Parks and Land Use Events

Story Hike (Retzer) April 17, 2025

Stroll a bit, read a bit! This spring's edition of Story Hike is the children’s book “A Place for Rain” by Michelle Schaub and illustrated by Blanca Gómez.

This family-friendly event is free and completely self-guided. Set out on the Orange Trail to read the book while enjoying the outdoors at the same time!

• Free
• Retzer Nature Center (directions)
• April 1-30, Sunrise - 10 pm
• All ages
• The Orange Trail (view map) is a mowed grass trail with some sloped terrain (0.75 mile approx).
• Note: Trail not fully paved and not lit after dark.

Sponsored by Bridges Library System and Retzer Nature Center

Bird Hike (Retzer) April 18, 2025

Scout areas of Retzer with us to see how many different types of birds we can find on an easy, 1.5 mile walk.

-FREE!
-No expertise is needed and all skill levels are welcome.
-Children must be accompanied by an adult (recommended for ages 8+)
-Bring your own binoculars or borrow ours (limited quantity); cameras are also welcome.
-Dress for the weather and meet in the parking lot area by the Learning Center building. Held rain or shine.
-If groups of 10 or more plan to attend, please contact Retzer Nature Center in advance. Otherwise, registration is not required.

Earth Week Celebration (Retzer) April 21, 2025

Friends of Retzer Nature Center's Earth Week Celebration Earth Week Activities and Programs
April 1 - 30 Sunrise to 10 pm Retzer Nature Center All Month Long	Story Hike	Come out to Retzer to enjoy this spring’s Story Hike, featuring the children’s book “A Place for Rain” by Michelle Schaub and illustrated by Blanca Gómez. Set out on the Orange Trail to read the book while enjoying the outdoors at the same time! The Orange Trail is a mowed grass trail with some sloped terrain (0.75 mile approx). Free • No registration View more info A partnership with Retzer Nature Center and Bridges Library System.
Tuesday, April 22 2-3 pm Retzer Nature Center	Earth Day Spring Ephemeral Hike	Celebrate Earth Day with the naturalists as we search for what is blooming at Retzer Nature Center. Meet at the Discovery Trail arch. Dress for the weather. Free • All ages No registration
Wednesday, April 23 7:30 - 8:45 pm Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium	Sunset Meditation Planetarium Show & Peaceful Night Hike	Come unwind under the dome of the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium and meditate for your mental health during Earth Week! View a planetarium show of an amazing sunset as you travel from the Grand Canyon to the North Pole, then relax under a night sky filled with stars with glimpses of the Northern Lights under the dome. After the show, take a quiet hike outside with a Retzer naturalist and discover the tranquil sights and sounds of Retzer Nature Center. 7:30 - 8:00 pm- Sunset Meditation Planetarium Show 8:00 - 8:45 pm - Peaceful Night Hike (weather and trail conditions permitting) $10/person • Ages 10+ Required: Register by April 22 at noon. 60 participants max. Sorry, no walk-ins.
Thursday, April 24 10 - 11 am Retzer Nature Center	A Mindful Walk in Nature with the Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee	Taking a walk in nature is beneficial for our physical and mental health. We experience the most benefit when we are mentally, as well as physically, present in nature. This walk at Retzer Nature Center will feature various examples of practices that we can do to be more fully present to the wonders of nature. Meet at the Discovery Trail entrance. Note: Recommended for ages 10+ with ability walk one mile. Free • Ages 10+ No registration
Friday, April 25 7 - 8:30 am Retzer Nature Center	Morning Bird Hike with the Benjamin Goss Bird Club	This 1.5-mile easy hike is a great opportunity to learn about the birds found in Waukesha County and how they fit into our environment, habitat, and county. No expertise is needed and all skill levels are welcome. Bring your own binoculars or borrow ours (limited quantity); cameras are welcome. The hike is held rain or shine, so dress for the weather and meet in the parking lot area nearest to the Learning Center Building. Recommended for ages 8+. Free • Ages 8+ No registration Groups of 10 or more: Reserve your space no later than April 20 by contacting Retzer Nature Center at 262-896-8007
Earth Week Celebration Event by Friends of Retzer Nature Center
Saturday, April 26 10 am - 1 pm Retzer Nature Center	Friends of Retzer Nature Center's Earth Week Celebration Event	Bring the family for kid-friendly activities (inside and outside) focusing on how your actions matter and what you can do to keep our planet safe and clean. The hands-on Recycling Exhibit area will allow visitors to experience the complete route recyclable materials can take in our community and how you can help close the loop on this process. Free • No registration Recommended for children and families
Saturday, April 26 11 am - 2 pm Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium	Earth Day Planetarium Shows: "Mars: The Ultimate Voyage" (11 am) "From Earth to the Universe" (1 pm)	Ever wondered what it will take for astronauts to travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond? "Mars: The Ultimate Voyage", explores this question and more! Viewers of "From Earth to the Universe" can revel in the splendor of the worlds in the Solar system and our scorching Sun. $5.00 per person \| Purchase Tickets Here Ages 10+ Showtimes: 11 am • 1 pm
Volunteer Events for the Earth
Saturday, April 26 8 am - 4 pm Your favorite Waukesha County Park	Waukesha County Parks Volunteer Clean Up Workday	Litter endangers our environment, our wildlife, and our economy. It pollutes our neighborhoods, decreases property values, and compromises our area's natural beauty. Grab your loved ones, visit your nearest or dearest Waukesha County Park, and put litter where it belongs! Required: Register yourself or your group by April 25 Upon request: Safety vests and garbage bags available for your group. Free admission to any County Park on Saturday, April 26 with registration and participation.
Friday, April 25 10:30 am - noon Naga-Waukee Park	Arbor Day Volunteer Tree Planting Sponsored by Johnson's Nursery	Plant trees with Waukesha County Parks -- it's our new annual tradition! We'll celebrate Arbor Day and make a difference in our community by planting native trees to enhance and preserve our natural areas. Together our actions go further! Ages 10+ Free admission to Naga-Waukee Park on Friday, April 25 with registration and participation.

