Spring Turns to Summer at Crossroads

Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (June 21, 2023) – Now that restoration and water quality research are well underway at Crossroads, this is the season for the young to explore the environment. It is true in nature and it is also true of upcoming Crossroads programs.

For most wildlife species, spring is the “time to be born.” This ensures that parents will find enough food to feed their infants, and then allow plenty of time for the young birds to fledge and for the young mammals to learn the survival skills they will need to become adults.

In early summer, we enjoy watching baby birds clinging to branches, learning the characteristic songs of their species from their fathers while exercising their little wings in preparation for their maiden flights. Young mammals tend of follow their mothers on “nature hikes.”

A mother skunk leads a little parade, her well-behaved kits following her in a single-file line as they explore the environment and learn to forage. At dusk, we often see mother raccoons leading two or three rollicking youngsters from food source to food source.

Several years ago, a red fox mother raised kits near Big Creek. Visitors to Crossroads were able to observe the kits playing. They rolled and tussled, and one night, we watched the vixen toss a mouse in the air and the kits pounced on it. It was a game they played again and again. And through this game, the kits learned hunting skills.

Baby otters of Big Creek are particularly frolicsome—on both land and water. Is it play or is it environmental education? When the young play, they are learning.

That is why we at Crossroads traditionally schedule summer nature programs for families and host summer camps for the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA. Door County kids involved in these day camps will be involved in fun activities. But as in everything we do at Crossroads, the ultimate goal is to inspire environmental stewardship.

We also offer family programs in the summer. Every other Thursday evening, our Summer Explorers go out in the fields and creek to explore the environment, guided by one of our naturalists. This week, the learners of all ages will be exploring some of the fascinating creatures—insects, frogs, toads, crayfish—that live in or near Big Creek. We will provide the nets, but kids should dress for adventure.

Dressing for adventure is a good idea for families that attend our free Summer Family Programs with Naturalist Joan Wilkie. Offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays throughout the summer at 10:00 a.m., these family-orientated programs have topics that range from glaciers and fossils to the insects and amphibians in our wetlands. Reservations are not required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

Curiously, one of the best ways for folks of all ages to “play in order to learn” is to volunteer. On Thursday mornings you could volunteer to be a “Pollinator Pal,” helping Crossroads maintain a pollinator garden at our entryway. On Saturday mornings, we call our volunteers Habitat Healers, which, at this time of year, means helping rid the preserve of some of our most pernicious invasive species. There is no better way to learn to recognize the “undesirables” than to help remove them.

Whether you are simply curious or a seasoned volunteer, you are invited to a Crossroads Rhubarb Night and Volunteer Mixer on Thursday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. Staff will be serving rhubarb crisp with vanilla ice cream. This free event is an opportunity to learn about the various ways folks can help and to meet other wonderful people who care about nature!

Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center and Nature Preserve is located at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Crossroads is a 501(c)3 organization committed to offering education, conducting research and providing outdoor experiences to inspire environmental stewardship in learners of all ages and from all backgrounds. We welcome your support! Become a member of Crossroads by mailing your support to P.O. Box 608, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, or donate online at www.crossroadsatbigcreek.org.