THANK YOU!! With your support, The Ridges has purchased the Sandpiper property in Baileys Harbor!
This will eventually be the sight of the new The Ridges Sanctuary Interpretive Center.
Thank you helping further the vision of the founders in 1937. | By knewbern, on January 10th, 2012  Exploring Wildflowers, Birds & Conservation
May 18-19, 2012The Door County Festival of Nature is your opportunity to learn more about wildflowers, geology, birds and insects through field trips and hands-on programs. Our field trip leaders will guide you through some of the most pristine and unique natural areas in the county, some of which are not typically open to the public. Conservation organizations in Door County will share ways in which they are working to preserve our rich natural heritage for the future.  And, along the way, you’ll have an opportunity to share your love of the natural world with other conservation-minded participants from all over the Midwest. Highlights of the 2012 Festival 
- Photography workshops
- Early morning birdwatching trips to local hotspots for waterfowl, warblers and more
- Full-day field trips to different areas of the peninsula
- Half-day field trips on geology, wildflowers and other topics
- Hands-on workshops
- An old-fashioned Barn Dance and Social to wrap up the weekend’s activities
Online Registration Online registration will be available in early spring. Call The Ridges at 920-839-2802 for information on how to register. Mail-In Registration Mail-in registrations will also be accepted starting in early spring. Mail-in registration deadline is May 11, 2012. Walk-In Registration Register at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall on May 17, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.; May 18, 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. or 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.; or May 19, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Please note that many field trips fill very quickly, and walk-in registrants may have a limited number of field trips from which to choose. Pre-registration, either online or by mail, is strongly suggested. Festival Sponsors Many thanks to the following for their financial support of the 2011 Door County Festival of Nature: 
Door Property Owners, Inc. 
Baylake Bank Bridenhagen Tree and Landscape Fish Creek Kite Co. Door Landscape and Nursery Novel Ideas ————————————————————————————– The Festival of Nature is brought to you by the cooperative efforts of The Ridges Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy, The Door County Land Trust, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Crossroads at Big Creek, and The Clearing Folk School.   
  
By cschuster, on January 10th, 2012 Tour Door County’s Geologic Counterpart •
the Bruce Peninsula of Ontario Canada
June 11-18, 2012 In many ways, the Bruce Peninsula is a “mirror image” of Door County. The Niagara Escarpment joins the two peninsulas through bedrock of dolomitic limestone formed over 400 million years ago. Like our own peninsula, the Bruce is a relatively small area – only about 60 miles long and not very wide. And like Door County, this strip of land attracts attention for its beaches, forested trails and limestone caves. Our itinerary showcases many of the Bruce Peninsula’s natural features, like woodlands filled with wildflowers, migratory birds, water features, and of course incredible geology. Through boat trips and guided walks and talks, trip participants will experience first hand the natural treasures found on the Canadian Niagara Escarpment.
 - Ingliss Falls – photo courtesy of Katherine Willson
HOSTS:
Ridges Naturalist Karen Newbern
Geologist Dr. Roger Kuhns
Naturalist and tour planner Paul Regnier This trip is open only to Ridges’ members. Membership information is available by clicking here. Cost:$1999 per person based on double occupancy.
Single – Add $450
Includes: - coach transportation to and from Sturgeon Bay, WI
- 7 nights lodging, most meals
- tour guides
- park fees
- and more…
LIMITED SPACE! RESERVE NOW! $450 deposit with registration, full payment due by April 1, 2012. Please make checks payable to Door County Nature & Travel LLC and mail with registration form to Paul Regnier, PO Box 136, Baileys Harbor WI 54202.  The Grotto - Bruce Peninsula National Park. Photo courtesy of Katherine Willson. Early Registration discount! Register by February 15, with your deposit of $450, and you’ll receive a $50 per person discount on tour fees. This tour is planned and organized by Paul Regnier, owner and lead Naturalist for Door County Nature and Travel LLC. For more information about Bruce Peninsula Tour contact Karen Newbern at The Ridges Sanctuary office, 920-839-2802, or email Paul Regnier at doorcountypaul@gmail.com By cschuster, on January 10th, 2012 
Saturday, Mar 10
10 AM and 2 PM $20 per family Pre-registration Required!
Call The Ridges: 839-2802
or the Northern Door Y: 868-3660
Learn what bluebirds need to survive, how you can help by providing housing for them, and what to do once they take up residence! The same program will be repeated in the morning and afternoon, select the time that works best for you. Family fee includes materials to build one bluebird house. A limited number of additional birdhouse kits are available for $8.00 each.
By knewbern, on January 4th, 2012  Snowshoeing is a great way to experience The Ridges in the winter.
Join a Ridges Naturalist on Fridays and Saturdays in January and February for a relaxed hike through the woods and over the swales. We’ll talk about winter ecology, search for wildlife signs, and enjoy the beauty of the Sanctuary in the “off season.” If there isn’t enough snow for snowshoes, we’ll take a hike without them!
Some snowshoes are available for use during these hikes –
CALL AHEAD (920-839-2802) to reserve a pair. Cost: $5/adult ($5 extra to use a pair of our snowshoes). Children under 18 free! Meet at the Marshall Cabin, 8288 Hwy Q, Baileys Harbor • 1:00 PM By knewbern, on December 13th, 2011 “Must we always teach our children with books?… Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth. They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education.” — Rachel Carson
 The Ridges Sanctuary is an ideal location for a child’s outdoor learning. Here, children (and adults!) can search for dragonfly larvae in a sedge meadow, examine animal tracks along the beach, and learn about the appetites of insect-eating pitcher plants and sundews. They can become animals in an active game of predators and prey, help build a tree model, or dress up as a bat. All these activities, and many more, are a part of the Ridges’ popular Summer Youth Programs.
Our summer programs are offered for children in preschool (4 years old) through 6th grade. Some classes meet once a week, and others sessions meet on three consecutive days. Each program session runs from 9:00 a.m. until noon, and includes learning time, stories, games, a craft activity and snacks. In addition, trail hikes give us an opportunity to explore the Sanctuary and its many components, both plants and animals. Dates for the 2012 programs are now on our calendar, and more complete program information will be posted in early spring. If you would like information on next summer’s programs, contact us. | |
Exploring Wildflowers, Birds & Conservation
