Click on a day to view a schedule of events:

Schedule of Events -Check back frequently for updates!
Registration fees and details vary. Click on each link for details.

Sunday, April 12
UW Arboretum
Family Frog Walk
1:30 -- 2:30pm
Frogs make wonderful sounds in the spring and on summer nights—and they have fascinating life cycles. This will be an introduction to the frogs of the Arboretum.

Monday, April 13
Lussier Family Heritage Center
Spring Hike
Trails open 5am – 10pm
Hike at your leisure while discovering signs of spring.

Tuesday, April 14
MacKenzie Environmental Center
Hike and explore on your own
Museum and wildlife exhibits are open 8am-4pm. Trails are open dawn until dusk.

Wednesday, April 15
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Hike and Explore
9am-4pm
Come hike the Leopold Family Trail, explore the Discovering Mysteries of the Land exhibit, or check out the Family Trailside Backpack for loads of outdoor fun!

Thursday, April 16
UW Geology Museum
Story Time
10:30am
Museum story time is geared toward preschool-aged children and features a book, museum specimens and a craft to take home.

Friday, April 17
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Leaf Mulch Sale
2-5pm
Get your garden ready for spring by purchasing Olbrich Leaf Mulch made from leaves collected by the City of Madison and delivered to Olbrich where they're composted during the winter.

Saturday, April 18
Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Flustered Mustard Festival
1-3pm
Search and destroy UFO’s (Unwanted Flowering Objects) in the forest during this fun filled festival event at the Nature Center’s Black Earth campus! Families and youth groups can sign up for the UFO Pulling Party contest where teams compete for prizes on who can pull and bag the most invasive species. We’ll teach you how to spot these alien invaders of the forest. In honor of Earth Day, join us to lend a helping hand to the forests of Wisconsin.

Aldo Leopold Foundation
Shack and Center Tours
Noon-4:30pm
Come visit the Center for self-guided tours all day; or sign up for a tour of the historic Shack and farm (1-3pm), and tour of the new LEED platinum-certified, green-built Center (3-4pm).

UW Arboretum
Earth Day Work Day
9am – noon
Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering for restoration activities. Tools and training are provided. Time slots for groups are available with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center front steps

Sunday, April 19
UW Arboretum
Prairies and Savannas in Spring
1-3pm
Pasque flowers, prairie smoke, early buttercup and early migrating birds should make this a delightful walk. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot, located at the southeast corner of the Beltline and Seminole Highway.

Madison Children’s Museum
Seed Planting
1-3pm
Plant seeds at the museum and then watch them grow at home!

Monday, April 20
Cherokee Marsh
Hike the Marsh
Park hours: 4am - dusk
Discover spring and hike the marsh at your leisure.

Tuesday, April 21
Madison Children’s Museum
Art Dabblers – Recycled Instruments
10:30-11am
Visit the art room and make music from recycled materials. Recommended for ages 2-5.

Madison Children’s Museum
Week of the Young Child Celebration Open House
6-8pm

Wednesday, April 22
Nature Net
EARTH DAY!
Celebrate life on Earth, take a walk or visit any of the Nature Net sites! See www.naturenet.com for a complete list of participating Nature Net sites and programs.

Thursday, April 23
Madison Children’s Museum
Recycled Art
2-3pm
Visit the art room for informal art projects using recycled materials. Recommended for ages 2-5.

Friday, April 24
Henry Vilas Zoo
Visit the Zoo
Ground open 9:00am-5pm; Buildings open 10am-4pm.
Drop in at the Zoo and check out what’s stirring.

Saturday, April 25
Isthmus Green Day’s Kids Corner: featuring Nature Net & Madison Children’s Museum
9:30am-6pm
Join us at Monona Terrace as we weave a wall hanging and rug from recycled plastic bags! “Think Green”, try your hand at the Recycling Art project, and find Nature Net resources at Green Day’s Kids Corner.

Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Arbor Day Celebration
1-3pm
Join us for a day celebrating trees and the urban forest! We’ll explore the inner workings of trees, learn how trees help cities and towns stay cool and keep waterways clean and meet some “alien” invaders that can harm urban trees.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Papermaking in the Gardens
1-2:30pm
Papermaking is a great way to creatively recycle scrap and waste paper - and the end result is a beautiful piece of usable paper. Join us as we create several pieces of paper to take home, decorated with natural materials from the garden. You'll also receive simple instructions to continue the papermaking fun at home! Ages 5 and up.

Aldo Leopold Foundation
Controlling Invasive Plants
9am – noon
Battling invasive plants but just can’t seem to get ahead? This workshop will help you by discussing buckthorn, autumn olive, non-native honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, garlic mustard and others.

Sunday, April 26
UW Geology Museum
Annual Open House
Noon – 4pm
Come have fun and explore the museum’s collections at this family-friendly event.


UW Arboretum
Nature’s Opera: Songbirds in Spring
1-3pm
Songbirds delight our senses with quick flashes of color or pattern and drawn out melodies. Learn how to identify common song birds by sight and sound. Take a bird watching hike and learn how to welcome songbirds to your yard. Dress for the weather; indoor and outdoor activities planned

Program fees and registration vary. For event information, registration details and more on all these events, click on the Earth Day Bouquet icon at www.naturenet.com.

And don’t forget to check out all the Nature Net sites for programs and special events throughout the year at www.naturenet.com!