s a great time to renew and keep enjoying your membership benefits, such as free parking and discounts on programs, events, and nature store purchases, while supporting Wehr into the new year. To learn more, visit: friendsofwehr.org/membership.

Donors Thank You!

Your contributions to the Friends of Wehr are appreciated and always used with careful consideration. Anonymous Patricia and Daniel Bantz Julie Bast Marsha and John Berenson Scott Bowe James and Mary Cieslak Jeannie and Joe Davies Alexander Fudurich Michele Durocher and Zoran Gazdik Daniel Gellings John Gelhaart Harold Haase Brenda Halkias Karen Hanus Meredy Hase Evelyn and Alex Hintz Elizabeth and Al Hovey Tracy Incrocci Cassie Jackson Susan Jensen Dylan Johnson Kay Kieliszewski-Kassees Judith Kesser Jean and Frank Kovac Margaret Marcet Doug Michalek

Milwaukee Milkmen Baseball, LLC Gentle Smiles Cider Sunday Sponsors Al Mrozek In Honor/Memory of Thomas Neiman Aon Cathy Drexler and Wade Mueller Stephanie Hanus Code Ninjas Franklin Shirley Neiman MoneyWise Planning Group Paul Hugo Richard Pagels PBBS Equipment Corporation Shirley Neiman Jennifer Peric Waterstone Bank Investments Dennis Wavra Sydney Reinhard All Abilities Open House In Honor/Memory of Carol Block Christos Reppas Sponsor Sandra Harris Adam Ryan Access Elevator Inc. In Honor/Memory of Bruce Lindgren Ken Schoberg Greendale Lions Foundation Erik Lindgren Cheryl Schwark Halloween Haunts Sponsors In Honor/Memory of John Bochniak Victoria Stephan Waterstone Bank James Wall Debra Theel In Honor/Memory of Thomas A. Stang Giving Tree Donation Ian Toro Stanley Rewolinkski Paul Kettler Dione Tyler Jonathan Wichmann Lauren Umek Lauren Umek In-Kind Donations Donation to the Kelly Walker El Rey Outdoor Classroom Sylvia Wheeler Muskego Feed and Seed Deon Franszczak Amy Williamson Kids in the Park Education Fund Rita and Steve Wiskowski Borman Family Foundation Chris and Alison Zeitler Jim Barnes Memorial Gift Thank you to Jackie Crivello’s Wild Birds Unlimited Daniel and Michelle Mumm for their continuing support in keeping our feeders In Honor/Memory of Jean Ann Toepfer full and our birds happy. Barbara Baron Wild Birds Unlimited located at Cindy and Jerry Heymes 4454 S. 108th St. Greenfield. Brian Klupper

Looking for a meaningful gift this holiday season?! Stop by the Nature Store and support Friends of Wehr and Wehr Nature Center while checking a few people off your holiday shopping list. You’ll find something for everyone on your holiday list, including Wehr apparel, local honey, children’s books and field guides, bird-benefiting coffee, nature-inspired gifts, and more. Friends of Wehr members receive 10% off purchases year-round, making membership an even better gift!

The Nature Store is open daily from 10 am-2 pm, and 100% of proceeds benefit the Nature Center.

WEHR WORDS - Editor: Bev Bryant Contributors: Bev Bryant, Carly Hintz, Cindy Lorentzen, Sophia Detweiler

FRIENDS OF

WEHR

NATURE CENTER

Volunteers Thank You, Volunteers!

As autumn settles over Wehr Nature Center, it also marks one of our busiest and most exciting seasons. From welcoming thousands of visitors to hosting beloved annual traditions, so much of what makes fall special at Wehr is only possible because of one incredible group of people: our volunteers. Every smile shared, lesson taught, pumpkin carved, and event made possible is a testament to the generosity of people who choose to give their time to Wehr. To each of our volunteers: thank you. Your dedication helps us fulfill our mission to connect people with nature while creating unforgettable experiences for our community. We are endlessly grateful for the energy, kindness, and passion you bring to this special place. Sophie Detweiler, Volunteer Coordinator

Interested in joining our volunteer team?