Spring Ephemeral Hike (Retzer) April 22, 2025

Spring Ephemeral Hike - Earth Week 2025

Celebrate Earth Day with the naturalists as we search for what is blooming at Retzer Nature Center. Meet at the Discovery Trail arch. Dress for the weather.

Free • All ages • No registration

Skating Lessons (Ice Arena) April 22, 2025

Ready to Hit the Ice? Sign Up for Skating Lessons at Eble Park Ice Arena!

Whether you're brand new to skating or dreaming of joining a hockey team, we've got a class for you! Our spring ice skating and hockey programs kick off on April 22, 2025 at Eble Park Ice Arena. Check out the lineup:

🧊 Introduction to Ice Skating (Ages 7–17)
Perfect for beginners, this class helps kids build confidence on the ice while learning basic skills like forward and backward skating, stops, turns, falling, and recovery.

🏒 Introduction to Ice Skating for Hockey (Ages 4–16)
Designed for aspiring hockey players with little to no skating experience. This class focuses on developing the foundational skating skills needed for hockey.

🥅 Learn to Play Hockey – Youth (Ages 4–15)
For kids who have completed a learn-to-skate class and are ready to take the next step! Players will build on their skating skills while learning to use sticks and pucks and practice the fundamentals of hockey gameplay.

📅 Class Details:

Dates: Tuesdays, April 22 – May 20, 2025
Duration: 30-minute sessions each week
Location: Eble Park Ice Arena

Lace up your skates and join the fun—spots fill quickly, so register soon!

To enroll or learn more, click here.

Meditation and Hike (Retzer) April 23, 2025

Sunset Meditation and Night Hike

In the Planetarium:

• View an amazing sunset as you travel from the Grand Canyon to the North Pole.
• Relax under a night sky filled with stars with glimpses of the Northern Lights under the dome.

Then:

• Take a quiet hike outside with a Retzer naturalist and discover the tranquil sights and sounds of Retzer Nature Center (weather permitting). In the case of severe weather, the Planetarium will hold an extended program.

7:30 p.m.
Sunset Meditation Planetarium Show (30 mins)

8 p.m.
Peaceful Night Hike (45 mins)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Important: Please help keep meditation sessions quiet and peaceful for maximum benefit to all:

- Doors open at 7:15 p.m.

- Arrive early to take your seat(s) and settle into a calm state of mind before the show.

- Late arrivals will not be admitted into the dome. Thank you!

Required: register online (4/9 & 4/23 dates appear on page 2 of our online portal, 5/7 date appears on page 3)

• Sorry, no walk-ins
• Ages 10+
• $10
• 60 attendees max

To register, visit wauk.co/webtrac and click "Programs & Special Events.”

Nature Walk (Retzer) April 24, 2025

A Mindful Walk In Nature - Earth Week Celebration 2025

A walk in nature is beneficial for our health - both physical and mental.

And we experience the greatest benefit when we are mentally present - as well as physically present - in nature.

This walk at Retzer Nature Center will feature various examples of practices that we can do to be more fully present to the wonders of nature.

• Recommended for ages 10+ with ability to walk one mile.

• Free!
• No registration - just meet at the Discovery Trail entrance.

Tree Planting (Naga-Waukee Park) April 25, 2025

Arbor Day Volunteer Tree Planting

Plant trees with Waukesha County Parks and Johnson's Nursery, Inc. by joining this annual volunteer tradition!

Celebrate Arbor Day and make a difference in your community by planting native trees to enhance and preserve our natural areas. Together our actions go further.

Online registration is required.

Volunteers and staff will be planting native trees from Johnson’s Nursery and seedlings from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Nursery. Free Park Entrance for those participating! Enter park and follow signs. Event will be held rain or shine. Dress for weather conditions, wear boots, and bring your own work gloves.

Volunteer Clean Up (County Parks) April 26, 2025

Volunteer Workday: County Parks Clean Up - Earth Week Celebration 2025

Come out to one or more of the Waukesha County Parks to re-beautify views and protect wildlife, plant life, waterways, soil, and ecosystems from dangerous materials by removing litter!

• Register your family or group by Wednesday, April 24: wauk.co/webtrac. Choose "Programs & Special Events," then "Special Events," then "Earth Week 2025 Volunteer Workday."

• When registering: Request a "volunteer kit" for your group - including safety vests and garbage bags (optional)

• FREE admission to any County Park on Saturday, April 26 with registration and participation!

Earth Day Celebration (Retzer) April 26, 2025

Earth Day Celebration - Earth Week 2025

Bring the family for kid-friendly activities (inside and outside) focusing on how your actions matter and what you can do to keep our planet safe and clean.

The hands-on Recycling Exhibit area will allow visitors to experience the complete route recyclable materials can take in our community and how you can help close the loop on this process.

FREE! There is no charge for this event, and no registration is required.

Note: There will be shows available in the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium for $5 per person. Advance tickets for shows are recommended: https://hdplanetarium.ticketleap.com/

Special Events & Programs

Friends of Retzer Nature Center's Earth Week Celebration

Earth Week Activities and Programs

Earth Week Celebration Event by Friends of Retzer Nature Center

Volunteer Events for the Earth