FLY ABOVE THE PRAIRIE! (birds, butterflies, dragonflies, bees, insects, and more!)

Celebrate nature with yoga, prairie tours, environmental education displays, short nature pop-up presentations, and a monarch butterfly release at this year’s Prairie Fest. Prairie Fest is a FREE family-oriented environmental education event with activities for all ages.

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE as of 6/28/24:

For EARLY BIRDS enjoy a bird hike with Lisa Mick from UWO & Friends of the Gottfried at 8 a.m.

Yoga in the Prairie Featuring Lucy Mathers at 8:30 am. 

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DISPLAYS from 9:00 a.m. - noon. Learn about pollinators, flyers, native plants, cranes, and other nature and sustainable topics from:-WI Dragonfly Society-Randy Peterson, Artist and Monarch Enthusiast-Wild Ones-Audubon-International Crane Foundation-Amanda Abramovich Local Legacy-CSA (Congregation of Sisters of St Agnes)-Fond du Lac Public Library-Citizens Climate Lobby-Earth Justice Now-The Loop-Historical Society.

GUIDED TOURS:10:00 am: Native Plant ID Walk. Learn about native plants and how to identify them.

11:00 am: Family/Kids WalkSearch for dragonflies -Get the whole family out in nature, strollers, and wagons welcome.

NATURE POP-UP TALKS (20-25 mins):9:30 a.m. What is Bird City Fond du Lac? by Laura DeGlier. Learn more about where we find birds in Fond du Lac, how the city supports this effort, why it matters, and how you can get involved.

10:30 a.m. The Fascinating Life of Dragonflies and Damselflies by Edgar Spalding and Jessie Seiders from the WI Dragonfly Society. Learn about the different species of dragonflies and damselflies and try to catch one near our ponds during the family/kids walk at 11 a.m.

11:30 a.m. Monarch Butterflies, Their Amazing Life Cycle, Migration and How We Can Help Them Flourish by Randy Peterson. Learn about the monarch butterfly life cycle with large and lifelike sculptures Randy has created. Learn little-known facts about these beloved insects and successful techniques for planting milkweed and flowers to help fuel the Monarchs great migration.

OTHER FUN KIDS ACTIVITIES from 9:00 am-noon:-Prairie Dog Challenge (Youth Obstacle Course). Venture through the Arboretum with zigs, zags, ups, and downs. Go through it once or as many times as you can! Face/arm painting by Amy from Perspective Studios. Kids arts and crafts. MONARCH BUTTERFLIES Released into Prairie -Noon -12:15ish.Live music from 10:00 am-11:30 am.