For more information on the trips, where available, please click on the brown event titles for a link to the program or hike. I will be updating this post periodically during November as new events are announced, so feel free to stop back!
Be sure to check often during the month with local hiking groups, universities, naturalist-interest groups, nature conservancies, nature centers and their Friends groups, state parks, US Fish and Wildlife centers and others in your area to see what's new to help you understand the natural world around you better.
Note:
For additional late October events, please click here to see last month's edition of the "Hiking and Learning series post.
- Thursday Oct 31 12:30-2pm
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, N5727 County Road Z, Onalaska
Let's get batty together on Halloween!!! Bats are on the move, along with our fine feathered friends. Join Master Naturalist and Bat Advocate, Kathryn Hietbrink, for a FREE presentation to learn about which bats stay to hibernate, which migrate south, and many more bat facts. Wisconsin is home to eight species of bats, many of which are found on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge! Bats are fascinating, very beneficial, and are at risk. Come learn how we can help them survive! There just might be a treat involved! This program will be most enjoyed by adults, but all ages are welcome. The presentation is made possible by our partners at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Bat Program.
Friends of the Blufflands
- Month of November
- People's Food Co-op in La Crosse
Friends of the Blufflands is happy to be the recipient of the People's Food Co-op "Give Where You Live" funding for the month of November. PFC shoppers have the opportunity to round up their transaction to the nearest dollar. At the end of the November, PFC will tally all the round ups and donate the total to Friends of the Blufflands. We thank the People's Food Co-op, and ask you to consider this when you shop at the People's Food Co-op. [ML-W note - The Friends of the Blufflands have been hard workers on behalf of of bluffland prairies in Hixon Forest and other Driftless areas. They do prescribed burns, invasives control, prairie seed collecting and broadcasting among MANY other tasks to keep our prairies vital. Your rounding up can make a huge difference to their work!)
- Saturday November 2 9:00am-11am
- Trempealeau National WIldlife Refuge, W28488 Refuge Rd, Trempealeau, WI
Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge is a rest stop to a diverse selection of waterfowl: ducks, geese, and swans! Meet the refuge staff members and volunteers at the observation deck as they assist with bird identification and answer related questions. Visitors can see migrating birds that are coming through the Refuge on their migration south to their wintering habitats. Spotting scopes, binoculars, and bird identification guides are available for participants. Come and join us to observe different species of ducks and other birds as they spread their wings south! *Event will be at the Observation Deck. *Stop by anytime during the duration of the event. *Due to a road construction project, participants of all fall events must access the refuge through Marshland Access Road.
Sponsor: Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
- Sunday November 3 10 am-2:00 pm
- Curiosi-Tea House, 901 W. 5th St Winona
Adventure lovers! Don’t
let bad weather or lack of appropriate gear stop you from getting outside this year! Join us this fall at our next bi-annual Gear Swap at Curiosi-Tea House in Winona, MN. This is your chance to browse our selection of gently used outdoor gear and clothing. Make the most of your outdoor adventures! Join us for our bi-annual Gear Swap! If you have gently used gear and clothing that you would like to sell or donate, you can bring it to us a week before the sale. The Janky Gear team will take care of the selling process for you, so you don't have to worry about anything. We'd be grateful if you could drop off your items with the Janky Gear team members during the week leading up to the sale. Doing so gives them enough time to inspect and price the items before the big day. You can collect your items and drop them off at 356 E Sanborn St in Winona, Minnesota. We'll collect gear swap items on Sunday, October 27th from 1-3 pm and Monday, October 28th from 4-6 pm. If this timing does not work for you, reach out to jankygear@gmail.com to schedule a separate drop-off. Gear swaps are a fantastic alternative to traditional purchasing and selling methods. They provide a more ethical option for selling outdoor gear because they promote reuse and reduce waste. By participating in a gear swap, you can give your unused gear a second life and ensure that it will be used and appreciated by someone else. Sponsors: Winona Outdoor Collaborative, Curiosi-Tea House and Janky Gear
- Saturday and Sunday Nov 2 - 3 10am-2pm
- Brownsville (MN) Overlook
Come enjoy the fall migration! As the seasons turn colder, thousands of swans, ducks and other water birds move through the refuge, finding a place to rest, relax and refuel before moving further south for the winter. A Refuge naturalist will be stationed at the Brownsville Overlook on Saturdays and Sundays from November 2 – November 17, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., to help visitors identify birds and share information about the refuge and migration. Please note that naturalists’ shifts may be cancelled or end early without warning in inclement or extremely cold weather. This event is part of our 100th Anniversary Interpretive Series! The Brownsville Overlook is located about three miles south of Brownsville, Minnesota along Minnesota Highway 26. A portable restroom will be available on-site. We recommend wearing lots of warm layers! Though peak migration is difficult to predict, the best time to see the tundra swan migration is usually the second or third week in November. The swans will typically stay until the water freezes over – if temperatures stay below freezing at night, the peak of migration will be earlier in November. Warmer weather extends their stay. Recent sightings and estimates of bird numbers will be posted weekly on the refuge website as we get closer to November:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river For more information, please call the La Crosse District Visitor Center at 608-779-2399. The Visitor Center will be open for winter hours Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 3pm starting in November.
