Fall programs announced at The Ridges Sanctuary
Your Key to the Door Weekly
The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor announced a variety of programs designed to take advantage of the sights and sounds of autumn.
• Naturalist-guided hikes are held at 9:30 a.m. at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays from Oct. 1 to 18. These relaxing, 90-minute hikes are one way to explore the fall beauty of the sanctuary and catch a glimpse of late-blooming wildflowers. The fee is $5 for Ridges adult members, $8 for adult nonmembers and free for children.
• New this fall is The Ridges Fireside Series. Fans of the Thursday evening "Lake Lessons" speaker series can continue learning with these free evening discussions featuring industries that played a key role in Door County's rich cultural history, including logging (for the Oct. 9 program), agriculture (Nov. 13) and maritime trade (Dec. 11).
"We call this the Fireside Series because the programs will take place in the Marshall Cabin, next to our newly installed wood-burning stove," said Brian Forest, Ridges education specialist. "The addition of the stove makes our cabin usable year-round and a great place for fall and winter workshops."
• Also new to the fall schedule is the Countdown to Christmas Bird Count, a series of hands-on workshops to prepare attendees for bird watching in their own backyards, as well as for participation in the Christmas Bird Count.
Workshop topics include "Feeders" on Oct. 22, "Species and Habitat Identification" (Nov. 5), "Optics" (Nov. 19) and Field Guides and Reference Materials (Dec. 3). Workshops are $10 for Ridges adult members, $13 adult nonmembers and $5 ages 17 and younger.
• The Ridges hosts a light discussion of how animals — and humans — make it through winters with "Migrate, Hibernate or Adapt" from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 11. Wine and cheese will be included to help ease the seasonal transition. The fee is $15 per person, and preregistration is required by Oct. 8.
Other upcoming programs include a fall decorating workshop, a geology tour of Baileys Harbor and an introduction to plant and animal folklore.
Founded in 1937 as the first land trust in the state, The Ridges Sanctuary is at 8288 County Q, just east of Wisconsin 57, Baileys Harbor. These programs meet in the Marshall Cabin at The Ridges. To register for programs or for more information, call (920) 839-2802 or go to ridgessanctuary.org.