Free Family Activities at Retzer Nature Center's Earth Day Celebration

Looking for a free and exciting event to do with your family during Earth Week? Retzer Nature Center, S14 W28167 Madison Street, Waukesha, is celebrating its annual Earth Day Extravaganza Saturday, April 25 with events all day. With a variety of free activities and programs planned, there is sure to be something to please every member of the family.

9 a.m. to Noon - families can take part in the Family Bird Watch. Retzer Naturalist, Larry Kascht, will lead the participants through a fascinating and fun adventure in this guided tour of feathered wildlife.

Noon to 5 p.m. - take part in “Don’t Toss It, Reuse It” nature activities and games. You will also be able to meet the editors of Metroparent and Milwaukeemoms.com while the kids make a newspaper hat.

1 to 2 p.m. - there will be a special program, “Save Water, Save Money.” Learn about two great ways to capture rain runoff. Handouts will be provided so that you can design and install your own rain garden or rain barrel.

2 to 3 p.m. - join us on a Tree and Wildflower Hike where participants will learn how to identify native trees and wildflowers located on the trails.

4:30 to 6:30 p.m. - concert by Tom Pease. He’ll get the whole audience singing and dancing. Before and after the concert, families can relax around a campfire and sing songs, roast marshmallows, and eat s’mores.

7:15 to 9:00 p.m., the last event of Earth Day Extravaganza, is the Magical Mystery Tour. It is a guided twilight hike into Brown’s Fen. This hike will feature frogs, peepers, woodcocks, coyotes and constellations. There will also be a special treasure hunt for this event!

The Charles Horwitz Planetarium will be offering free programs every hour. “Destination Mars” will take you into the future to the establishment of the first outpost on the Red Planet Mars. The first show starts at 9 a.m., with the last show at 3 p.m. Tickets for each show will be available starting at 8 a.m at the Planetarium Ticket Office. Space is limited, so we ask that you arrive early.

Programs are held indoors and outdoors and will run rain or shine. Please dress for the weather. Food is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact (262) 548-7801, or log onto www.waukeshacountyparks.com.

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.