Summer Solstice Fundraiser and Concert - Wehr Nature Center
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Spring 2018 April • May • June
Summer Solstice
Fundraiser and Concert
Saturday, June 23, 6-9 pm
Help us celebrate the longest day of the year! Partake in
small plate dining and delicious desserts. Browse the raffle
that supports the Friends of Wehr accessibility projects. NEW
this year - a concert after the meal by indie folk artists, Fendrick
and Peck. Meal includes one beverage of your choice; extras available for purchase.
$40 per person; $30 for Friends of Wehr members Reservations guarantee a space. Fendrick and Peck-Indie Folk Artists
Walk-ins are welcome as space allows. Saturday, June 23, 7:45-9 pm
Enjoy a concert in our outdoor amphi-
theater. Through song, poetry, and story,
acoustic indie folk artists Brian and
Madeline live to create and connect with
others. Their music is noted for its
exquisite harmony, lyrics, and
composition. They inspire others to step
away, be still, learn, and engage with the
natural world around them.
$10 a person payable at the door
Celebrate Pollinators This Spring
Join us this spring for pollinator-focused experiences that
let you see the nature center from a pollinator point of view.
Bugs and Blooms
Sunday, May 20, 2 - 4 pm
Join insect expert, Pat Fojut, as we explore spring flowers and Butterfly Workshop
their pollinator partners. A short presentation will be followed Sunday, June 24, 9 am - 12 pm
by a hike to record flower blooming and I.D. and observe their Learn the basics of butterfly ID, and
bee, fly and wasp visitors. This is sure to be a unique afternoon then enjoy a morning walk through
capturing spring phenology from the pollinator perspective. woods and prairie in search of our fluttery friends. Butterflies will
Fee: $12 per person $10 for Milwaukee County residents be counted and recorded as part of our 31st Annual Butterfly count.
$7 for Friends of Wehr members Participants may continue for an optional afternoon session.
Pre-registration required 2 days prior to program. Pre-registration required two days prior to program $5 per person
Bumble Bee Photo Sur vey and ID Workshop Saturday, June 30, 9:30 am–12:30 pm
Join us to learn how to complete a bee photo survey as part of the citizen science Bumble Watch project. Susan Carpenter from UW-
Arboretum will present a workshop that includes a brief overview of native bees, instruction in bumble bee identification, tips for bee
photography, and how to share results to BumbleBeeWatch.org, as well as introducing the protocol for reporting a sighting of the
Federally Endangered Rusty-patch Bumble Bee. Beginning bee watchers and photographers are welcome!
Pre-registration is required 2 days prior to program $5 per person
WE ARE MILWAUKEE COUNTY PARKS
Center News
What Happened To The Furnace? And Other News
Thank you to everyone who has put up with the inconvenience of no heat in the Gardner Room this winter. Luckily the heat was
fine in the rest of the building. This meant moving programs and meetings and using the building in creative ways to meet the
needs of visitors. The culprit was a degraded flue pipe. It turns out the old pipe was too small and with today’s building codes
the flue pipe could not just be replaced. Many thanks to the wonderful HVAC team of Milwaukee County Parks for thinking out-
side of the box to get it fixed, and getting us up and running in time for Maple Sugaring.
In January Wehr lost two long time volunteers. Thirty-three-year volunteer and Friend of Wehr Board
member, Bob Wilson, passed away on Jan. 12. Bob was one of the longest serving volunteers at the
Center. Every Monday morning he would join Phenology and every Tuesday morning he was part of Wheel
and Chip Society. In the spring he helped gather and boil sap. The extra sap was turned into Bob’s famous
Maple Beer. Every fall Bob could be found manning the cider press at Cider Sunday. And, no surprise, he
would take the left-over cider apples and turn them into beer and wine. For as long as anyone can remem-
ber, Bob graciously shared his products for our volunteer celebrations.
Only a few days after losing Bob Wilson, Wehr lost Raymond Bryant on Jan 16. Not
many places can boast a regular volunteer that has to take a plane to come and
volunteer. Ray lived in Greensboro, North Carolina, but came several months a year
to visit his daughter, naturalist Bev Bryant, and her family. Since Bev spends her
days at Wehr, her Dad came along too. Ray’s unique electrical engineering
talents earned him a permanent volunteer spot during Wehr’s Halloween Haunts. He
Bob Wilson
kept all of Wehr’s special effects running and powered…he was a master gaffer.