Fill out the application here or come to an orientation.

Open House Volunteer Orientation Wednesdays, October 7 & 28, 4:30-6 pm Thursday, November 12, 5-6:30 pm

We will discuss volunteer opportunities, tour the Nature Center, and find a role that speaks to you, whether it’s once a year or once a month. No experience or registration required; just come by and see if it’s for you!

Teen Conservation Club

Saturdays, Oct. 31, Nov. 28, Dec. 19, 10 am-1 pm

Catalogs Wehr’s Diversity

Join us for a monthly teen club focused on This past June, over 300 people gathered to conservation, community, and hands-on survey and celebrate the diversity of life living in impact! This group is designed to help build Wehr’s waters, woods, wetlands, and grasslands during the Milwaukee Public community for like-minded teens Museum’s (MPM) Annual BioBlitz. Wehr staff and volunteers joined with scientists (ages 13-17) while exploring their interest and surveyors from 33 organizations to find and identify as many species as possible during the 24-hour event. Over 230 visitors shared in the scientific fun and in the natural world. Free, but online registration is required. discoveries during guided walks and demonstrations. Read this wonderful blog Questions? Please contact Sophie, Sophia. about the day from A Wealth of Nature (don’t miss the cameo from Wehr’s wood detweiler@milwaukeecountywi.gov turtle Louise!) By the end of the event, over 1300 species of plants, animals, and fungi had been found and identified! Vascular plants (trees, flowers, grasses) were the most abundant with 563 species, followed by insects with 458, non-vascular plants (algae, moss, diatoms) at 112, and fungi/lichens with 82. A complete listing will be published on the MPM website soon. Many sightings were familiar, but a few were new and significant. Read this blog by Wehr Land Manager Jeff Veglahn about the discovery of a Fen Orchid in the wetland along the waterfall trail! Nature always holds wonder and surprises! A friendly muskrat was one of 19 mammal species recorded. This Golden Shiner was one of 15 species of fish identified Surveyors used black lights and sheets to attract insects like this Giant Leopard Moth

Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society (WMAS) Get to Know Wehr’s Community Organizations

Connect with a community of people who share your passion for nature at one of the clubs that call Wehr home. We’ll feature one organization in each newsletter this year.

Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society (WMAS)

Founded in 1980 Meetings at Wehr on the third Wednesday of the month (September through November; February to April) from 7-9 pm. Wehr Birders Group meets every Sunday, 8-10 am (April-Oct.), 9-10 am (Nov.-March) Visit their website or Facebook page to see the schedule of activities

What does WMAS do?

WMAS leads Wehr Birders

Who should come to a WMAS meeting?

WMAS welcomes anyone interested in birds and nature to join. “We encouage people of all backgrounds, abilities, and levels of birding experience to get involved,”shared club vice president, Pat Fojut.

Wisconsin Metro Audubon, a local chapter of the National Audubon Society, supports local environmental education and citizen science, advancing its mission to encourage wise environmental practice through education. Members conduct bird population surveys in natural areas around Milwaukee, including the Big Sit and upcoming Christmas Bird Counts at Wehr. Educational initiatives include an annual Arbor Day event for Big Brothers and Sisters at the Forest Home Cemetery Arboretum, support for the BIPOC Birding Club, and leading Wehr’s weekly birding group, Wehr Birders. Club meetings are open to the public and include presentations on a wide variety of natural history and Arbor Day at Forest Home Cemetery environmental topics, with an emphasis on birds. Recent topics have included local bird migration, osprey research, bird-safe coffee, and more! Members can also join field experiences such as raptor banding, Swift Nights Out, and trips to local natural areas. Swift Nights Out

“Wehr Birders is a wonderful way for folks new to birding to explore the hobby. We are a group of beginner and veteran birders that all learn from each other!” says Club president and Wehr Birders leader, Colleen Resendiz.

What a member says:

Wehr Birders bird all year!

©Jason Hawke

Twenty-eight-year member Pam Shefchik treasures the friendships she has developed through the group and the lifelong learning it encourages. “I always learn something new!”

