Immersed in Nature at Peninsula State Park

Brian Finnel guides a kayak tour around the shoreline of Peninsula State Park. Photo by Dan Eggert.

Most visitors to Door County know Peninsula State Park, but one often overlooked feature in the park serves as a gateway to nature for people of all ages, especially children.

At the Nature Center kids can find something to do each day of the summer, with programs where they’ll learn about wildlife, sing campfire songs and kayak with their families.

Peninsula State Park Naturalist Kathleen Harris said between 12,000 – 14,000 people visit the Nature Center each year.

Assistant Naturalist Brian Finnel boasts a reputation as the turtle master thanks to his “Turtle Talks.” Families packed the room at each of his six talks this summer, anxious to meet a real turtle, then make their own from paper plates and construction paper.

The animal talks are free, but donations to replenish craft supplies are encouraged.

Naturalist Kathleen Harris leads a program on owls. Photo by Dan Eggert.

Finnel, a Southern Door High School graduate, also led kayak tours two days per week, with one headed to Horseshoe Island and the other to Eagle Bluff. The tours lasted around two hours each and were so popular that Finnel repeatedly turned people away.

While content overlaps on the tours, each provides a different view of Peninsula State Park. The Horseshoe Island trip includes a hike on the one-mile trail around the island.

On each tour Finnel talks about the vegetation, geology and location of the park. He pointed out, for example how when part of a white cedar tree is damaged, the rest of the tree continues to grow.

Finnel, a 24 year-old soon-to-be teacher, said his summer job was a great experience.

“I enjoy putting on the programs, but I also enjoy getting to know the people,” he said. “I also enjoy how quick time flies by – I’ve never experienced that at a job before.”