While much of this winter has been challenging, not all of it has been difficult. Work has been
progressing on the plans for the accessible restrooms and expanded office area. The final design
phase is almost finished. Bids will go out in June and hopefully construction will begin the Monday
after Flavors of Fall event. The “Over the Top” fund raising campaign is going well. Thank you
to all the members who sent in their “Over the Top” donation with their 2018 membership. If you
have not renewed yet, please remember to add your donation and help us get the accessible
restroom fund over the top. It takes a whole community to keep our Center the wonderful place it is. Raymond Bryant
Our visitors, volunteers, and members are the best.
Bee Grant Awarded to Wehr
Through the efforts of naturalist, Brooke Gilley, Wehr is the recipient of a sizable grant from the Honeybee Conservancy.
Valued at approximately $700, it includes all of the equipment necessary to get a beginning bee keeper set up, including two
complete bee hive bodies and parts, tools such as a hive smoker, brushes, and bee keeper suit, and one 3 lb. package of
bees including a queen.
Wehr currently has an indoor observation hive located in the
Fireplace Room and up to two outdoor hives located outside
the door at the back of the building. However these outdoor
hives actually belongs to staff members Howard Aprill, Emily
Brown, and Brooke Gilley, who are themselves, bee keepers.
Now Wehr will own its own equipment.
As more and more people become aware of the plight of the
honeybees, we feel it’s even more important to help the public
understand how vital bees are. New bee education programs
are currently being developed for use in libraries, at schools,
Brooke Gilley
and here at Wehr. The new outdoor hive will be set up as soon as possible this spring.
Thanks to Brooke, Wehr can now expand its bee programs. As Brooke puts it, “Bees are very complicated animals. There is a
lot to know and a lot to share.”
Mother’s and Father’s Day, graduations and weddings...shop at AmazonSmile and they will give back to Wehr Nature Center!
Just switch your regular Amazon account to AmazonSmile-all the same shopping, shipping, etc.-even Prime.
Pick Friends of Wehr as your charity. Amazon gives .05% of your purchases to WNC!
And that will make us ALL smile!! Click here to start helping today!
Friends Of Wehr
Thank You! Your contributions to the Friends of Wehr are appreciated and always used with careful consideration.
Giving Tree
Anonymous Carol J. Ferguson In Memory of Lois Pinkowski Brian Russart
Janet Anderson LaVerne C. Ferguson Aimee Pinkowski James Shaw
John Dimmick Gene Franecki In Memory of Rosalie Wilinski In Memory of Mary Kimmel
Christine Double Clifford E. Germain Susan M. Garthwaite WNC Camera Club
Lawrence Gold Pauline Gilbertson
Bench In Memory of Antonia Klopf
Margaret and Paul Gugg Janice and Bob Keeler
Robert and Arlene Logan Seth Anthony
Ken and Jean Hoehn Rosanne and S. K. Mehta
Sandy and Ron Retherford and In Memory of Lillian and
James Lawrence Michael and Diane Piontek Ernest Petsch
family
Dennis and Jane McCormack Dave Rinkel Lillianna Petsch-Horvath
Carol Nelson Sandra Rupnow In Memory of James J. Kleist
Ronald Reese and Dwight and Joanne Schwartz Kathryn A. Kleist In Memory of Martin R. Schreiber
Waterford Cross Country Team
Kathleen Bosetti-Reese WNC Camera Club Owl Cage
Thomas Rozanski Boardwalk Ron Rebernick In Memory of Walter A. Snieg
Carlen Schenk Mary Zanotelli
Anonymous Bug Day
Betty Siemsen Molly Clarey Copesan/Wil-Kil Pest Control Board Walk & Paver
Judy Springer Michael Hapka Homemade Holidays In Memory of Rosalie R. Wilinski
Sandra Tesmer Angela Leonard Colleen Resendiz Karen Albrecht
WNC Camera Club Kristen Ligas Elaine Bieszk
Nancy Wojnarowicz Joanne Pfeffer Halloween Haunts
Larry Chang
Taylor York Kohl’s Department Stores
In Memory of Shirley Ann Kammers John and Diane Chase
In Honor of Betty and Rick and Juliana Johnson Over the top Dave and Shirley Garthwaite
Al Siemsen Brian and Susan Kammers Restroom Renovation Nancy L. Hall
Jolene Siemsen Robert and Kathleen Ruhe Anonymous Mary Hill
In Honor of Ted Bosch Craig and Joann Sternke John Berenson Scott and Lisa Heisel
Kathy Bosch Paul and Sandy Wysocki Scott Bowe Mark and Kris Schiferl
Joan Ziebart and Daniel Husting Karen and Mark Fairbanks Ted and Deanna Wilinski
In Memory of Jim Mastell Pam Galasinski
Brian and Catherine Wienke In Memory of George Kehres Art and Kerensa Wilinski
Kris Maegli