Critter Close-Up

North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) Lifespan: 10-15 years in the wild but up to 30 in captivity! Size: Adults average 50 lbs., but can weigh over 70 lbs; standing, 1.5 feet tall

Favorite Foods: Leaves, inner bark, and twigs of deciduous trees; water lilies and other aquatic plants in summer.

Predators/Threats: Coyotes, black bears; flooding, winter weather, and falling trees.

Family Life: Beavers are highly

social, living in a group of 2-9 family members called a colony. New colonies form when dispersing two-year-olds pair up (often for life), find an open territory, and build a lodge. Kits (2-5) born in May or June stay with their parents for two years, perfecting their building and foraging skills by working with mom and dad and their older siblings. Beavers communicate with an adorable range of sounds such as grunts and purrs, and by marking with castoreum, a smelly oil from their castor glands.

Beaver Signs: Beaver signs are common along the shoreline of Mallard Lake. Look for these clues

By Mercury Freedom

Bank Lodge

Feeding Signs Dam

Footprints

North American Beaver, continued

Seeing Beavers at Wehr:

Beavers are most active at night. Look for them swimming across the pond at dawn and dusk and listen for their tail slap warnings. Autumn is the best season to spot them, as they work day and night to store away food before the pond ices over.

Fun Facts About Beavers:

Ironmen Teeth? A beaver’s teeth are their most important tool. Iron in the tooth enamel makes the tooth strong for gnawing and gives it an orange color. Like other rodents, a beaver’s teeth are constantly growing, so they never wear down! Built for An Aquatic Life Beaver bodies look stocky, but they are perfectly adapted for their aquatic life. Their strong back legs feature webbed feet that help them swim at 6 mph, twice as fast as a human! Their wide, furless tail acts as a rudder when they swim, and a beaver’s double-coated, oily fur keeps them warm and dry underwater. They can even close their ears and noses to water, helping them stay submerged for 15 minutes at a time.

Beaver-big, chunky head, tail under water when swimming VS Muskrat - size of football with long, narrow tail that you can see moving in the water.

Nature’s Conservation Engineer The impact of beavers on the North American landscape is immense. Their dams create wetlands which provide habitat for 1000’s of plants and animals. These wetlands also help recharge groundwater, filter pollution, and make the land more drought- and wildfire-resistant. Beavers are called a keystone species because of their role in building healthy ecosystems. Watch this video to learn more about “The Smartest Thing in Fur Pants”.

How to Be a Good Neighbor to Beavers

• Use Tools to Coexist: The changes

beavers make to waterways and forests sometimes cause conflicts with human land use. We can use tools such as tree cages, culvert guards, and pond levelers to protect infrastructure as part of management, reducing the need for animal removal.

• Manage Woody Invasive Plants:

It takes 350 small trees a year to support one beaver! While they will feed on some non-native species, they will not eat invasive buckthorn. This makes removing buckthorn and planting native trees a key part of managing land for them.

OCTOBER Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Programs offered by an affiliated organization are listed in orange.

For more information call 414-425-8550 All programs & events subject to change. Parking fees may apply.

Wehr Birders 8-10 am

Cider Sunday 11:30 am-4:30 pm

Wehr Birders 8-10 pm

Wehr Astronomical Society 7-9 pm

Hike for Health 10:30-11:30 am

Halloween Haunts Pumpkin Carving 9 am- 3 pm

Hike for Health 10:30-11:30 am Wehr Birders 8-10 pm

SPARK! 1-2:30 pm

Visitor Center Open 10 am- 2 pm Wehr Birders 8-10 am Guided Forest Bathing Walk 9-11 am NatureNauts 1-2 pm

NatureNauts 9:30-10:30 am

October Highlights

6:30-8:30 pm

Wehr’s Visitor Center Opens at Noon

Halloween Haunts

SPARK! 10-11:30 am Hike for Health 10:30-11:30 am WI Metro Audubon 7-9 pm Hike for Health 10:30-11:30 am

