Friends of the Arboretum
Friends of the Arboretum-Sponsored Trips
Whether the destination is near or far, the Friends offer meaningful, well-planned trips geared toward travelers who appreciate the beauty and complexity of nature and are eager to learn more from experts carefully selected to guide the tours.
Upcoming trips include:
- Everglades and Nature Preserves of Southwestern Florida - March 6-11, 2010 Filled
- Prairies, Wildflowers and Raptors of Southeastern Wisconsin - May 26, 2010 Filled
- Sand Bluff Bird Observatory and Anderson Japanese Gardens - September 14, 2010
- Apostle Islands and Lake Superior Country - September 17-22, 2010
- Wetlands and Wildlife of the Mississippi River by Riverboat - September 30, 2010
Everglades and Nature Preserves of Southwestern Florida - March 6-11, 2010 Filled
Escape Wisconsin's cold, dark winter weather on a sunny subtropical tour of Everglades National Park and premier nature preserves in southwest Florida! Highly coveted conservation preserves like Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp and the famous Everglades National Park (Shark Valley and the 10,000 Islands Region) are just a couple of the sites on the tour. Join fellow Friends as we explore the rich natural and cultural history of south Florida in a warm and sunny setting. Remember March in Wisconsin last year...?
This naturalist-led excursion is a small group tour with limited space. Tour price is $2,295 per person, double occupancy. Tour includes five nights lodging, round trip transportation from Madison, land transportation in Florida, nearly all meals, naturalist guide, park permits, tour fees, and plenty of sunshine.
This tour is planned and organized by Naturalist Paul Regnier, owner and lead naturalist for Door County Nature and Travel LLC. He has traveled southwest Florida extensively, exploring natural areas, paddling mangrove swamps and photographing birds and flowers.
Paul has led various Friend's tours for more than 10 years to natural areas such as Door County, Apostle Islands, Isle Royale National Park, Arizona and Kenya. He will be our naturalist guide along with Friend's host, Chuck Pils, former head of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Endangered Resources and past president of the Friends of the Arboretum. Chuck has led numerous tours for many organizations to such diverse locations as Florida, Arizona, Isle Royale National Park, and natural areas around Wisconsin. Chuck's wildlife expertise enriches any outdoor experience - no matter where he is.
For more information about the Everglades and Nature Preserves of Southwest Florida Tour, send an e-mail to Friends Manager Sara Minkoff or phone her at 608.263.7760, or e-mail Paul Regnier.
Prairies, Wildflowers and Raptors of Southeastern Wisconsin - May 26, 2010 Filled
Join us as we explore the natural and cultural history of several natural areas located within the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest and expand our knowledge of our native raptors.
A chartered motor coach will depart at 8 a.m. from the Arboretum Visitor Center and take us to Forest Headquarters near Eagle to view the natural history museum and have an orientation presentation from Ron Kurowski, DNR Park Naturalist for the area and 2009 winner of the Friends of the Arboretum John Nolen Award for Excellence in Ecological Restoration Practices.
With more than 22,000 acres of glacial hills, kettles, lakes, prairie restoration sites, pine woods, and hardwood forests, the Southern Unit is a popular area for a wide variety of visitors.
We then travel to the Scuppernong River Habitat Area, currently being restored to become the largest native wet prairie east of the Mississippi River. This area includes glacial features, wetlands, native prairie remnants and oak savannas.
More than 230 species of birds have been seen here and more than 45 plant, animal and insect species found here are designated as state endangered, threatened or of special concern. Numerous cultural remains can be found here, including artifacts from Indian cultures dating back to approximately 6000 BC.
Other stops during the tour could include restored pioneer cabins, Kettle Moraine Low Prairie State Natural Area, and Paradise Springs, where a short nature trail leads to a 5,000 gallon per minute stone springhouse. We've timed this trip to (hopefully) coincide with peak bloom of early spring wildflowers and bird migration, so bring your binoculars.
We will have a hearty ethnic lunch at Clausing Barn in Old World Wisconsin, one of the few surviving octagonal barns built in 1897 by German barn builder Ernst Clausing.
After lunch, we will visit Hoo's Woods Raptor Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education and the conservation of birds of prey through public education programs. Dianne Moller, founder of Hoo's Woods and a licensed educator, falconer, rehabilitator and eagle handler, will give us a tour of the facility followed by an educational presentation about raptors in the Great Lakes Region.
One of the goals of Hoo's Woods is to provide educational opportunities to understand and appreciate the co-existence between people and wildlife and the importance in preserving our natural world; they achieve this through the presentation of close to 100 programs each year. Enjoy an up-close experience with live raptors and learn more about these fascinating birds.
Our trip will be led by FOA member, Chuck Pils, retired chief of the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources and Mark Martin, DNR Natural Areas Specialist.
We'll go rain or shine. Sturdy shoes, warm and waterproof clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, a morning snack, field guides and binoculars are recommended.
The tour bus leaves from the Arboretum Visitor Center at 8 a.m. and returns at 5 p.m.
Space is limited to 50 people on a first-come basis; fee is $70 for Friends members; $75 for nonmembers. Registration deadline is May 14. Questions? Call the Friends office at 608.263.7760, send an e-mail to Friends Manager Sara Minkoff at sminkoff@wisc.edu
Sand Bluff Bird Observatory and Anderson Japanese Gardens - September 14, 2010
Leaving from the Arboretum Visitor Center, this trip begins with a tour of the Sand Bluff Bird Observatory located at Colored Sands Forest Preserve near Rockford, Illinois. It is one of the largest songbird banding stations in the United States -- as many as 4,000 birds, including raptors, are banded each year.