In Memory of Edwin and Heather Bennett Deb McRae
Giving Tree & Paver
Bernice Solberg In Memory of Mason Mrozak Michelle’s Action Angels In Memory of Sylvester
Rebecca Solberg Holly Mrozak Barbara Wallner
Warkoczewski
Donald and Judith Anderson
In Memory of Mary Kimmel In Memory of Dennis B. Pinkowski Beth Wilmoth
Linda Artmann
S. J. and A. C. Eager Aimee Pinkowski Accessibility Project general Gleb W. Bulanow
Ed Eberhardt Maru Cross and the Cross Family
Kohl’s Department Stores William and Judith Laste
An Invitation to the Friends of Wehr
Accessibility Project Paver Terril L. Mattern
Annual Membership Meeting Clare Berndt John and Mary Mickelson
Friends of Wehr members are invited to the organization’s Andreas Davi Elaine Miller
Annual Meeting on Monday, June 18, from 3:30-4:30 pm. Liz Deger Redeemer Evangelical Free Church
The annual meeting is required by the Friend’s bylaws and Leah Dosch Jerome Warkoczewski
is intended to keep members informed of the state of the Susan M. Gambetta In-Kind Donation
organization. Everyone is welcome to attend but only Kohl’s Department Stores Paul and Pat Brings
Friends members can vote. The agenda includes a review Melanie Lawson Core Vision IT Solutions, LLC
Rudolph Lindmair Peter Drenzek
of the annual report, updates by board committees, a
Dennis McKnight Wade Gease
financial report and election of the board of directors. In M. M. Netzer
the past four years, the Friends have made considerable
financial commitments to facilitate the renovation of the
Thank you to Jackie Crivello’s
building and amphitheater. More needs to be done to Wild Birds Unlimited for their continuing
complete the project. The Board needs to hear from the support in keeping our feeders full and our
membership regarding these financial commitments. birds happy. Wild Birds Unlimited located
Mark your calendar for June 18! at 4454 S. 108th St. Greenfield.
WEHR WORDS - Editor: Bev Bryant
Contributors: Deb McRae, Mary Gaub,
Karen Kerans, Brooke Gilley
Mother’s Day Weekend
Native Plant Sale May 12 & 13, 9 am to 3:30 pm
Beautify your yard with native plants from Wehr’s annual sale. Nursery grown native
wildflowers suitable for sun or shade, wet or dry will be sold in 4-inch pots. Items for
sale include spring ephemerals, prairie plants, woodland plants, and a few wetland
plant species. This is a very popular sale, so come early for the best selections.
To reserve your selection of plants in advance, fill out and return the Pre-Order Form
in this newsletter or download it from: http://www.friendsofwehr.org/spring-events/
mothers-day-native-plant-sale/ and return to Wehr by April 25. This will help assure
(but not guarantee) your selections ahead of time. Contact Carol at carol.howard@
ces.uwex.edu if you have questions or would like the form emailed to you.
Wehr Naturally-Backyard Summer Favorites with Staci Joers
Thursday, June 14, 6:30-9 pm
Join Staci as she shares recipes and tips of her favorite summer dishes,
perfect for grilling either indoors or out. Come hungry as you will sample
Peanut Butter-Stuffed and Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos, Beer Can Bacon Burgers
stuffed with Mushrooms, Cheese & Peppers, Backyard Smashed Spuds, Grilled
Asparagus, Pound Cake with Fresh Berries & Dark Chocolate.
Pre-registration is recommended. Walk-ins are welcome as space allows.
$32 per person / $27 Friends of Wehr Members
Summer Solstice Nick Olson won 1st place at
Fundraiser and Concert our 7th Annual Chili
Cook-off with Grandpa's Chili
Saturday, June 23, 6-9 pm
Help us celebrate the longest day of the year!
Fendrick and Peck-Indie Folk Artists
Saturday, June 23, 7:45-9 pm
Enjoy a concert in our outdoor amphi-theater.
See front page for more details!
Community Organizations
Wehr is fortunate to host several organizations who share their passion and knowledge about the natural
world with the public. For more information about these organizations and details about their programs, please visit
their websites or call Wehr (414) 425-8550.
Wehr Camera Club is dedicated to sharing a passion for photography and nature. Visit http://www.wnccc.net
for program information. Public programs are held the 2nd Saturday, September to June, from 9-11 am.
Wisconsin Metro Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society that encourages environ-
mental stewardship through education and conservation. Public programs are held the third Wednesday of each month from 7-9 pm,
September through May. Visit www.wimetroaudubon.org for program information.
