What secrets do hummingbirds hold? Why is holly associated with the holidays? How is ginseng used? Find out this December through free programs at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Schmeeckle Reserve.
Taught by UW-Stevens Point students, these programs meet at the reserve's Visitor Center, located at 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, unless otherwise noted. For more information, call 715-346-4992 or go to www.uwsp.edu/cnr/schmeeckle. Dress for the weather, as some programs are outdoors.
December programs include:
- Effects of the Ice Age, Thursday, Dec. 1, 6-7 p.m. Discover how Wisconsin was shaped by freezing climates and glaciers.
- Life in the Wind, Saturday, Dec. 3, 1-2 p.m. How do hummingbirds exude so much power in such tiny little wings?
- Are Aliens Among Us? Sunday, Dec. 4, 1-2 p.m. Learn the stories about Wisconsin's non-native species and how they can be managed.
- Music and Nature, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 6-7 p.m. Animals make their own music. Find out how while making your own instrument then take part in a rhythm circle.
- Fire: Friend or Foe? Thursday, Dec. 8, 6-7 p.m. Learn how fire has affected Wisconsin's past and present.
- Weather: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, Saturday, Dec. 10, 3-4 p.m. From northern lights to tornadoes, uncover the secrets of weather phenomena.
- Natural History of the Winter Holidays, Sunday, Dec. 11, 1-2 p.m. Find out how holly, mistletoe and poinsettias are associated with the holidays.
- The Amphibian Advantage, Monday, Dec. 12, 6-7 p.m. Explore the world of Schmeeckle's amphibians and how they survive the harsh northern winter.
- Ginseng: The Super Herb, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 6-7 p.m. Central Wisconsin is a top producer of ginseng. Enjoy some ginseng tea and learn about its ancient medicinal uses and cultural significance.
- Baffled by Bears, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 6-7 p.m. Discover the black bears of Wisconsin through their Native American roots and a suburban presence.