Celebrate Mother Earth with Free Activities at Retzer Nature Center

Join Retzer Nature Center, located at S14W28167 Madison Street in Waukesha on Saturday, April 28, as they celebrate Earth Week, with a day of fun and adventure with Mother Earth. Food will be available for purchase from 10 am to 4 pm and all activities are free. No need to register activities.

Groups start departing at 9, 10, 11 a.m. for the Family Bird Watch. Join Retzer Naturalist, Larry Kascht, for an adventure in bird watching. Learn how to participate in this fascinating & fun activity through a guided tour of feathered wildlife. This program includes 1/2 hour discussion and 1/2 hour hike on wooded and open areas on gentle terrain, near the building.

Planetarium Shows start every hour, 9, 10 and 11 am, noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. "Spring Sky Legends" will highlight the beauty of the spring season here in Wisconsin. Watch your favorite constellation characters like Leo the Lion and Hercules. Bring the whole family, program is suitable for all ages. Free tickets for each show will be available starting at 8 a.m. at the Planetarium Ticket Office. Space is limited, so arrive early.

Family and Children Earth Day Activities - from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids of all ages will enjoy a variety of crafts and activities celebrating "A Spring Fling". Make you own Bubble Machine, Sunprints, Sprout a seed necklace or magnet, just to name a few!

From noon to 3 p.m., meet the Editors of Metroparent and Milwaukeemoms.com while your children learn to make a newspaper hat.

Learn easy ways to help conserve water with "Rain Gardens—Save Water, Save Money", from 1 to 2 p.m. When it rains—where does your rainwater go? In this program, we will learn about two great ways to capture your runoff—rain gardens and rain barrels. You will learn the basic design principles to design and install your own rain garden and rain barrel. Handouts will be provided.

Hit the trails with a Retzer "Trees & Wildflowers Hike" from 2 to 3 p.m. Enjoy this guided hike on trails in wooded and open areas on moderately hilly terrain.

From 3 to 5 p.m. the whole family will enjoy the music of Tom Pease.

You don't want to miss the campfire songs and S’mores from 5 to 7 p.m.

End the evening with a Guided Twilight Hike to Retzer's Brown Fen from approximately 7:15 to 9 p.m. This nature area features frogs and peepers, woodcocks, coyotes, and constellations. Enjoy our own Treasure Hunt! This hike is on very hilly terrain, in twilight and darkness, so bring your flashlight. This hike is recommended for older children.

Retzer Nature Center is a part of the Waukesha County Park System, which is a natural resource based park system that demonstrates stewardship while providing recreational and educational opportunities. For more information, visit our web site at www.waukeshacountyparks.com.