Sponsor: Upper Mississippi River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
- Sunday, November 10 1-3:00pm
- Iowasota Retreat and Education Center, 2472 IA-26, Lansing IA
We're fitting in one last free walk this autumn! We plan to hike to the top of the "south bluff", which is about a 2 mile hike. The woods are lovely, and the weather is holding, so join us for this trek! We'll meet up at the SW corner of Iowisota (there is parking behind the house).
RSVP requested. We'll probably spend up to two hours on a hike, but can vary the time depending on participants interest and schedule. We'll try to keep our group to under 15 people. There is no charge. For this November walk, we will probably hike up to the top of the south bluff on a well-established trail. It is a 500' elevation change from the valley to the top of the bluff. The view from the top of the bluff is lovely, even if you do need to peek through the trees. You'll want to wear sturdy shoes and perhaps bring a walking stick and water bottle. This might be our last scheduled hike for the season, though we will have some other activities throughout the winter. Why a "women's" hike?? Linda has been involved in the Minnesota Womens Woodland Network
(mnwwn.org) for many years, and learned the power and joy of women sharing knowledge of the outdoors with each other. We can capture a similar experience here. Don't worry men, there will be other opportunities when we'll welcome you.
Sponsor: Iowasota Retreat and Education Center - Saturday, November 9 10am - noon
- Frontenac (MN) State Park
Walk through the riparian forest and along the beach to Sand Point to birdwatch. Look for migrating waterfowl as well as resident birds of the forest, gulls, pelicans, and raptors. Great for beginning birders. You will get some birding tips as well. Bring binoculars. The trail is well maintained and flat. It can be muddy following rain. The full loop is approximately 2 miles long, but you can head out whenever you need to. No need to register. If you have any questions, email janetmalotky@gmail.com. This event is free. Meet at the Frontenac State Park Sand Point parking lot at 10:00 AM.
Sponsors: Frontenac State Park and Frontenac State Park Association.
- Saturday November 9 10:00 am -noon
- Whitewater (MN) State Park
During this program we will go and look for ancient sea life that lived in the area hundreds of millions of years ago. We'll start with a brief introduction, then drive out of the park 9 miles to hunt for fossils. Bring transportation. To register or for more info, contact Jeremy Darst at 507-312-2301 or by email at
Jeremy.Darst@state.mn.us.
Sponsor: Whitewater State Park
- Saturday and Sunday Nov 9 - 10 10am-2pm
- Brownsville (MN) Overlook
Come enjoy the fall migration! As the seasons turn colder, thousands of swans, ducks and other water birds move through the refuge, finding a place to rest, relax and refuel before moving further south for the winter. A Refuge naturalist will be stationed at the Brownsville Overlook on Saturdays and Sundays from November 2 – November 17, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., to help visitors identify birds and share information about the refuge and migration. Please note that naturalists’ shifts may be cancelled or end early without warning in inclement or extremely cold weather. This event is part of our 100th Anniversary Interpretive Series! The Brownsville Overlook is located about three miles south of Brownsville, Minnesota along Minnesota Highway 26. A portable restroom will be available on-site. We recommend wearing lots of warm layers! Though peak migration is difficult to predict, the best time to see the tundra swan migration is usually the second or third week in November. The swans will typically stay until the water freezes over – if temperatures stay below freezing at night, the peak of migration will be earlier in November. Warmer weather extends their stay. Recent sightings and estimates of bird numbers will be posted weekly on the refuge website as we get closer to November:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river For more information, please call the La Crosse District Visitor Center at 608-779-2399. The Visitor Center will be open for winter hours Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 3pm starting in November.
Sponsor: Upper Mississippi River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
Urban Wildlife: Who are you living with in the city? - Wed , Nov. 13 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
-
Whitewater (MN) State Park Why are animals like opossums, raccoons, foxes, and turkeys thriving in human populated areas? Learn about the animals, how they are making themselves at home in urban and suburban environments, and what that means for people. This program is part of the Park's HOP program for seniors.
