Earth Week 2013 Finale at Retzer Nature Center

Earth Week is going out with a bang at Retzer Nature Center and Patch will be there to help capture those Kodak moments. 

This is the 21st year of Earth Day celebrations at Retzer, lead naturalist Larry Kascht said, and before that, the park celebrated Aldo Leopold.

"He was a Wisconsin naturalist who has really been kind of a father figure, or the spokesman for the environmental movement," Kascht said. "But in 1992, we decided we better ‘get with it’ and do something as an Earth Week activity."

So for the last two decades, Retzer has celebrated conservation and the environment with a slew of events focused on increasing awareness and appreciation of the environment. 

"What were trying to do is give people and families a good experience of nature that is fun and interesting and that’s a quality of life thing," Kascht said. "Families that go outside together and look at cool stuff, go out in the woods and discover stuff, they find they really like it and want to do it more."

Along with Retzer's lengthy list of family activities beginning well before dawn and stretching beyond dusk, Patch will have a photo booth to commemorate the Earth Day celebrations at Retzer from noon until 3 p.m. Families can have their picture taken with the recycling raccoon and pick up a copy of their free photo before they leave.

Kick off Saturday's big finale by catching a glimpse of coyotes, deer and foxes or listening to the early morning birds begin to sing. This is all part of the Jack Young Memorial Earth Watch which starts at 5 a.m. and goes until 12:30 p.m.

"This stuff’s not going to be around unless people value it and want to save it," Kascht said. "We hope they’ll come to value it so they want to be part of saving it in the future."

Get more information and interactivity by checking out the Retzer Nature Center Facebook page.

Descriptions of the following events were provided by the Retzer Nature Center.

Jack Young Memorial Earth Watch, 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Experience nature’s beauty in a whole new way by volunteering for Earth Watch. You’ll observe the often unnoticed activities of the birds and animals of Retzer during your 2-1/2 hour shift at one of our observation sites. Equipment is provided for watching and identifying the many beautiful creatures of the wild. Register by April 24.

Family Bird Watch, groups depart at 9, 10, 11 a.m. - meet by main entrance

Join Retzer Naturalist Larry Kascht for a bird watching adventure. Learn how to participate in this fascinating & fun activity through a guided tour of feathered wildlife. This program includes a half-hour discussion and a half-hour hike on wooded and open areas on gentle terrain, near the building. No need to register.

Family and Children's Activities, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Kids of all ages will enjoy a variety of crafts and activities exploring the mystery surrounding our changing climate. Create a Litter Bug out of recycled items, go on a “Climate Mystery” Scavenger Hunt, start a garden to take home, and have fun creating cool crafts with everyday items found around the house.

Compost – Turn Your Green Into Gold, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Join UW Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, as they show you the perfect recipe for creating the best compost to be used in your garden beds. 

Container Gardening, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm.

Spruce up your landscape as UW Extension Master Gardener/Volunteers show you how to grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs in containers.

Family Photo Spot With Patch, noon to 3 p.m. 

Meet the editors of the Waukesha County Patch sites and get a free group photo so you can take your memories home with you.

Volunteer Opportunity, noon to 3 p.m., ages 14 and above.

Join the Retzer staff in this worthwhile volunteer project of invasive species removal or spreading wood chips on trails. Call (262) 896-8074 to register.

Wiggle With Worms, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. 

Children will learn another great method of recycling – composting! We will talk about nature’s ultimate recyclers, worms, and vermicomposting. Children will be able to touch, learn about, and feed our worms as well as find cool “decomposer” bugs. Make a recycled, biodegradable seed pot that they will plant to take home! We will challenge children to learn about all items that can be recycled and actions everyone can take to become more environmentally-friendly at home!

Trees and Wildflowers Hike, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., meet by main entrance

Enjoy this guided hike on trails in wooded and open areas on moderately hilly terrain.

Family Concert by Tom Pease, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Music to get the whole family singing and dancing.

Campfire Songs and S'mores, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Magical Mystery Tour, Guided Twilight Hike Into Brown’s Fen (7:15 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

This nature area features frogs and peepers, woodcocks, coyotes, and constellations. Enjoy your own treasure hunt! This hike is on very hilly terrain, in twilight and darkness, so bring your flashlight. Recommended for older children. 

“Cosmic Colors” at the Planetarium, 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Sit back and enjoy how colors display their personalities. See how scientists use the vast wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum to study the mysteries in deep space.

Earth Day Planetarium programs are presented FREE to the public to coordinate with Retzer’s Earth Day celebrations. Tickets for each show will be available starting at 8 a.m. at the Planetarium Ticket Office. Space is limited, so arrive early.