Wild Ones, Natural Landscapers, Inc. supports the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native
plant communities by promoting the use of native plants in landscaping. Meetings are held at WNC from 1:30-3:30 pm the second
Saturday, Sept. through April. Email questions to wildones.wehr@gmail.com. Web: http://milwaukeesouthwestwehr.wildones.org/
Wehr Astronomical Society is a group of amateur astronomers who promote the study of astronomy.
Meetings are from 7-9 pm the 2nd Tuesday of February through June and September & November; 1st Tuesday evening in October.
Look for us on Facebook.
Nature Volunteer News
Upcoming Opportunities for Current Volunteers
Dotty’s Crafters: Wed., April 4, May 2, June 6; 1-3 pm Wisconsin Master Naturalist
Native Plant Sale: Saturday & Sunday, May 12 & 13; Training Series
9 am – 12:30 pm or 12:30-4:30 pm Mondays: April 30, May 7, 14, 21
June 4, 11,18, 25 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Earth Care Crew: Thursdays, May 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31, Field Trips May 12, June 16
June 7, 14, 21 & 28; 9-11am This statewide program is designed to provide a broad
(Plant related tasks–on the job training provided) introduction to the natural history of Wisconsin and to train
Reptile Day: Sunday, June 10; 12:30-4:30 pm volunteers in Citizen Science skills. Topics will include Ecol-
ogy, Plant Communities, Landscapes, Water, Aquatic Plants &
Teaching Naturalist Trainings: Animals, Interpretation and Human Influences. This course will
Nature’s Neighborhoods: Monday, April 23, 1-4 pm include classroom instruction, activities, two off-site field trip
Summer Puppet Show: Monday, May 7, 1-4 pm sessions and a capstone project to practice skills and high-
Watershed Training: Monday, May 14, 1-4 pm light ecosystem concepts. Participants earn Master Naturalist
“The Buzz About Bees!” summer library program: certification upon completion of their project and course work.
$250 per person Material Fee of $15.00 per participant re-
Tuesday, June 5, 1 - 4 pm
quired. Payable first day of class. Online registration is
Buckthorn Busting: Saturdays, April 7, 14 & 28; available at http://wimasternaturalist.org
9 am - Noon
Ongoing Opportunities
Phenology, Wheel ‘n Chip Society, Teaching Volunteers,
Paw Patrol, Office Work and more! To find descriptions of
volunteer opportunities, become a volunteer and sign-up to
help go to: http://www.friendsofwehr.org/volunteer/ Saturday, April 21 9 am – Noon
and fill out an online application or contact Mary Gaub at
mary.gaub@ces.uwex.edu or 414-425-8550
New volunteers are always welcome! to em
:
Clickail!
Join the nation-wide efforts to “Keep America Beautiful”
by helping cleanup litter at Wehr Nature Center and
throughout Whitnall Park. Volunteers are asked to check
in at Wehr Nature Center at 9 am to receive their
assigned cleanup area in the park. No registration re-
Volunteer Spot Light – quired. Bags are provided; please bring your own gloves.
Teaching Naturalists
How do you teach 12,000 children? You get some fabulous volunteers to
help you! Wehr Nature Center and its Outreach Program annually provide New Volunteers
environmental education programming for nearly 12,000 pre-K through 12th The following new people joined Wehr’s
grade students. This would be an impossible task for our 6 staff naturalists, volunteer crew between November 12,
but thanks to nearly 30 specially trained volunteers, we are able to provide 2017 and January 23, 2018. Please say
quality, hands-on learning experiences for students here at Wehr, in a variety “Hi” and welcome them to the Wehr family
of other Milwaukee County parks, and in their classrooms. Wehr’s core of next time you see them.
