The Friends of Schmeeckle host several programs and events throughout the year. Explore upcoming events below.
Is there an echo out here? Some of Schmeeckle’s birds have a remarkable talent: vocal mimicry! Look into the special adaptations these birds use to imitate the sounds they hear. Take a short hike to search for some local copycats (copy-birds, perhaps). Dress for the weather.
White snakeroot may look like an ordinary wildflower, but hidden within this unassuming plant is a deadly secret. Get an up-close look at white snakeroot, its surprising connection to Midwestern history, and its deep-rooted importance in nature. Dress for the weather.
Join us for the fall Candlelight Hike Festival. Walk half-mile, 1-mile, and 1.5-mile loop trails lit by torches and hundreds of jack-o’-lanterns through the autumn woods and around Lake Joanis. Arrive and leave when you like! Cost: Suggested donation of $4/person or $10/family helps fund future programs and events. "The Great Schmeeckle Bake Off" Character
What makes a frog a frog? Where might salamanders hunker down during winter? Get to know some of our friendly neighborhood amphibians and investigate the ways they survive and thrive.
Have you ever stared at a rabbit’s buck teeth or your puppy’s canines and wondered why they’re different? Take a bite into the incredible things we can learn about mammals from their dental diaries, and nibble on the tales told by teeth.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown — but for bucks, antlers aren’t just extra weight. From velvet to bone, having antlers is as fascinating as it is demanding. Bound on down to Schmeeckle to explore the process, see real skulls and antlers, and find out what happens when growth goes wrong. Dress for
Have you ever wondered what happens to pollinators when winter arrives? Find out the fascinating ways bees, butterflies, and other Wisconsin pollinators make it through the coldest months, then head out on a short hike to see these strategies in action. Dress for the weather.
From candied apples to warm pumpkin pie, fall fruits make amazing treats. Schmeeckle’s animals have their own fall favorites too as the forest becomes a cornucopia of seasonal delights. Experience how the autumn harvest unites us with our wild neighbors.
As the sun sets and the woods go dark, our resident opossums set out on a mission. From finding food to navigating the night, see what makes Wisconsin’s marsupial a successful nocturnal agent.
Weasels, fishers, badgers, oh my! Join this indoor adventure and ferret out how these clever creatures use their unique traits, behaviors, and survival strategies to thrive across Wisconsin.
Unearth the fascinating lives of fungi and the crucial roles they play in the ecosystem. Dig deeper to see how mushrooms and other fungi grow, communicate, and interact with us and the world around them.
Have you ever wondered what folktales were inspired by your backyard plants? Delve into the plants that have shaped our stories, health, and habits through the seasons.