Big Sit Bird Count 7-11 am Wehr Camera Club 9-11 am Wild Ones 1-3:30 pm

Operation Recon Nature 3-4 pm Full Moon Walk for Adults 7-9 pm

Free Parking Thursday

Flow Yoga 9-10 am

Teen Conservation Club 12-2 pm Sponsored by

Halloween Haunts A Haunting Tradition for 38 Years Thursday, Friday & Saturday, October 15, 16, 17 6-8:30 pm

Celebrate Halloween in nature this year. Our Enchanted Forest combines Halloween fun with nighttime nature to create a one-of-a-kind event for families. Your evening includes a guided walk along a trail lit by hundreds of Jack-olanterns, performances by costumed characters that teach about misunderstood nature, a chance to meet Wehr’s Animal Ambassadors, and crafts and activities for children. Perfect for families with children ages 4-10. Advance tickets are required and are on sale now! $16 per person; $12 for Friends of Wehr members Visit https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/halloween-haunts/ for information.

October Programs Hike for Health

Wednesdays, 10-11:30 am, April-November

Hike along with this group that walks Wehr’s trails together for camaraderie, exercise, and fun. Meet outside the Visitor Center. No fee or registration is required

Wehr Birders

Sundays, 8-10 am-March-Oct.; 9-10 am-Nov.-Feb.

Join us for a morning bird hike lead by fellow birders. We meet every Sunday in front of the visitor center. All levels of experience are welcome. No fee or registration is required

Operation Recon Nature – Veterans & Their Families Saturday, October 24, 3-4 pm

Veterans from all service branchesActive Duty, Reserve, and Retired personnel and their families are invited to attend monthly walks at Wehr Nature Center to share camaraderie and experience seasonal nature happenings. No fee, but online registration is required. Contact holly.walz@milwaukeecountywi. gov with questions.

Guided Forest Bathing Walk

Sunday, October 25, 9-11 am

Unplug, slow down, and de-stress from your daily routine. Inspired by Birders of all ages and the Japanese practice of abilities are welcome Shinrin-yoku, a certified forest at a “Big Sit” bird count bathing guide will lead you through hosted by Wisconsin a series of sensory-based Metro Audubon to invitations designed to relax, celebrate World Migrarestore, and deepen your tory Bird Day. You can relationship with the natural world. participate by bringing Fee: $35 per person a camp chair and bin(Includes Parking); $25 for Friends of Wehr members. Online registration is required two days before the program. oculars and joining us on Wehr’s observation deck. WMAS birders NatureNauts will be stationed at Chipmunk Chatter Wehr’s wetland pier, so stop by to see our species tally. Sunday, Oct. 25, 1-2 pm No fee or registration Monday, Oct. 26, 9:30-10:30 am Discover the underground world SPARK! Nature programs for adults of Chipmunks. Crawl through a with memory loss and their care partner chipmunk “tunnel”, search for Flavors of Fall chipmunk food, make a craft Tues., October 20, 1-2:30 pm chipmunk, and be treated to a Wed., October 21, 10-11:30 am special guest appearance. From playing in the leaves to the Join us for all the Chipmunk fun. smell of apple pie, it’s no wonder A program for children ages 4-6 Fall sparks familiar feelings of and their caregivers days gone by. Join us on a sensory journey to experience this incredible season.

Big Sit Bird Count

Saturday, October 10, 7-11 am

Full Moon Walk for Adults Saturday, October 24, 7-9 pm

Ever wonder where the terms “lunatic” and “honeymoon” came from? Learn the facts and folklore about our closest celestial neighbor: the Moon! Explore Wehr Nature Center on a 1-hour hike under the “Beaver Moon”. Enjoy campfire treats following the hike.

Flow Yoga

Saturday, October 31, 9-10 am

Treat yourself to self-care in a peaceful, beautiful setting at Wehr. Join our monthly yoga series co-hosted by a Barefoot Haven yoga and wellness studio instructor. All levels and abilities are welcome in this indoor vinyasa flow class. Pre-register online at https://www.thebarefoothaven.com/schedule. Fee: $15 per session Click on the name of a program for more information and to register. Program audience key: Kids/Families; Adults; Special Event

Fees: $12 per person; $10 for Milwaukee County residents; $7 for Friends of Wehr (FOW) members, unless otherwise noted. A $5 parking fee applies for non-FOW members. Online registration at least two days prior to the program is required.