For the past 30 years, master bird banders and volunteers have been conducting studies in cooperation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service as part of ongoing investigations into bird migration.
This visit promises to be a fascinating opportunity to see a wide variety of migrating birds up-close as you observe experienced volunteers check nets, band and release birds.
We will travel to Rockford for a gourmet lunch at Cliffbreakers, a gracious restaurant overlooking the Rock River and filled with antiques from all over the world.
After lunch we will take a guided tour of Anderson Japanese Gardens, ranked the top Japanese garden in North America. The garden covers 12 acres with winding paths, a 12th Century Kamakura-style pond, strolling garden, granite pagoda, four cascading waterfalls and several traditional buildings, including a formal Sukiya-style tea house and Kasatenjo-style bamboo and cypress gazebo.
We recommend comfortable walking shoes. Good mobility is essential to take the tour at Anderson Gardens -- there is irregular terrain without handrails.
Space is limited to 30 people on a first-come basis; fee is $80 for Friends members and $85 for guests. Registration deadline is September 2. Questions? Call the Friends office at 608.263.7760, send an e-mail to Friends Manager Sara Minkoff at sminkoff@wisc.edu
Apostle Islands and Lake Superior Country - September 17-22, 2010
Join us for an autumn tour to the Apostle Islands and Lake Superior as we explore the rich natural and cultural history of Wisconsin's northernmost county and one of the world's great lakes -- Lake Superior!
Breathe in the fresh northern air as colorful leaves begin to adorn the north woods. Learn about historic Bayfield and Madeline Island and experience several "up north" natural areas on guided walks.
This northern Wisconsin, six-day coach tour leaves from the Arboretum Visitor Center on Friday, September 17 and returns Wednesday, September 22. Tour highlights include the natural and cultural history of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Madeline Island and Lake Superior region.
Our home base for five nights is in the historic logging and fishing village of Bayfield, considered the gateway to the Apostle Island National Lakeshore.
The Apostle Islands are 21 forested islands dotted along the Lake Superior shoreline. Historic home to the Chippewa, European explorers, fisherman and loggers, today the islands host visitors from around the world. Sailors navigate their vessels through meandering waterways, campers explore the forests and beaches, and every year thousands of others take in the natural beauty on tour boats navigating between islands carved by millions of year's geologic processes.
You'll travel by ferry to Madeline Island, walk Big Bay State Park, visit local historical museums, uncover the secrets of several northern natural areas and dine at the unique Old Rittenhouse Inn. All the details of a relaxing autumn tour to northern Wisconsin are taken care of. Stops along the way include Copper Falls State Park, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum's "Birds in Art" show in Wausau, and educational displays in the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center near Ashland.
The duo of veteran traveler and Friend's host Chuck Pils and naturalist Paul Regnier will be our guides. Chuck Pils was the former head of the Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources and past president of the Friends. He has led numerous tours to such diverse locations as Florida, Arizona, Isle Royale National Park and natural areas around Wisconsin.
This tour is planned and organized by Paul Regnier, owner and lead naturalist for the Door County Nature and Travel Company. Paul has led Friend's tours for more than 10 years to a variety of locations and will be our naturalist guide.
If you have questions about this trip, send an e-mail to Friends Manager Sara Minkoff or phone her at 608.263.7760, or e-mail Paul Regnier.
Wetlands and Wildlife of the Mississippi River by Riverboat - September 30, 2010
Join the Friends of the Arboretum for a unique four-hour expertly narrated riverboat tour of the Upper Mississippi River. We'll explore a variety of wetland habitats including open water, narrow backwaters and side channels along riverside cliffs and floodplain forests.
With the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge known as one of the most noteworthy bird corridors in the world, we expect to see a variety of birds, including egrets, ducks, cormorants, geese, great blue herons, bald eagles, white pelicans and hawks.
The 261-mile refuge is the longest river refuge in the continental United States and is well known as a bird watchers' paradise. We hope to have colorful fall foliage on the river to add to the beauty of the area, as well.
We will board our US Coast Guard-inspected eco-boat, especially designed to navigate otherwise inaccessible waters of the Mississippi, at Lansing, Iowa and travel 31 miles south to dock at Prairie du Chien.
Along the way, we will enjoy a narrated tour from USCG-licensed Captain Jack Libby, who has spent a lifetime on the river in towboats, passenger and research vessels as well as exploring endless back waters with the Mississippi Explorer.
He especially enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of river lore, legends, navigation, history, people and ecology with his passengers. Before ending our journey, we will experience the excitement of going through Lock and Dam #9.
This tour offers visitors a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the scenic beauty and natural wonders of the Upper Mississippi River in the comfort of the Mississippi Explorer, a custom designed, enclosed vessel (with on- board restrooms) offering protection from inclement weather while providing exceptional views.
The fee for this trip includes our motor coach transportation from the Arboretum, box lunch and Mississippi River chartered boat.
We'll go rain or shine. Sturdy shoes, warm and waterproof clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, a morning snack, field guides and binoculars are recommended.
The tour bus leaves from the Arboretum Visitor Center at 7:30 a.m. and returns at 5 p.m.
Space is limited to 50 people on a first-come basis; fee is $100 for Friends members; $105 for nonmembers. Registration deadline is September 20. Questions? Call the Friends office at 608.263.7760, send an e-mail to Friends Manager Sara Minkoff at sminkoff@wisc.edu