• Saturday, September 21

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Grady Tract

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. No facilities on site. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, September 22

    Autumn Woodlands
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Join a naturalist to look for fallen and falling leaves, mushrooms, and other natural delights that are possible this time of year. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, September 22

    Leaping from Summer to Fall
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Join us as we explore Arboretum ecosystems, looking for changes in plants and animal behavior as we transition from one season to the next. Naturalist-led walk, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, September 28

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, September 28

    Medicinal Plants
    Longenecker Horticultural Gardens Tour

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Explore the historical and contemporary medicinal uses of woody plants with Jane Hawley Stevens of Four Elements Herbals. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, September 29

    The CCC and the Arboretum
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    In 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up its only camp on a university campus. More than 200 men served at Camp Madison before it closed in 1941. Learn how they contributed to the restoration of native Wisconsin ecosystems and walk through the landscape they helped create. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Tuesday, October 1

    Seventh Generation and Native American Futurism
    Fall Lecture Series

    7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

    Patricia Loew, director, Center for Native American and Indigenous Research, Northwestern University. Many Indigenous communities have deep belief systems about protecting ancestral lands. The Anishinaabeg call it a Seventh Generation philosophy and it obligates people to think about their impact seven generations into the future. Loew (Mashkiiziibi Ojibwe) connects this to environmental solidarity movements as a way to think about past, present, and future. Free, no registration required.

  • Saturday, October 5

    Fall Bird Hike
    Walk

    7 a.m. – 9 a.m.

    You can see more than 170 bird species at the Arboretum during the year. Join us for seasonal guided bird hikes in spring and fall. All experience levels welcome, binoculars recommended. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Hikes cancelled for heavy rain or lightning. No registration required, but to help us plan these new hikes, please tell us you’re interested using this form: https://arboretum.wisc.edu/learn/adult-education/birding-hikes/bird-hike-form/.

  • Saturday, October 5

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Wingra Oak Savanna

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. No facilities on site. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, October 6

    Stories of the Land
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about the people who lived on this land before us and their relationship with it. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, October 6

    Garden Excursion
    Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about Arboretum history, land, and science on a gently paced walk in the gardens. This stroll offers a multigenerational learning experience and is well suited for seniors. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Tuesday, October 8

    Cultural Significance of Nature and Gardening to Indigenous Tribal Peoples
    Fall Lecture Series

    7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

    Diana Peterson, PhD candidate, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, UW–Madison. To preserve wild rice (Manoomin) is to protect and restore its place in the sacred practices of Wisconsin Native cultures. Peterson’s interviews with the Menominee and Ojibwe Tribal elders highlight the cultural significance of Manoomin along with the importance of preserving a vital natural resource for future generations. Free, no registration required. Suggested $10 donation at the door.

  • Saturday, October 12

    Fall Bird Hike
    Walk

    7 a.m. – 9 a.m.

    You can see more than 170 bird species at the Arboretum during the year. Join us for seasonal guided bird hikes in spring and fall. All experience levels welcome, binoculars recommended. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Hikes cancelled for heavy rain or lightning. No registration required, but to help us plan these new hikes, please tell us you’re interested using this form: https://arboretum.wisc.edu/learn/adult-education/birding-hikes/bird-hike-form/.

  • Saturday, October 12

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, October 13

    Woodlands Full of Color
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Enjoy what is usually the peak for fall color and learn about the woodlands. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, October 13

    Colorful Leaves
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Investigate the science of fall color change and create nature-based arts and crafts. Naturalist-led hike, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, October 13

    Under the Hunter’s Moon
    Night Walk

    6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

    Learn about the night sky and nocturnal animal life under a full moon. Indoor presentation by UW Space Place followed by a walk and telescope viewing (weather permitting). Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Tuesday, October 15

    Our Shared Future: Learning from the Hard Truths of Our Place
    Fall Lecture Series

    7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

    Omar Poler, interim American Indian curriculum services coordinator, UW–Madison School of Education. In June, UW–Madison publicly acknowledged the nineteenth-century forced removals of Ho-Chunk people from Wisconsin, human rights violations central to the founding of our community. In this presentation, Poler will speak about the University’s “Our Shared Future” heritage marker and ongoing efforts to share this little-known story. Poler is an enrolled member of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community.

  • Saturday, October 19

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Grady Tract

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. No facilities on site. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, October 20

    Red Lanterns
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Blackberry leaves turn bright red this month. We will look for other red leaves too, including sumac, Virginia creeper, red maple, and even poison ivy. Perhaps we will spot the red tail feathers of a certain hawk. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. Presented in conjunction with the Wisconsin Science Festival.

  • Tuesday, October 22

    Using Indigenous Experience and Knowledge to Guide Sustainable Forestry in the Twenty-first Century
    Fall Lecture Series

    7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

    Michael J. Dockry, assistant professor, Forest Resources, University of Minnesota. Indigenous people have managed forests for generations using Indigenous science, values, and knowledge. Sustainable forestry began with the Menominee Nation in Wisconsin. Dockry will illustrate how Indigenous forestry is leading the way to solve some of the most complex environmental problems we face. Free, no registration required. Suggested $10 donation at the door.