Volunteer Teaching Naturalists is made up of individuals from a variety of
backgrounds, but whether they Jerry Bolyard Stephanie Kershek
are retired teachers, nurses or Michael Daton Michael Krase
finance specialists they all have Judith Dimmick Allen Marifke
two things in common: a passion Mark Dombeck Loretta Mulberry
for the natural world and a love Monica Dombeck Katie Rademacher
for children. Diane Sterle, vol- Julie Fritsch Victoria Robison
unteer teaching naturalist since Lynette Gincer Ishma Rizvi
2002, says, “I enjoy being a Kristin Gjerdset Joanne Schilz
teaching naturalist, because I get Patricia Godsell-Pierski Tabitha Tran
to experience and share the won- Kim Habermehl Robin Yurk
ders of our beautiful earth with Samantha Kazmierski
others, especially the children. I also value the opportunities to connect with Thatcher Jacobs
a great group of people who share the same interest and love of nature.”Sunday Monday Tuesday
APRIL
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Happy Easter! Buckthorn Busting
Wehr Nature 9 am-12 pm
Center
Is Closed Woodcocks,
10:30 -11:30 am
Wood Frogs
and Wine
Dotty’s Crafters 6:30-8:30 pm
1-3 pm
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Yoga Little Wonders Wehr Astronomical Buckthorn Busting
8:30-9:30 am 2 yr olds Society 9 am-12 pm
9:30-10:30 am Michael Bakich, Camera Club
3 yr olds Sr. editor Astronomy 10:30 -11:30 am 9-11 am
11 am-noon magazine Wild Ones
“The Great American 1:30-3:30 pm
Eclipse of 2017”
7 – 9 pm
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Yoga NatureNauts 10:30 -
8:30-9:30 am 9:30-10:30 am 11:30 am
Wisconsin Metro 9 am-noon
NatureNauts Audubon Society Birding Beyond the
1-2 pm Tom Schultz, WSO Feeder: Identification
field trip coordinator 9 am-noon
“Spring Warbler ID
Tips” 7- 9 pm 1-2:30 pm
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Yoga for Wellness Little Wonders Mother’s Day Plant Buckthorn Busting
8:30-9:30 am 2 yr olds Sale preorders due 9am-12 pm
9:30-10:30 am
Pop-Up Nature: 3 yr olds
Earth Day 11 am-noon
Frog Frolic Frog Frolic
For Adults 7-9 pm For Families 7-9 pm
1-3 pm
Teaching 10:30 -11:30 am
Naturalist Training
1-4 pm
29 30
Birding with Paul WI Master
7:30-10 am Naturalist Training
begins
Yoga for Wellness
5:30-8:30 pm
8:30-9:30 am For more information
call 414-425-8550
All programs & events
subject to change.
Parking fees may apply.MAY
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5
Earth Care Crew
9-11 am
10:30 -11:30 am
Dotty’s Crafters
1-3 pm
6 7 8 9 10 11 Mother’s Day 12
Birding With Paul Little Wonders Wehr Astronomical Earth Care Crew Native
7:30-10 am 2 yr olds Society 9-11 am Plant Sale
9:30-10:30 am Angela Van Sistine, 9 am-
Yoga for Wellness
3 yr olds UWM Physics Dept. 3:30 pm
8:30-9:30 am
11 am-noon “Light and Spectra: 10:30 -11:30 am
The Colors of Our
Teaching Naturalist Universe”
7-9 pm
N
Night Sky Viewing
Training
1-4 pm
8-10 pm N
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Birding With Paul Teaching Naturalist Earth Care Crew
7:30-10 am Training 9-11 am
1-2:30 pm
Mother’s Day 1-4 pm
Native 10:30 -11:30 am
Plant Sale
9 am-
3:30 pm
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Birding With Paul NatureNauts Earth Care Crew
7:30-10 am 9:30-10:30 am 9-11 am
Yoga for Wellness Adult Scavenger
8:30-9:30 am 10:30 -11:30 am Hunt
Bugs & Blooms Walk 6-8 pm
2-3:30 pm
NatureNauts
1-2 pm
27 Happy 28 29 30 31
Earth Care Crew
Memorial Day
9-11 am
Wehr Nature
Center is Open
10:30 -11:30 am For more information
call 414-425-8550
All programs & events
subject to change.
Parking fees may apply.JUNE
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2
For more information
call 414-425-8550
All programs & events
subject to change.
Parking fees may apply.
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Little Wonders Teaching Naturalist EarthCare Crew Camera Club
2 yr olds Training 9-11 am 9:30-11:30 am
9:30-10:30 am Summer Library
3 yr olds Program
11 am-Noon 10:30 -11:30 am
1-4 pm
Dotty’s Crafters
1-3 pm
N
Night Sky Viewing
8-10 pm N
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Yoga for Wellness Wehr Astronomical Earth Care Crew
8:30-9:30 am Society 9-11 am
1-2:30 pm
Bob Bonadurer, Dir of
Soref Planetarium Wehr Naturally:
10:30 -11:30 am
“2019 Total Solar Staci Joers
Eclipse Trip to Chile” 6:30-9 pm
1-4 pm 7-9 pm
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
NatureNauts NatureNauts Earth Care Crew Summer
1-2 pm 9:30-10:30 am 9-11 am Solstice
Friends of Wehr Celebration
Annual Meeting 6-9 pm
10:30 -11:30 am Concert:
3:30-4:30 pm
Fendrick and Peck
indie folk artists
7:45-9 pm
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Yoga for Wellness Pop-up Nature: Earth Care Crew Bumble Bee Photo
8:30-9:30 pm Pollinators 9-11 am Survey and ID
1-3 pm Workshop
9:30 am -12:30 pm
10:30 -11:30 am for Adults
8-10 pm
9 am-noon for Families
8-10 pmNature Discovery For Children
Little Wonders
A program for 2 and 3 year olds to share with their favorite adult
Times: 9:30-10:30 am for Two Year Olds 11 am-Noon for Three Year Olds
Mud Puddles Mondays, April 9 & 23
Spring is here, bringing raindrops and mud puddles. Toddlers will enjoy the story, Mud by
Mary Lyn Ray, paint with mud (disguised as finger paint), and enjoy a “muddy” snack. We
will go on a puddle-jumping walk and make mud pies, so please bring rain boots and wear
clothes that can get messy.