NOVEMBER Sunday

Wehr Birders 9-10 am

Monday

Tuesday

Little Wonders for Twos 9:30-10:30 am Little Wonders for Threes 11 am- noon NatureNauts 9:30-10:30 am

NatureNauts 1-2 pm

Wehr Birders 9-10 am

Wednesday

Wehr Astronomical Society 7-9 pm

SPARK! 1-2:30 pm

Nature Wizard Club 1-2 pm

Wehr Birders 22 9-10 am Guided Forest Bathing 9:30-11:30 am Intro to Native Gardening 1-2:30 pm Wehr Birders 9-10 am

Give First Campaign Starts

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

26 27 Flow Yoga Happy 9-10 am Thanksgiving

Hike for Health 10:30-11:30 am

SPARK! 10-11:30 am Hike for Health 10:30-11:30 am WI Metro Audubon Society 7-9 pm

Hike for Health 10:30-11:30 am

Center is closed. Enjoy the trails!

31 Programs offered

by an affiliated organization are listed in orange. For more information call 414-425-8550

Nature Journal Workshop 9 am-noon Owl Prowl for Youth Groups at Grant Park 2:30-4:30 PM

Wehr Camera Club 9-11 am Wild Ones 1-3:30 pm Operation Recon Nature 3-4 pm

Teen Conservation Club 12-2 pm Owl Prowl Adults at Grant Park 7-9 pm

All programs & events subject to change. Parking fees may apply.

November Highlights Join Wehr Naturalists at Historic Grant Park to Search for Owls Grant Park Clubhouse, 100 Hawthorne Ave, South Milwaukee

Owl Prowl for Youth Groups Sat., Nov. 7, 2:30-4:30 pm

Get your Youth Group together to spend an afternoon with the owls and Wehr Nature Center Naturalists. We will highlight the amazing adaptations of our nocturnal neighbors with an interactive program. Come prepared to walk and drive in search of Great-Horned and Eastern Screech Owls throughout Grant Park. Each child will dissect an owl pellet to discover what owls eat for dinner!

Adult Owl Prowl at Grant Park Sat., Nov. 28, 7-9 pm

Join a naturalist for an evening out with the owls. An interactive program will highlight the habits and adaptations of our nocturnal neighbors. Then we will walk the trails listening and looking for great-horned and Eastern screech owls. Fee: $12 per person; $10 for Milwaukee County residents; $7 for members of Friends of Wehr. Online registration is required two days before the program.

©Todd Leech

November Programs Click on the name of a program for more information and to register.

SPARK! Nature programs for adults

Little Wonders

with memory loss and their care partner

Monday, November 2 2-year-olds, 9:30-10:30 am 3-year-olds, 11 am-12 pm

Tues., Nov. 17, 1-2:30 pm Wed., Nov. 18, 10-11:30 am

Eager Beavers

Talking Turkey

Your toddler will be busy as a beaver as we learn about these remarkable rodents. We will make and wear beaver costumes, chew our snacks like a beaver, and walk to the pond to look for beaver clues. A program for toddlers to enjoy with their favorite adult.

Did you know that Ben Franklin called the wild turkey a “bird of courage” and thought it would make a better national symbol than the eagle? Explore these fascinating wild neighbors and what makes them so unique.