  • Saturday, October 26

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, October 27

    Touring the Lost City
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    In the 1920s, developers planned a “Venice of the North,” to be called Lake Forest. That land is now part of the Arboretum. Hike to the site of the failed subdivision, discovering construction remnants along the way. Portions of the hike require stepping over obstacles. Space is limited, advance registration is required. Registration opens October 1, register by October 23 at https://arboretum-lost-city-tour-1-2019.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, October 27

    Who’s in the Woods?
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    It is a beautiful time of year to explore animal activity in the woodlands. Naturalist-led hike, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, November 2

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Wingra Oak Savanna

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. No facilities on site. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, November 2

    All about Owls
    Class

    2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

    Learn about Wisconsin’s twelve owl species, focusing on the three that nest in Madison, and how to identify these elusive birds of prey. Habitat, calls, courtship, and adaptations to acquire food will be discussed. Indoor class. Instructor: Sylvia Marek, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by October 29. Meet at the Visitor Center.

    Register for this event ($20)

  • Sunday, November 3

    Touring the Lost City
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    In the 1920s, developers planned a "Venice of the North," to be called Lake Forest. That land is now part of the Arboretum. Hike to the site of the failed subdivision, discovering construction remnants along the way. Portions of the hike require stepping over obstacles. Space is limited, advance registration is required. Registration opens October 1, register by October 30 at https://arboretum-lost-city-tour-2-2019.eventbrite.com. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, November 9

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, November 10

    Follow the Glacier
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Follow the last continental glacier's path through the Arboretum to see how it sculpted the land. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, November 10

    Native Wisconsin
    Family Nature Program

    1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

    Explore Wisconsin’s native plants and animals. Naturalist-led hike, 1:30–2:30 p.m., indoor activities, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Designed for families with children ages 3–11. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Tuesday, November 12

    Deer Running Moon
    Night Walk

    6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

    Take in moonlit sounds and sights and consider what may have inspired the Ho-Chunk to give the November full moon this name (others call it Frost Moon or Beaver Moon). Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, November 16

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Grady Tract

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. No facilities on site. Meet at Grady Tract parking lot, southeast corner of Seminole Hwy. and W. Beltline Frontage Rd. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, November 16

    History of the Lost City
    Class

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    An in-depth look at the fascinating history of the failed Lake Forest development project and how the Arboretum acquired the land. Who were the personalities involved, why didn't the original project succeed, and what's the status of the area? See also October 27 and November 3 tours. Instructor: Kathy Miner, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $20. Register by November 12. Meet at the Visitor Center.

    Register for this event ($20)

  • Sunday, November 17

    Thinking Like an Arboretum
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Aldo Leopold's essay “Thinking Like a Mountain” is the basis for this tour about predator-prey relationships and the diversity of ecosystems. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, November 23

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, November 23

    Wreath-making from Nature
    Class

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Using natural materials found at the Arboretum, make nature-inspired wreaths just in time for the holiday season. Materials supplied. You are welcome to bring ornaments and ribbons for decoration. Instructors: Marian Farrior, Arboretum restoration work party manager, and Jane Hawley Stevens, herbalist. Fee $25. Register by November 19. Meet at the Visitor Center.

    Register for this event ($25)

  • Sunday, November 24

    Winter Preparations
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    How do Wisconsin flora and fauna cope with the cold weather? Join a naturalist to discover answers to that question. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, November 24

    Who’s Hibernating?
    Family Walk

    1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

    Learn about the animals that hibernate in winter. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Sunday, December 1

    Arboretum Sampler
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    Explore the gardens and ecosystems near the Visitor Center with a naturalist. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center.

  • Saturday, December 7

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Wingra Oak Savanna

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at Arbor Dr. parking lot, off Monroe St. No facilities on site. More information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Sunday, December 8

    Effigy Mounds in the Arboretum
    Walk

    1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

    The Arboretum contains rare, intact effigy mound groups, among the few remaining of hundreds built in our area more than 1,000 years ago. On this walk, featuring the mounds in Wingra and Gallistel Woods, learn about the ancient earthworks and the people who built them. Free, no registration required. Meet at the Visitor Center. See also December 14 class.

  • Saturday, December 14

    Ecological Restoration Work Party
    Core Area and Curtis Prairie

    9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

    Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training provided. Groups welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Visitor Center. For more information: (608) 265-5214 or marian.farrior@wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, December 14

    Effigy Mounds—Considering the People, Culture, and Environment
    Class

    1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

    For hundreds of years, earthen mounds—including effigies of animals and conical and linear shapes—were built by Native peoples in southern Wisconsin. Join us for a presentation and discussion of the environment and ways of life of the peoples who created them. Indoors, with an outdoor walk if weather permits. See also December 8 walk. Instructor: Paul Borowsky, Arboretum naturalist. Fee: $30. Register by December 9. Meet at the Visitor Center.

    Register for this event ($30)