Pretty Petals Monday, May 7
Bring your little sprout to this class celebrating seeds and flowers.
Tots will hear the Lois Ehlert story Planting a Rainbow and make their
own magic seed necklace. We will pot a flower to take home, walk to
see spring wildflowers, and enjoy a “seedy” snack.
Fish Tales June 4
Come learn about our scaly, slippery friends the fish. Tots will hear a fishy story, make fish
artwork, and even dip a pole into our imaginary fishin’ hole. We will visit our resident fish in the
aquarium and take a walk to the pond in search of friendly fish.
NatureNauts
A series of fun-filled programs for children 4-6 years old and their favorite adult
Times: 1-2 pm for Sunday Classes 9:30-10:30 am for Monday Classes
Super Salamander Sunday, April 15 or Monday, April 16
Discover the secrets of our super salamanders. We will read The Salamander Room by Ann Mazer, make a craft
salamander, and meet a real live Salamander up close.
Hail the Snail & Hug a Slug Sunday, May 20 or Monday, May 21
NatureNauts will slide into the slippery world of these misunderstood critters. We
will go in search of slugs and snails in the forest, meet them up close, and make a
craft snail and slug to take home. No “yucks” allowed!
Chirping Crickets Sunday, June 17 or Monday, June 18
See up close how our evening chirpers create their beautiful music. We will read
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle and then meet and pet a real live cricket.
Pre-registration is required for all children’s programs Deadline is two days before the program date
Fees: $12 per child $10 Milwaukee County Residents $7 Friends of Wehr Members
FRIENDS OF WEHR
NATURE STORE
We are well stocked for spring adventures! Stop in
to shop for field guides on birds, butterflies, and
blossoms. There are bird house kits, duck callers,
and toy binoculars for the kids. Purchase a Friends
of Wehr hat or shirt to wear while you explore!
Open 8:30 am-4 pm
All proceeds go to Friends of Wehr
to support the educational programs at Wehr Nature Center. Shop In the Beauty of NatureNature Discovery for Adults
Woodcock, Wood frogs & Wine
Saturday, April 7, 6:30 – 8:30 pm FOR ADULTS
Wehr Nature Center is one of the Friday, April 27, 7-9 pm
few spots in Milwaukee County to Hop over to Wehr and
celebrate spring with the
Frog Frolic
view the iconic “sky dance” of
the American Woodcock. After a frogs. We will meet some
short presentation about these Wisconsin amphibians up
unique shorebirds of the woods close and then stroll out to the ponds of Wehr to listen for
over a glass of wine or beer, we’ll the sweet spring sound of frogs chorusing. Learn about citi-
head out on a sunset stroll to zen science opportunities that support frog conservation.
witness one of nature’s most Registration is required two days before the program
spectacular scenes. As we wait for the woodcocks to Fee: $12 per person $10 Milwaukee County residents
begin, we’ll listen for wood frogs and other ephemeral $7 Friends of Wehr members Recommended forages 5+
pond favorites.
$20 per person / $15 Friends of Wehr members
Pre-registration required 2 days prior to program 21yrs.+
Adult Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, May 26, 6 pm - 8 pm
Wellness Activities at Wehr Back by popular demand, this one-
Enjoy the beauty of nature while you work of-a-kind adult-only scavenger hunt
towards your health and wellness goals. will make the kids jealous! It’s your
turn to hit the trails with a GPS and a set of clues. Teams answer riddles, collect
Yoga for Wellness items and solve a puzzle to earn points for alcoholic beverages and great prizes.
Sundays, April 8, 15, 22, 29; So if you are up for some
May 6, 20; June 10, 24, friendly outdoor competition,
8:30-9:30 am get a buddy or 3 and join us
Join Yoga instructor, Katy for a scavenger hunt
Martens, for a morning of like no other.
yoga surrounded by the $20 per person
beautiful sights and sounds of Wehr $15 Friends of Wehr members
Nature Center. For more informtion and Price includes activities,
fees please visit http://www.friendsof- gear, and 2 alcoholic
wehr.org/yoga-for-wellness/ beverages. 21 yrs. +
Reservations guarantee a
Hike along with this space. Walk-ins are welcome
group that walks as space allows.
