Leader: Shoreline Boat Tours 

Head out into the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan on “Hope,” a retired U.S. Navy boat. Hope was built tough to meet high military safety standards and skipped by knowledgeable and experienced captains, so you can be assured of a safe trip. Hope will navigate the rustic shoreline of Lake Michigan while the narrator/first mate will share stories of the near and distant past, of shipwrecks and lighthouses, ancient geology, and current geography, and of changes to the local landscape. This trip is designed to be an overview of this most beautiful and amazing peninsula! Suitable for families with kids ages 5 & up. 

CENTRAL. MEET: Baileys Harbor Marina 

Limit: 25 

Please Note: This field trip is not discounted for anyone under the age of 16. When registering, please select "No" when prompted, "This registration is for a participant under the age of 16 years" EVEN IF the participant is under 16.

Leader: Zane Wulliger, TRS

Hop into the hidden lives of Door County’s frogs and toads! Learn about the natural history of the species that call this area home and how to identify them by their unique calls. We’ll then hike into the Sanctuary’s swales to practice hands-on citizen science. Participants will receive an anuran identification pamphlet and resources on how to get further involved in citizen science opportunities. Suitable for ages 16 & up.

CENTRAL. Meet: Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center, Baileys Harbor

Limit: 15

Leaders: Amy Shook & Margaret Brennan, TRS

Bats, salamanders, and frogs, oh my! Join Ridges staff on a nighttime adventure through the Sanctuary. Explore the Sanctuary trails in the dark, stopping to observe and learn about some of the unique nocturnal species that roam The Ridges at night. Flashlights will be provided. Must be comfortable navigating uneven terrain in the dark. Suitable for ages 8 & up.

CENTRAL. Meet: Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center, Baileys Harbor

Limit: 15

Leader: Dan Scheiman, TRS

It’s a great time to go birding as migration is in full swing and birds are singing! Let’s look for migratory and resident birds in the coastal forest of Newport State Park. *Park vehicle admission stickers or passes are required for this field trip. Suitable for ages 16 & up.

NORTH. Meet: Newport State Park, Parking Lot 3, Ellison Bay

Limit: 12

Leader: Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands 

Pollinators are crucial for sustaining wildlife, plants, and our food supply. The Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands and the US Fish & Wildlife Service collaborate to protect pollinators and their habitats by addressing climate change and promoting access to nature’s benefits.  View our pollinator plot and the work we are doing to study monarch butterfly migration with the Washington Island School students. Suitable for all ages.  

NORTH. MEET: Shoreline Resort Marina, Gills Rock 

Limit: 14 

Please Note: This field trip is not discounted for anyone under the age of 16. When registering, please select "No" when prompted, "This registration is for a participant under the age of 16 years" EVEN IF the participant is under 16.

Leader: Bob Wise

Photosynthesis is the basis of almost every ecosystem on Earth. This workshop will look at the basics of photosynthesis in the classroom and outdoors. A 30-40 minute indoor discussion will include a brief explanation of photosynthesis and how it is measured. Then, a short field trip will be used to take photosynthesis readings using an InfraRed Gas Analyzer (IRGA), a robust, field-portable instrument. The results will be related to ongoing research at The Ridges. Suitable for ages 16 & up.

CENTRAL. Meet: Cabins at The Ridges Sanctuary, Baileys Harbor

Limit: 12

Leader: Karen Smith

Are you interested in restoring and improving the land surrounding your home? Do you desire a beautiful native environment that attracts birds, bees, and butterflies? Are you looking to conserve or restore your property and create a low maintenance, ecologically stable environment? Then this could be the program for you! Participants in this session will review the essential elements for pollinator garden success, including garden design, soil management, plant selection, plant nutrition, and general plot maintenance. Participants will also tour the Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center front gardens and receive pollinator plant seeds collected from the property to start a home pollinator garden. Suitable for ages 16 & up.

CENTRAL. Meet: Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center, Baileys Harbor

Limit: 12

Leader: Todd Rockway

Join us for an exploration of the Kangaroo Lake watershed. The trip will begin at the headwaters of Peil Creek, visit Kangaroo Lake, and conclude at Heins Creek, a local stream within the Kangaroo Lake watershed. Participants will learn the process employed by citizen scientists to evaluate stream health by utilizing measurements of water temperature, clarity, and dissolved oxygen content and the relationship between these parameters and the types of aquatic macroinvertebrates present in a healthy stream. Suitable for ages 18 & up.

CENTRAL. Meet: Cabins at The Ridges Sanctuary, Baileys Harbor 

Limit: 8