May Events
PLEASE NOTE:
Starting in May, some of our events will begin to cost $5/individual or $10/family in support of our non-profits mission. Friends Members get into events for free.
Vehicle admission into the park is required for all of our events. Outdoor events are weather-dependent.
For questions or more info email: naturecenter@willowkinnifriends.org
Identifying Native Spring Ephemerals
& Terrestrial Invaders Hike
Saturday, May 6 at 10am.
Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
Join Wild Rivers Conservancy and the Friends of WR & KSP on an informative invasive species and native spring ephemerals hike. We’ll start with a brief presentation, aimed to help you identify common spring invasive species, while learning how they impact our natural resources. You’ll also learn about native spring ephemerals in our area. Then we'll put your knowledge to the test as we head out on a guided hike! Each attendee will receive a free WI Terrestrial Invasive Plant ID Guide and resources to go along with it. On the hike, we'll practice identifying native species and common invaders, as well as how to prevent and manage the spread of invasive species. We hope you can join us for a fun and educational day out on the trails!
This event is free to attend, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Discover the Willow 6-mile Hike!
Saturday, May 13 hike leaves at 9 am sharp. Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
Get outside and embark on a 6 mile round trip hike and discover some of the most beautiful sights at Willow River State Park. This hike will take you along the Willow River, above Little Falls Lake and up close and personal to the Willow Falls. Along the way, you will venture through a variety of habitats including wetlands, prairie, river bottoms, and mature deciduous and coniferous forests. The terrain varies throughout the hike and includes some very steep hills. The hike will take roughly 2 ½ -3 hours to complete. Please dress for the weather and bring along, water and good hiking boots.
This event costs $5/person or $10/family (cash or card) in support of our nonprofit's mission. Events are free to Friends members, become one here: https://tinyurl.com/Friendmember
Vehicle admission into the park is required.
Mom and Me Hike!
Sunday, May 14. Hike leaves at 10am sharp.
Meet at the gravel parking lot off of 770th avenue.
This ones for all you mothers out there!
Grab that special someone, whether it’s your mom, grandma, sister, aunt or your daughter and join Naturalist Rae on a peaceful 3-mile round trip hike along the Kinnickinnic River!
The red trail offers a wonderful easy-going hike on a narrow trail through both prairie, and forested landscapes with sneak peaks of the Kinnickinnic River down below. Come dressed for the weather and bring along water and good hiking boots.
This event is free to attend, but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Geocaching in The Park
Saturday, May 20 from 10am-Noon.
Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
Get out in the fresh air and have fun with this treasure hunting activity. Bring an item to place into any caches you find if you wish to take any items out. We will have a limited number of GPS units available. Please feel free to bring your own GPS unit or smartphone with the free geocaching APP if you have one. There will also be an option to join Dave Brack on a guided hike as well!
This event is free to attend but vehicle admission into the park is required.
Whispered Wisdom: A Mindful Hike
CANCELLED due to low registration. We hope to catch you at the next one!
Reconnect with your inner wisdom and find your calm on a mindful hike with Kelly Gillespie, Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher. On the last Saturday of each month, you’ll explore a different area of the Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks. Each hike will be approximately three to four miles and will include three mindfulness activities.Please bring a backpack with water and a small blanket, mat, or towel to sit on.
Cost: $20/person and vehicle admission into the park is required.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/Mindfullnesshike
Spring Scavengers!
Saturday, May 27 anytime from 1:00-3:00pm.
Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
Spring has fully sprung and summer is headed our way! Get outside and enjoy it while scavenging for clues!
Search for items on a checklist throughout the park, or embark on a fun and educational fact-find scavenger hunt along the ½ Mile Hidden Ponds Nature Trail. Meet us back at the Nature Center and collect a small participation prize!
**This event costs $5/person or $10/family (cash or card) in support of our nonprofit's mission. Events are free to Friends members, become one here: https://tinyurl.com/Friendmember
Vehicle admission into the park is required.
Skulls, Pelts, Tracks & Scat!
Sunday, May 28 from anytime 10am-Noon.
Meet at the Willow River Nature Center.
Get up close and personal to numerous animal skulls, pelts, and more! Identify different animal tracks and scat and learn interesting facts about several Wisconsin animal species.
This event is free but $5-$10 donations are appreciated and support our nonprofit's mission. Vehicle Admission into the park is required.
Geological Tour of Willow River State Park
Saturday, May 1st. Hike leaves at 1pm sharp. Meet at the Dam Picnic Shelter at the end of the park road.
Willow River State Park is an outstanding place to enjoy natures beautiful scenery and geological landforms. Lace up your hiking boots and join the naturalist on a 5-mile hike where you will discover several geological phenomena’s within the park, some dating back as far as 570 million years ago! This is a 5-mile hike and includes some hilly and rugged terrain. The hike will take roughly 2.5-3 hours to complete depending on how blown away we are by all of the sights we’ll see. Please dress for the weather and bring with you water, a snack, binoculars and a camera if you wish.
The program is limited to 50 persons on a first come, first served basis. Masks or facial coverings are recommended when in close proximity to others.
June Events
PLEASE NOTE:
Some of our events will begin to cost $5/individual or $10/family in support of our non-profits mission. Friends Members get into events for free.
Vehicle admission into the park is required for all of our events. Outdoor events are weather-dependent.
For questions or more info email: naturecenter@willowkinnifriends.org
Summer Naturalist Classes!
