EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE FIELD CAMP

Join UW-Madison students for a taste of Wildlife Ecology Field Camp! Affectionately known as “Summer Camp,” students spend two weeks at Kemp Station for an intensive study of wildlife ecology. This year you are invited to participate in some of their learning experiences. Participants should dress appropriately for activity and weather. Enrollment is limited. To register, contact Karla at kortman@wisc.edu or 715-358-5667.

Thursday, May 16, 9:00-11:30 am – join John Kubisiak (WDNR Fisheries Supervisor) and Zach Woiak (WDNR Fisheries Biologist) as they discuss fish ecology and management in northern Wisconsin. Attendees will get to see the crew pull-in a fyke net set along the shore of Tomahawk Lake containing a variety of fish species. A short walk over uneven terrain is required.

Friday, May 17, 7:00 pm – join Scott Walter (WDNR Large Carnivore Specialist) in a fireside discussion on managing Wisconsin’s large carnivores (bears, wolves and cougars).

Monday, May 20, 7:00 pm – join Jon Steigerwaldt (Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society Wildlife Biologist) for a presentation on early successional forest management for ruffed grouse, woodcock, and associated wildlife.

Thursday, May 23, 1:00-4:00 pm – join Bob Willging (District Supervisor) and the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services team as they explain through demonstrations how the agency manages wildlife conflicts in Wisconsin with a focus on beaver, bear and wolves.

DISCOVERY WALKS AT KEMP STATION

Kemp Station is home to numerous habitat types — old-growth forest remnants, second-growth forests of hemlock, pine, and northern hardwoods, lake coves, bogs, a bog lake, ponds and over a mile of lakeshore. We are pleased to offer “discovery walks” on the property, each lead by experts in their field. These walks are open to all knowledge and interest levels. Dress appropriately for the weather, wear comfortable walking shoes for rough trails and possible wet conditions, and bring insect repellent. Unless otherwise noted, meet at the Outdoor Pavilion. No registration required.

Discover the Birds of Kemp Station, led by David Drake, UW-Madison
Saturday, May 25, 7:00 am (Inclement weather date, May 26
Note: Binoculars recommended; field guide optional.

Discover the Sedges of Kemp Station, led by Libby Zimmerman, UW-Madison
Saturday, June 8, 2:00 pm (Inclement weather date, June 9)
Note: Park and meet at the green space by the white house. Binoculars and hand lens optional.

Tree Walk & Talk: The Life, Death & Rebirth of Trees
Saturday, June 15, 10:00 am
What natural events or human decisions lead to forest establishment, shape forest composition and tree growth, and influence natural mortality or plans for harvests? What is “silvics”? And what is “silviculture”? Are trees just trees, or a “systems” of organisms vital to forest productivity and sustainability? Join Forest and Wildlife Ecology professor of tree and forest health Dr. Glen Stanosz for a morning walk and talk about the life, death, and rebirth of the trees at Kemp Natural Resources Station. In case of inclement weather, an indoor talk and discussion will substitute.

Discover the Bees of Kemp Station, led by Wayne Newby, Local Beekeeper
Saturday, June 22, 9:30 am
Learn about and visit the special hives at Kemp Station and the bees that inhabit them.

EVENING PRESENTATIONS

No registration required. Location: Connor Forestry Center

Peenting Timberdoodles
Friday, May 10, 7:00 pm
Perhaps no other Wisconsin bird is as bizarre as the American woodcock. Learn about the woodcock’s unique biology and the current research being done by graduate student, Christopher Roelandt. Following the presentation, those who wish may travel by personal vehicle to a nearby field site. At the site, we anticipate observing the male woodcock’s strange courtship display. If conditions are right, we will attempt to use mist nets to capture, band, and get an up-close look at the woodcocks strange appearance. Hiking will be on a maintained trail for a short distance. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight or headlamp.