Advanced Wisconsin Master Naturalist Nature Journaling

Nature Wizard Club for Families TalkingTurkey

Saturday, November 7, 9 am-noon

Sunday, Nov. 15, 1-2 pm

Discover the basics of this time-honored practice used by artists and scientists alike. Slow down, look closely, and connect with the natural world through observation, drawing, and writing. Learn simple techniques for keeping a nature journal as you explore Wehr’s diverse landscapes and notice details that are easy to miss. No artistic or writing experience is needed, just curiosity! The workshop fee includes a Beam Watercolors Travel Card. Fee: $40 per person; $35 for Friends of Wehr members. Online registration is required two days prior to the program

NatureNauts Turkey Tales

Sun., Nov. 8, 1-2 pm Mon., Nov. 9, 9:30-10:30 am

NatureNauts will delight in dancing the “Turkey Trot”” as they discover what makes turkeys so special. Make a craft turkey, touch a real turkey feather, and go in search of Wehr’s resident wild turkeys. A program for children ages 4-6 and their caregivers

Operation Recon Nature – Veterans & Their Families Saturday, November 14, 3-4 pm

Veterans from all service branches - Active Duty, Reserve, and Retired personnel and their families are invited to attend monthly walks at Wehr Nature Center to share camaraderie and experience seasonal nature happenings. No fee, but online registration is required. Contact holly.walz@ milwaukeecountywi.gov with questions. Program audience key: Kids/Families; Adults; Special Event

A Monthly Nature Series for Families Join us for a monthly themed discovery walk along Wehr’s trails. Families will learn how to punt, cluck, and gobble like a turkey as we explore the lives of our wild turkey neighbors. Join us for a guided walk to look for turkeys and their signs along Wehr’s trails. Program is designed for children 6-11, with younger siblings allowed Fee: $7 per family; $5 for Friends of Wehr members Register online to guarantee a spot; same-day registration permitted if space allows.

Guided Forest Bathing

Sunday, November 22, 9:30-11:30 am

Unplug, slow down, and de-stress from your daily routine. Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, a certified forest bathing guide will lead you through a series of sensory-based invitations designed to relax, restore, and deepen your relationship with the natural world. Fee: $35 per person (includes parking); $25 for FOW members Online registration is required 2 days before the program

Introduction to Native Gardening for Beginners Sunday, November 22, 1-2:30 pm

Do you want to plant a native garden but don’t know how to start? Learn why native plants matter and how to use them to attract and support wildlife, birds, and insects in a way that fits your time and space. Walk away with ideas of what to plant and how to plan your native garden. Fee: $12 per person; $10 for Milwaukee County residents; $7 for Friends of Wehr members Reservations guarantee space. Walk-ins are welcome as space allows.

Flow Yoga

Saturday, November 28, 9-10 am

Give yourself the gift of self-care in a beautiful, serene setting at Wehr. Join our special monthly yoga series co-hosted by a Barefoot Haven yoga and wellness studio instructor. Participants at all levels and all abilities are welcome in this 60-minute indoor vinyasa flow class. Learn more and register at: https://www.thebarefoothaven.com/schedule Fee: $15 per session

DECEMBER Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

6 7 Wehr Birders Little Wonders 9-10 am for Twos Guided Forest 9:30-10:30 am Bathing Session Little Wonders 1-2:30 pm for Threes Nature Wizard Club 11 am-noon 1-2 pm Snapping turtle lays

Wehr Birders 9-10 am NatureNauts 1-2 pm

eggs 2018

NatureNauts 9:30-10:30 am

Wehr Birders 20 9-10 am Christmas Bird Count 9-12 pm Winter Solstice Celebration 9:30-11 am

Wehr Birders 9-10 am

Saturday

Owl Prowl for Adults 7-9 pm

11 Wehr Camera Club12 9-11 am Wild Ones 1-3:30 pm Operation Recon Nature for Families 3-4 pm

Prairie in Bloom 2021

SPARK! 1-2:30 pm

SPARK! 10-11:30 am

Family Owl Prowl 2:30-4:30 PM

18 Flow Yoga

9-10 am Nature Journal Club 10 am-12:30 pm Teen Conservation Club 12-2 pm

Merry Christmas!

Wehr’s Visitor Center is Closed Enjoy the trails

Winter Walk at Wehr 12:30 -2 pm

Programs offered by an affiliated organization are listed in orange. For more information call 414-425-8550 All programs & events subject to change. Parking fees may apply.

