Weekly Events in August

The Newport Naturalist Staff and NWS Volunteers
offer hands on science and exploration,
guided nature walks, beach hikes, bird hikes, star gazing
nature art and outdoor skills workshops

This page lists events for the rest of the month. Each week's calendar is added when publicity is released, usually about 10 days in advance of events. Scroll down to read about events later in the month.

Program Schedule for Newport State Park, Week of August 17, 2008, from Naturalist Joan Wilke

Come to a fun-filled week with activities for everyone at Newport State Park. Search for summer butterflies and wildflowers in the meadow or along the shore. Follow the Fern Trail through the shaded forest and explore the history of Europe Bay and Europe Lake on the Hotz Trail. Hear the story of Smokey Bear, and learn to preserve our fields, forests and lakes.

Tuesday August 19
9 AM Ferns, Forests and Fortunes; Trees and Lumber of Newport
Explore the quiet and shaded Fern Trail with Dr. Bill Scheckler, founder and president of the Newport Wilderness Society. Ferns thrive on the floor of the shadowy and cool boreal forest at Newport. Meet at the visitor center at Lot #1.

Friday August 22
10 AM Shipwrecks and Lighthouses
Explore the past as you hear the stories of the unlucky ships that foundered off the shore at the town of Newport, Wisconsin in the 1800s. Then learn of the fearless, keepers of the lightâ who were sent to protect them. Meet the naturalist at parking Lot # 3.

1 PM Europe Bay Trail
Hike along the beach and through the dunes, into the forest along Europe Bay. Find the wildflowers of mid-summer. Hear about the lighthouse on nearby Pilot Island and the Federal Bird Sanctuary on offshore islands. Meet the naturalist at the end of Europe Bay Road for a family beach hike.

Saturday August 23
10 AM Flowers of the Sandy Shore Follow the woodland trail to the shore of Sand Bay.
The flowers of the shore are spectacular at this time of year. Enjoy boneset, Joe Pye weed, goldenrod, sneezeweed, jewelweed, smartweed, herb Robert, swamp milkweed and many more. These sturdy beauties withstand the power of waves and wind to bloom late in the season. Join the naturalist for this easy hike at Lot #3.

1 - 3 PM Smokey Bear's Kid's Conservation Camp, Ages 4 - 10
Stories, snacks and facts about backpacking and camping. Hear Smokey's story as he teaches about safety in the woods. Explore the program that let's you do exciting conservation activities and earn a colorful patch! Join the naturalist at the visitor center at Lot #1 for this family program.

Programs for Newport State Park From Newport Naturalist Joan Wilkie for Week of August 24, 2008

Explore the history of Newport State Park by visiting the site of the town of Newport from 1880 to 1919, or hike the splendor of the Europe Bay Trail and learn the legacy of the Ferdinand Hotz family to the State of Wisconsin. Follow the Monarch Trail to see the flowers and insects of late summer or search the shore for the spectacular plants of the dunes. Celebrate the 18th Newport Wilderness Day.

Sunday August 24
1PM Hiking the Hotz History Trail
Experience the beauty and solitude Europe Lake and the spectacular Lake Michigan shore. Visit the site of the summer home of the Hotz family, circa 1920, and the site of the piers they built on both lakes. Join Steve Uglinica, guest historian and naturalist, at the parking lot at the end of Europe Bay Road.

Tuesday August 26
9AM Ah Wilderness! The Human History of Newport
Walk the village site of Newport, Wisconsin, circa 1880, with Dr. Bill Scheckler, founder and president of the Newport Wilderness Society. Learn about the people of the town, the loggers and the farmers, and explore the dock area on the bay. Meet at the visitor center at Lot 1.

Friday August 29
10 AM Europe Bay Trail
Hike along the beach and through the dunes, into the forest along Europe Bay. Find the wildflowers of mid-summer. Hear about the lighthouse on nearby Pilot Island and the Federal Bird Sanctuary on offshore islands. Learn the history of the Hotz legacy. Meet the naturalist at the end of Europe Bay Road for a family beach hike.

1 PM Fern Trail
Take a leisurely walk along the Fern Trail. Enjoy the trees and plants of late summer and learn the history of the logging and maple sugar industry at Newport. Join the naturalist for this hike at Lot #3.

Saturday August 30
10 AM Flowers of the Sandy Shore
Follow the woodland trail to the shore of Sand Bay. The flowers of the shore are spectacular at this time of year. These sturdy beauties withstand the power of the waves and brave the longer cool nights to bloom late in the season. Join the naturalist for this hike at Lot #3.

11:30 AM Bringing Back the Whooping Cranes
Come to the visitor center at Lot 1 to view a 20 minute video and experience the journey taken by Wisconsin's newest flock of endangered Whooping Cranes. These rare cranes fly between the Wisconsin Necedah Wildlife Refuge and their winter refuge in central Florida.

1-2:30 PM Newport Kid's Camp
Get to know Smokey Bear's history. Smokey is 64 years old this year! Learn about backpack camping, and outdoor skills. The Junior Ranger program let's you do exciting activities and earn a beautiful embroidered patch! The naturalist will get you started. Snacks and games included. Campers ages 4-10. Parents welcome. Meet at the interpretive center for this family program.

Sunday August 31 - 18th ANNUAL NEWPORT WILDERNESS DAY
Join us for a full day of interpretive activities at Newport State Park, Wisconsin's first wilderness park. All programs are for the public and sponsored by the Newport Wilderness Society, the volunteer friends group for the park since July 1985. All programs will be held rain or shine and will be about an hour long.

9-5 Hotz Wilderness Room at Visitor Center
The Park Nature Center will be open and staffed by NWS volunteers. Different videos about Newport will be shown during the day.

10 AM Geology
by Jack Travis, retired UW geology professor, president of the Newport Wilderness Society: "The Geology of Newport". Lot #3

11 AM Hotz History Trail
Meet volunteer historian Steve Uglinica at Europe Bay Road Park.

1 PM "Where Did All The Buildings Go?"
The moves and recycling of twelve Newport structures by Dr.Bill Scheckler, founder and past president of the NWS. Hotz Wilderness Room

3 PM Wildflower Meadow
by Rolliana Scheckler, BS Biology, charter member and original board member of NWS.
Enjoy the colorful blossoms, butterflies and insects of late summer as you hike the Monarch Meadow. Hotz Wilderness Room

4 PM "Was That a Wolf?"
by Michelle Hefty, Park Manager.