Sponsor: Friends of Whitewater State Park
Ecological Integration: Connecting to the Local Landscape in the Driftless | with Nicholas WazeeGale -
Saturday, November 16 9:00 am - 4:30 pm (lunch will be provided; ages 12+) - La Farge, WI
This class will be a philosophical and experiential exploration of connecting to the land through group activities, learning some methodical practices and observation skills, fuller use of our senses and empathy, and gaining more ecological knowledge. We will discuss the deep societal misperceptions that keep us disconnected from Nature, ways to get grounded and better connected, dig into some rich local learning from the land (including problem solving and understanding what we are seeing in the wilds), and discuss and work with some practices that can rewire us to the land and open us up to deeper understanding and connection to place. Parts of this class will be indoors and discussion-based, and parts will be spent outdoors observing and using some activities to get comfortable, grounded, and opened up to direct and enlivening experiences with the living landscape of the Driftless. Registration (on a sliding fee scale) and more information available
here. Sponsor: Driftless Folk School
- Saturday, November 16
- Iowasota Retreat and Education Center, 2472 IA-26, Lansing IA
Let's get curious about curiosity. Did you know that there are factors in our lives that actually hold us back from pursuing our curiosity? One of those factors: curiosity can take us out of our comfort zone and into unknown territory. Join Maryann Baldwin Join Maryann Baldwin for her talk on "The Curiosity Paradox," including a meditation, reflection and journaling. It's the perfect way to rest and recharge as the holiday season approaches! We will meet in the "Gathering Room" at Iowisota Retreat and Education Center. The event will include a light lunch. Cost is donation based with a suggested donation of $0 to $20 dollars, or whatever you want to put in the basket (we're not keeping track of individual donations). Don't let concern about price keep you away. This is intended to be a fun, enlightening event. It is also a chance to check out Iowisota!
Please RSVP/Register so we know who is coming.
- Saturday, November 16 2-4:00 pm
- Holzinger Lodge, 925 West Lake Blvd, Winona MN
Join the folks at Winona Outdoor Collaborative for their free November meet-up with a hike through the Holzinger trail system, and enjoy the sights, scents, and sounds of fall. You’ll be guided by a series of prompts to help you make a better connection with nature, and the people around you on this hike. Registration required (and will open soon),
Sponsor: Winona Outdoor Collaborative.
Owl Prowl -
Saturday, November16 5:00 -7:30 pm - International Owl Center, Houston MN
We start with a 30-minute program indoors to teach you how to identify owls by sound and the ethics of calling owls. Then you hop in your vehicle and follow the Owlmobile to about three different locations in rural Houston where Jo, our resident expert owl caller, will imitate owl calls in hopes of getting some responses. The program is capped at 30 participants, and these always sell out in advance. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Due to the need to stand perfectly still for 10 minutes or more at a time, these owl prowls are not recommended for children under age 12. No pets, smoking or vaping allowed either indoors or outdoors. Registration required. Registration opens October 20. Sponsor: International Owl Center
- Saturday and Sunday Nov 16-17 10am-2pm
- Brownsville (MN) Overlook
Come enjoy the fall migration! As the seasons turn colder, thousands of swans, ducks and other water birds move through the refuge, finding a place to rest, relax and refuel before moving further south for the winter. A Refuge naturalist will be stationed at the Brownsville Overlook on Saturdays and Sundays from November 2 – November 17, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., to help visitors identify birds and share information about the refuge and migration. Please note that naturalists’ shifts may be cancelled or end early without warning in inclement or extremely cold weather. This event is part of our 100th Anniversary Interpretive Series! The Brownsville Overlook is located about three miles south of Brownsville, Minnesota along Minnesota Highway 26. A portable restroom will be available on-site. We recommend wearing lots of warm layers! Though peak migration is difficult to predict, the best time to see the tundra swan migration is usually the second or third week in November. The swans will typically stay until the water freezes over – if temperatures stay below freezing at night, the peak of migration will be earlier in November. Warmer weather extends their stay. Recent sightings and estimates of bird numbers will be posted weekly on the refuge website as we get closer to November: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river For more information, please call the La Crosse District Visitor Center at 608-779-2399. The Visitor Center will be open for winter hours Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 3pm starting in November. Sponsor: Upper Mississippi River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
Hike Up to Eagle Point
- Saturday, November 23 1-2:30 pm
- Whitewater State Park
Are you looking to get out and stretch your legs without worrying about deer hunters? Then you should join us for a hike up to Eagle Point! During our hike we'll see great views and learn a lot about this amazing park. We'll investigate the parks origins, geology, and ecology during this fun 1 mile trip. Elevation Gain - 300ft. Meet at the Visitor's Center. Contact Jeremy Darst at 507-312-2301 or by email at
Jeremy.Darst@state.mn.us.
Sponsor: Whitewater State Park
Free State Parks Day
- Friday Nov 29
- All MN State Parks
On four days each year, all Minnesota state parks and state recreation areas offer free admission to everyone - no vehicle permits needed! Minnesota state parks are open year-round, and there's a state park within 30 miles of most Minnesotans. With a free day in each season, it's a great opportunity to get out there and explore someplace new - or visit an old favorite at a new time of year! Whether you stay for the whole weekend or just spend a few hours outside, you'll make memories that will last a lifetime. The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities like camping, rentals, or special tours. The goal is to encourage families and friends to spend time together in nature. Research shows many health and wellness benefits to spending time in nature. According to ParkRx, contact with nature improves one’s physical, mental, and spiritual health. Getting outdoors makes exercise more fun and can boost mood and immunity. The American Psychological Association shares that exposure to nature is linked to benefits including improved attention, lower stress, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even increases in empathy and cooperation.
Sponsor: MN DNR