December Highlights

Spend an Evening with the Owls at Wehr

Owl Prowl for Adults at Wehr Friday, December 4, 7-9 pm

Family Owl Prowl

Saturday, December 5, 2:30-4:30 pm

Join Wehr Nature Center Naturalists for an afternoon with the owls. We will highlight the amazing adaptations of our nocturnal neighbors with an interactive program. Come prepared to walk in search of Great-Horned and Eastern Screech Owls. The Family Program includes an owl pellet for each child to dissect and discover what owls eat for dinner! Fee: $12 per person; $10 for Milwaukee County residents; $7 for Friends of Wehr members. Online registration is required two days before the program. Naturalist Note: These will be the last Owl Prowls for winter 2026/27.

December Programs Guided Forest Bathing

Sunday, December 6, 1-2:30 pm

Nature Wizard Club for Families

Counting on Birds Sunday, Dec. 6, 1-2 pm Join us for a monthly themed discovery walk along Wehr’s trails. Gather your family at Wehr to learn about birding and becoming a community scientist. We’ll read Bird Count, a story about the annual Christmas Bird Count, and go on a birding scavenger hunt around the nature center. Program is designed for children 6-11, with younger siblings allowed Fee: $7 per family; $5 for Friends of Wehr members Register online to guarantee a spot; same-day registration permitted if space allows.

Little Wonders

Super Senses

Monday, December 7 For 2-year-olds, 9:30-10:30 am For 3-year-olds, 11 am-12 pm

Toddlers will touch, listen, sniff, observe, and taste as we celebrate our “super” senses. We’ll read My Five Senses by Alika, enjoy a sweet/salty/sour snack, and explore activities that engage all their senses. A program for toddlers to enjoy with their favorite adult.

Operation Recon Nature – Veterans & Their Families Saturday, December 12, 3-4 pm

NatureNauts Star Stories

Sun., Dec. 13, 1-2 pm Mon., Dec. 14, 9:30-10:30 am

See the stars during the day as we “blast off” in Wehr’s portable planetarium - The Starlab. Join us to discover how the stars were named and make your own craft constellation. A program for children ages 4-6 and their caregivers Program audience key: Kids/Families; Adults; Special Event

Click on the name of a program for more information and to register. SPARK! Nature programs for adults with memory loss and their care partner Holiday Cheer Tues., Dec. 15, 1-2:30 pm; Wed., Dec. 16, 10-11:30 am Come to share in our holiday spirit. We’ll enjoy music, sample delicious treats, and celebrate our special SPARK! Community. No fee, but registration is required.

Flow Yoga

Saturday, December 19, 9-10 am

Give yourself the gift of self-care in a beautiful, serene setting at Wehr. Join our special monthly yoga series co-hosted by a Barefoot Haven yoga and wellness studio instructor. Participants at all levels and all abilities are welcome in this 60-minute indoor vinyasa flow class. Limit 25 participants. To reserve your space, pre-register online at https://www.thebarefoothaven.com/schedule. Fee: $15 per person to Barefoot Haven

Christmas Bird Count

Sunday, December 20, 9 am-12 pm

Community Science volunteers are needed to count birds at Wehr and sites within southern Milwaukee County for the National Audubon Society’s 127th Christmas Bird Count. All ages/ experiences welcome. Participants bird as long as desired at assigned sites or at Wehr with a naturalist. Accessible count options are available; please contact Carol at 414-425-8550. Free, but register before November 24 by emailing Carol at carol.howard@milwaukeecountywi.gov

Spiritual Ecology Through the SeasonsWinter Solstice Celebration Sun., Dec. 20, 9:30- 11 am

Celebrate the Winter Solstice with us, incorporating the values of Spiritual Ecology (Interconnectedness, Compassion, Service, Reverence, and Reciprocity) into the celebration. Our practice will include readings, meditation/guided imagery, time outdoors, exploring quietude, nature journaling, etc. This will not only help us to honor the season but also deepen our connection to nature and the world around us.

Winter Walk at Wehr

Thursday, December 31, 12:30 - 2 pm Join us for a winter wonderland walk. Discover how plants and wildlife thrive in our harsh northern climate. Be prepared to explore outdoors as we learn how to decipher clues left behind by winter wildlife. Recommended for families and children 8 and older.