Wehr’s trails together
for camaraderie,
exercise and fun.
FOR ADULTS Friday, June 29, 8 - 10 pm
Meet in the Visitor Center. Meet real live Bats! Discover the fiction, folklore,
Every Wednesday, 10:30-11:30 am
and facts on nature’s only true flying mammal.
No fee or registration required; Learn how you can participate in Citizen Science
regular parking fee in effect projects to help bats.
Fee: $12 per person $10 for Milwaukee County residents $7 for Friends of
Wehr members Pre-registration required 2 days prior to program.
Birding With Paul Birding Beyond the Feeder: Basic Bird Identification
Sundays, April 29, May 6, Saturday, April 21, 9 am -12 pm
13, & 20, 7:30-10:00 am See a flash of color in your yard and don’t know what bird it is? Overwhelmed by
Join expert birding leader your field guide? We will start inside learning basic bird identification and binocular
Paul Boyer for an informative use, then head outside to experience the beginning of migration. For eager early-
and enjoyable morning of birding. risers, there will be a pre-session hike at 7:30 am.
Bring your binoculars and field guide. Fee: $15 per person $12 for Milwaukee County residents
Free; no registration required $10 for Friends of Wehr members Pre-registration required 2 days prior to program.Nature Discovery for Families
FOR FAMILIES
Saturday, April 28 7-9 pm Sunday, June 10, 1-4 pm
Hop over to Wehr and
Frog Frolic celebrate spring with the
frogs. We will meet some
Discover the world of reptiles and amphibians! Meet
colorful snakes, wondrous turtles, and strange lizards and
salamanders. See dozens of species on display and enjoy
Wisconsin amphibians up close and then stroll out to the ponds
a guided hike to look for turtles and listen for frogs. Learn
of Wehr to listen for the sweet spring sound of frogs chorusing.
all the ways to live peacefully with our misunderstood and
Registration is required two days before the program
scaly wild neighbors. Kids can
Fee: $12 per person $10 for Milwaukee County residents
$7 for Friends of Wehr members Recommended for ages 5+
enjoy crafts and refreshments
available for purchase.
Fee: $3 per person,
$2 for Friends of Wehr members
Saturdays, April 21, May 19, &
June 16, 1-2:30 pm
Have you ever wondered how
snakes hear or if you really get
warts from touching a toad? Come
visit with Wehr’s resident turtles,
snakes, salamanders, and other
cold blooded critters to discover
more about these often misunder-
stood animals. You may even get
to touch a turtle or snake!
Free! $3.50 parking fee applies
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This is an open house program, so
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come anytime between 1 and 2:30 to visit!
Saturdays, May 12 & June 9, 8-10 pm N
Join members of the Wehr Astronomical Society for sky
Want to explore nature with your viewing at Wehr Nature Center. Look through a telescope
children but don’t know how to get and learn about the constellations and sky objects with
started? Stop in for a “pop-up” program experts. This program is canceled if the skies are cloudy.
with a nature expert to get your adventure No fee or registration required
on! There will be a naturalist led activity Location: Wehr Nature Center For more information visit:
from 1-1:30, followed by self-guided
activities you can enjoy with your family.
Sunday, April 22, 1-3 pm
https://www.facebook.com/WehrAstronomicalSociety/
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Topic: Earth Day
Learn how your family can be active stewards of our
Earth home. There will games and crafts that teach how
we can make a difference, and an Earth Day scavenger FOR FAMILIES
hunt along Wehr’s trails. Saturday, June 30, 8-10 pm
Monday, June 25, 1-3 pm
Topic: Pollinators
Buzz over to Wehr to learn about the pollinators that our Families will discover the fiction, folklore, and facts about bats
world depends upon. Watch a bee keeping through hands-on activities. We will go on a night hike to look
demonstration, play the pollination game, and go on a for bats and other creatures of the night. Come learn how to be
family pollinator hunt. a friend to bats!
$5 per family, $3.50 per car for parking Registration is required two days before the program
No pre-registration is required. Fee: $12 per person $10 for Milwaukee County residents
$7 for Friends of Wehr members Recommended for ages 8+Homage to the Honey Bee
By Brooke Gilley
Imagine yourself in a beautiful garden. The sky is blue without
a hint of a cloud, a gentle breeze carries the aroma of blossoms,
and you are surrounded by multiple flowers of amazing colors.