An Intro to Wildlife Identification
Wednesday, May 29, 7:00 pm
If you have ever looked for your bird guide when a strange bird shows up at the feeder, then you have tried your hand at wildlife identification. However, there can be a lot more to it than just looking at color pictures until you find the right bird. Plus … there are over 500 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians (“wildlife”) to get to know here in Wisconsin. Join Scott Craven, Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Ecology, for a primer on wildlife identification. You will learn about wildlife diversity in Wisconsin and how to identify small mammals, amphibians, and other species groups. There will be photos, skulls, and stuffed specimens to work with. Learn how to use a “key” and to effectively use a field guide. Books and other helpful aids will be available. Never again ask “I wonder what that was?”!

The Seasonal Round of the Ojibwe
Monday, July 15, 7:00 pm
Explore the ‘seasonal round’ of the Ojibwe people with Jonathan Gilbert of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. The seasonal round refers to the resources harvested by the Ojibwe people to meet their nutritional, ceremonial, medicinal and economic needs. The Ojibwe people have been called ‘seasonally nomadic’ people who used to move around from area to area harvesting resources as they became available. In addition to describing the seasonal round of resources, we will explore the methods of harvest, the uses of these resources, the way in which they are managed and attempt to describe the importance of each in the lives of the Ojibwe. Threats to these resources will also be discussed, especially as these resources are vulnerable to climate change.

In the Kitchen with Wild Game
Wednesday, August 19, 7:00 pm
You do not need to be a hunter to find yourself in a position to cook or eat wild game. There may be a hunter in the family, or a friend or neighbor who hunts or you might be invited to a game dinner. Join Scott Craven, Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Ecology, for an introduction to and tips on using wild game in meal preparation. You will learn about the nutritional characteristics of common game meats, how it should be handled in the field and stored to ensure top quality, and about the many ways to prepare game. Cookbooks will be available to review, recipes shared, and you will be able to enjoy a few samples. The emphasis will be on deer (venison) and game birds but other species, as well as fish, will be
discussed.

JUST FOR KIDS

Fish Up Close!
Tuesday, June 25, 10:00 am
Location: Outdoor Pavilion
Join us at Kemp Station on the shore of Tomahawk Lake for a close up look at fish – the life history, unique characteristics, anatomy and the environment in which they live. Learn how scientists determine the age of a fish. Various specimens will be available to view and touch, along with special equipment used to study fish. Register for this program on or after June 11 by calling the Minocqua Public Library at 715-356-4437.

Fun In the Forest (Ages 5 to 11)
Tuesday, July 2, 10:00 am
Location: Outdoor Pavilion
Join us for an exciting forest adventure to learn about the forests of Northern Wisconsin. Our trek will show us how forests change over time and how much we depend upon our forests for products that we use every day. We will end our trek with a stop on the Jyme Lake bog. Please wear old shoes or sturdy sandals since your feet will get wet on the bog. The hike distance will be about 1 mile. Parents and grandparents are welcome to join in the fun. Register on or after June 18 by calling the Minocqua Public Library at 715-356-4437.

WISCONSIN INSECT FEST – July 26-27

Learn about and celebrate the diversity of Wisconsin’s insects and other arthropods with members of the UW-Madison Department of Entomology. This first-time event will feature lectures, guided activities, and The Great Wisconsin Bug Hunt. Activities kick off Friday evening and continue through Saturday. A main focus of the event will be The Great Wisconsin Bug Hunt—an arthropod BioBlitz activity on Saturday.

It doesn’t matter if it’s been decades since you last collected an insect or if you’re a regular insect observer—The Great Wisconsin Bug Hunt offers a chance to join entomologists and fellow insect enthusiasts to see just how many different arthropods can be observed at Kemp Station in a single day. Saturday’s schedule will feature a number of educational breakout activities to supplement the BioBlitz activity. Persons of all interest levels are welcome – come for some or stay for all. More information and a detailed schedule will be available here in June.

The “All Things Fungi” Festival – August 23 & 24

Activities begin Friday evening and continue through Saturday. Various topics will be covered, including introductory mushroom identification and the medicinal use of fungi. On Saturday morning, participants will collect from the forest of Kemp Station and discuss findings afterwards. Saturday afternoon will feature smaller group breakout sessions on a variety of topics. Persons of all interest levels are welcome. Come for some or stay for all. More information and a detailed schedule will be available here in June.

Science on Tap – Minocqua

September through May at the Minocqua Brewing Company