Wednesdays from 10am-noon in June, July and August. Come to one class or to them all!
These classes are open to individuals and families with children of all ages. But please note that some classes may not be suitable for children under the 6-8 age range.
Each month there will be a major theme we'll focus on, but we'll learn something new together each week:
June: Identification hikes on various trails throughout the park
July: Kayaking and Fishing on Little Falls Lake and up the Willow River
August: Nature Crafts
Learn more and register here: https://tinyurl.com/JuneNatClass
Let's Go Fishing!
Saturday, June 3 anytime from 10am-noon. Meet at the Dam Picnic Shelter at the end of the park road.
How well do you know the fish swimming in our lakes and rivers?
We’ll put your knowledge to the test with several fish-related activities, or cast a line into Little Falls Lake and see what species you’ll find tugging on your line! We’ll have a few fishing poles available to use during the event but feel free to bring your fishing pole and tackle box along if you have one.
**This event costs $5/person or $10/family (cash or card) in support of our nonprofit's mission. Events are free to Friends members, become one here: https://tinyurl.com/Friendmember
Fishing in the Dark!
Sunday, June 4 from 7:30-9:30pm. Meet at the Dam Shelter.
Join us just before dusk and watch the sunset, as we cast our lines off into Little Falls Lake!
If the fish ain't bitin’, there will be plenty of other fish-related activities to keep you hooked! We’ll have a few fishing poles available to use during the event but feel free to bring your own fishing pole and tackle box along with you.
**This event costs $5/person or $10/family (cash or card) in support of our nonprofit's mission. Events are free to Friends members, become one here: https://tinyurl.com/Friendmember
South Trail Hike at KSP
Saturday, June 10 at 10am. Meet at the Gravel Parking lot off of 770th Avenue off of County Road F.
Join the Naturalist at Kinnickinnic State Park and discover her favorite hiking trail. This 3-mile hike takes you through several different habitats and offers beautiful views of the River. Along the way we can identify different species of flowers, trees, fungi, and if we’re lucky wildlife! Please dress for the weather and bring along, water, good hiking shoes, sunscreen, bug-spray, binoculars, a camera and a snack if you wish.
Remarkable Reptiles at KSP!
Saturday, June 10 from 1-2PM. Meet at the Beach.
Come learn about two types of Wisconsin Reptiles and even meet live versions; Albert the Fox Snake and Morton, Susie and Shelly our Painted and False Map Turtles! We will go over the anatomy, characteristics and behavior of both snakes and turtles and talk about why they are so important for our environment and the ecosystems they live in!
Recycling 101
Monday, June 12th at 6-7:30pm.
Meet at the Beach Pavillion.
Join recycling specialist, Kris Polson at the Willow River Beach Picnic Shelter, to learn some useful recycling tips and tools. Recycling reduces waste in our landfills and conserves our natural resources. Sometimes it can be tricky deciding what items are recyclable vs. non-recyclable. Kris is here to help educate people on what items are recyclable, reusable, or can be repurposed. Along with what items to keep out of our landfills, and how to compost!
Register Here: tinyurl.com/willowrecycle
This event is free to attend but vehicle admission into the park is required. $5-$10 donations are welcome and make our programming possible. All outdoor events are weather dependent.
Let's Go Kayaking!
Saturday, June 17 at 10am.
OR
Sunday, June 18 at 10am.
Meet us at the boat launch.
Join the naturalist on a scenic kayaking trip across Little Falls Lake and up to the beautiful Willow Falls before peacefully floating back down along the river. This is a great activity to enjoy individually, with a friend, or as a family! Children who are ages 8 and up, accompanied by a parent/guardian and are capable of operating their own kayak for the entirety of the trip are welcome to join! Please dress for the weather and bring along a lifejacket, waterproof shoes, drinking water, sunscreen, and bug spray!
Spots are limited for this event!
We have ten, single-person kayaks and two, 3-4 person canoes which can be available for families/groups with children or individuals who are unable to operate their own kayak.
This event costs $25/person in support of our nonprofit's mission.
Registration is required, grab your spot here: https://tinyurl.com/letsgokayaking
**PLEASE NOTE: there are several kayaking dates on the registration page. Make sure to register for the correct date you are interested in!**
Whispered Wisdom: A Mindful Hike
Saturday, June 24 at 9am.
Meet at theWillow River Nature Center.
Reconnect with your inner wisdom and find your calm on a mindful hike with Kelly Gillespie, Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher. On the last Saturday of each month, you’ll explore a different area of the Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks. Each hike will be approximately three to four miles and will include three mindfulness activities. Please bring a backpack with water and a small blanket, mat, or towel to sit on.
Cost: $20/ person and vehicle admission into the park is required.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/Mindfullnesshike
Raptors 101
Saturday, June 24 at 11am.
Meet at the Beach Pavillion.
Join us for an exciting, educational and interactive presentation from River Valley Raptors. Learn unique features of several different raptor species and how they have adapted to survive the habitats in which they live! Bring a camera and any questions you have about raptors along with you!
River Valley Raptors is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the conservation of raptors and other wildlife through education.
PLEASE NOTE:
Some of our events will begin to cost $5/individual or $10/family in support of our non-profits mission. Friends Members get into events for free.
Vehicle admission into the park is required for all of our events. Outdoor events are weather-dependent.
For questions or more info email: naturecenter@willowkinnifriends.org