While you sit in a comfy chair and enjoy all the garden sights
and sounds, you sample the various fresh and luscious fruits
from your garden. Out of the corner of your eye you catch a hint
of movement and turn to follow the flight path of a small black
and yellow striped insect. As you watch the form of a honey bee
make its way from flower to flower, you wonder about the bee
and its life. Maybe you are afraid of its sting or remember the
last time you tasted honey. But, my friend, the honey bee is more -Honey and Pollen Products
than its sting or its honey and so much more important than we give it credit for. It’s amazing to think that
the fruit from our gardens may not have grown if not for the bee. One third of what we eat each day is
all thanks to those industrious little insects. In addition to foods, bees also pollinate natural fibers such as
hemp and linen. So we also owe a huge “thank you” to the bees for our favorite pair of jeans.
We know that European honey bees are very im-
portant to pollination but how? They gather nectar
from the flowers to turn into honey for the hive
to eat, but they also collect pollen on their legs
to use as a food source. As they fly from flower
to flower, they brush off a little pollen from the
plants they just visited and so pollinate the cur-
rent one. This pollen makes it possible for the
plant to reproduce.
In addition to their role as pollinators, bees also
provide products from the hive that are used
medicinally.
Bee pollenThe use of products like royal jelly, honey, pollen, propolis,
and wax that come from the hive for medical reasons is called
apitherapy. For example, beeswax is used in healing salves
like lip balm. And if you happen to be an allergy sufferer, the
digestion of local honey is said to aid in lessening the severity
of allergies. The ancient wisdom of using bee-made products
is one of the reasons the European honey bee was brought to
the United States in the 1600s. In many cultures around the
world these little insects are revered and so they should be,
-Kent Willaims opening the hive or at the very least, respected.
Sadly, in spite of their importance, these
insects are declining in the United States and
other parts of the world. This decline has many
people worried. Honey bees are experienc-
ing something called Colony Collapse disorder,
which causes many beekeepers to lose 30%
to 90% of the bees in their hives. There is no
direct answer to the cause. Most likely it is a
combination of factors. Theories include: Varro
mites that are a parasite of honey bees; viruses;
small hive beetle infestations that devastate a
hive by tunneling in wax and destroying eggs
and larvae of the honey bees; and the use of
pesticides on crops.
It’s hard to imagine what our gardens would be like
without these wonderful insects. So how can we
help? We can learn about them, support local bee-
keepers, and, if pesticides are necessary, use the
minimum amount per application and avoid mid-day
applications when honey bees are most active.
Thank the bees for all they do by planting a few
more bee-friendly flowers like Joe-pye Weed, Bee
Balm, Aster, fruit trees, blackberries and raspberries.
The bees will get the message.
-Fanning the Nasonov Gland for the home coming of workers9701 W. College Ave.
Franklin, WI 53132 In Whitnall Park
414-425-8550 Open Daily 8-4:30
(Check for holiday hours)
http://www.friendsofwehr.org
Coming this Summer!
Ladies Night Out
Tuesday, July 17 5:30-8:30 pm LOOK FOR
US ON
Fireside Friday - Firefly Fun FACEBOOK
Friday, July 20 7-9 pm
Moth Nights FOLLOW
July 27 & 28, 8-10 pm US ON Learn more about activities and events
TWITTER
throughout the Milwaukee County Parks
Wish List
Fiskars 30in Power-Lever Bypass Lopper – Nature objects for kids camps:
with 2 inch cutting capacity. sea shells, shark’s teeth,
walnut shells, dried milkweed pods,
acorn caps, pressed flowers
Check out this donation item
on AmazonSmile! Click the image and go to the AmazonSmile page.
Use your AmazonSmile account that gives back to Wehr for whatever New or gently used iPad 4 or newer
you buy! (See page 2 for more info.)
If you are interested in donating any of these items, or would like to contribute money towards their purchase,
please contact Carol at (414) 425-8550. Your contributions are tax deductible when made to the Friends of Wehr.
COME JOIN US!
The Friends of Wehr believe that every person deserves to have access to nature.
Wehr offers opportunities to explore the beauty of nature year round. Five miles
of trails on our 220-acre nature preserve feature forest, wetland, prairie, oak
savanna, a lake, and waterfall. Whether you want to hike, participate in a class,
attend a special event, take part in wellness activities, or just need to soak in the
tranquility of nature from a bench, Wehr and the Friends welcome you!
Your annual membership provides you with:
• Discounts on programs
• 10% discount in the Nature Store
• Free parking
• Priority registration for Halloween Haunts
To join go to • Quarterly newsletter
http://www.friendsofwehr.org/support-us/ • Reduced Fees on Select Events/ProgramsYou can also read
