Ridges to Host Saturday Story Hour for Kids

The Ridges has many ways to help everyone get out and get connected to nature during the winter months.

Learn about winter ecology while burning off some of those extra holiday calories. The Ridges offers naturalist-guided snowshoe hikes each Friday and Saturday beginning Jan. 2. Hikes depart from the Cook-Fuller Center, 8166 Hwy. 57, Baileys Harbor, at 2 pm on Fridays and at 10 am and 2 pm on Saturdays. Snowshoe rentals are available for $5; call ahead to reserve. If there is insufficient snow, the hike will be done without snowshoes.

A guided hike will also be held at Logan Creek on Jan. 3 at 2 pm. Hikers should wear good hiking boots or bring their own snowshoes, weather permitting, and meet at the Logan Creek trailhead, 5724 Loritz Road. Join a naturalist to explore the winter landscape of Appel’s Bluff on Jan. 17 at 2 pm. Meet at the Cook-Fuller Center. Snowshoes are optional. Bring your own or call ahead to reserve a pair for a $5 rental fee. Guided hike fees are $5 for Ridges members and $8 for the general public. Children under 18 hike free.

Saturday Story Hour will be held at 11 am on Saturdays in January and February. The free program at the Cook-Fuller Center features a different nature themed book and related craft each week beginning with The Lorax and a truffula tree activity on Jan. 2. Upcoming books and crafts include: Those Darn Squirrels/bird feeders (Jan. 9), The Very Hungry Caterpillar/caterpillar magnets (Jan. 16), Stellaluna/bat activity (Jan. 23) and The Giving Tree/paper bag tree craft (Jan. 30).

For more information, check out the complete schedule of winter offerings at RidgesSanctuary.org or call 920.839.2802.