Take a casual walk with a naturalist on the trails of Riveredge. The stroll will focus on a special aspect of nature but other things of interest will be explored as well. These educational programs will give you a better understanding of the flora and fauna of the nature center. You may even learn some of the history of the land too.
This program is free to attend, but donations are greatly appreciated!
Pre-register by April 9 at 11:55 pm or register at the program if spots are available.
Saturday, March 15th 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm $5 per person | Children 2 & under: Free Members will receive an exclusive Maple Sugarin’ Pin!
Presented by CG Schmidt
The fifth season is here- the Maple Sugarin’ Season! Bring your families, bring your friends to celebrate this sappy gift from the trees at Riveredge’s annual Maple Sugarin’ Festival on March 15th!
Choose your adventure as you hike the trails where you can visit the Sapsucker Cafe, trade nature items for maple candies, observe various means of syrup production through history, complete a sappy scavenger hunt, and create a nature-based craft. Upon arrival at the Sugarbush House, enjoy live music while you sip Riveredge Apple Cider, or beer for the adults, and taste the Riveredge special- pancakes & pickles! You’ll learn just how sap is made into golden & sweet maple syrup.
What to Expect: You can look forward to activities like: – Live Music from Josh Ammons 1-3pm – Tree Tappin’ Trading Post – Maple Legends, Stories, and Songs – Try-it-Yourself Tree Tappin’ – Crafting with Natural Materials – Evaporator Demonstration – Delicious Treats! A pancake & pickle in syrup is provided with your registration. Additional pancakes will be available for purchase, as well as… Hot chocolate, Specialty Maple Sugar Coffee, Beer, Sap Tea, and Popcorn.
Parking and Check-in: Parking will be at Newburg Fireman’s Park, and two bus shuttles will be running. There will be spots reserved for those with limited mobility at the Visitor Center. Check-in or register at the Riveredge Visitor Center.
Timing: The event runs from 12-4pm on Saturday March 15th, come and go as you please! Live music at the Sugarbush House from 1-3pm.
Accessibility: We will have accessible parking reserved at the Visitor Center. Riveredge also has an all-terrain wheelchair available to reserve for the event at no cost! Learn more or reserve a wheelchair here.
Weather: Riveredge events run rain, snow, or shine!
Per NOAA as of 5pm 3/14, “A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 57. Windy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming south 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.”
Trail Conditions: Due to forecast wind gusts up to 50 mph, forested trails are closed. A shuttle is provided. Hike at your own risk.
Expect the ground to be muddy and wear appropriate footwear. Layers in anticipation of rain are recommended. Event activities are both indoor and outdoor.
*Extra pancake tickets will be available for $1, cash & Venmo in the pancake line, credit card at concessions. For an all-you-can-eat pancake experience, check out the Pancake Breakfast on March 29th and 30th.
Pre-register by March 14 at 4:00 pm or register at the event. Pre-registration is highly recommended so Riveredge can prepare enough pancakes, syrup, exclusive maple sugarin’ pins for members, and other supplies for everyone to enjoy. Happy sugarin’ season!
NOTE: Due to the snow, we’ll be wrapping up Trails Aglow early, running from 4:30pm – 7:00pm!
Enjoy your Friday night by luminary light! Take in the beauty and serenity of a crisp winter evening on a self-guided 1.5 mile illuminated trail – a great adventure for both grownups and children. Traverse our trails on skis, snowshoes (6+ inches of snow), or your own two feet. A warm fire will be awaiting you when you return.
Theme: Valentine’s Night. Share the love of nature with those you love! Supplies will be provided to create Valentine’s cards indoors. The craft supplies will be available in the Visitor Center and Coop. The Wine Bar and campfire will be located at the Coop and will be featured on the Trail Map that you will receive when you check in at the Front Desk. Wine will be available for purchase for adults 21+. Hot chocolate (free) and Riveredge Apple Cider (available for purchase) will be available for everyone! If you would like to take a beverage with you along the trail, please bring a thermos, tumbler, or other container that you can take to-go!
Snowshoe rental is available ($10/hour for non-members and FREE for Members). Event may be altered/canceled due to weather conditions.
All ages welcome | Children must be accompanied by an adult
Trails Aglow programs are now free for everyone!
Pre-registration is not required, but helpful so we can update you about weather conditions or cancellations.
Enjoy your Friday night by luminary light! Take in the beauty and serenity of a crisp winter evening on a self-guided 1.5 mile illuminated trail – a great adventure for both grownups and children. Traverse our trails on skis, snowshoes (6+ inches of snow), or your own two feet. A warm fire will be awaiting you when you return.
Theme: Game Night.
Snowshoe rental is available ($10/hour for non-members and FREE for Members). Event may be altered/canceled due to weather conditions.
All ages welcome | Children must be accompanied by an adult
Trails Aglow programs are now free for everyone!
Pre-registration is not required, but helpful so we can update you about weather conditions or cancellations.
Enjoy your Friday night by luminary light! Take in the beauty and serenity of a crisp winter evening on a self-guided 1.5 mile illuminated trail – a great adventure for both grownups and children. Traverse our trails on skis, snowshoes (6+ inches of snow), or your own two feet. A warm fire will be awaiting you when you return.
Theme: Music in Nature. Enjoy the luminary hike, then warm up to the strums of live music, provided by Noah Shea.
Snowshoe rental is available ($10/hour for non-members and FREE for Members). Event may be altered/canceled due to weather conditions.
All ages welcome | Children must be accompanied by an adult
Trails Aglow programs are now free for everyone!
Pre-registration is not required, but helpful so we can update you about weather conditions or cancellations.
Enjoy your Friday night by luminary light! Take in the beauty and serenity of a crisp winter evening on a self-guided 1.5 mile illuminated trail – a great adventure for both grownups and children. Traverse our trails on skis, snowshoes (6+ inches of snow), or your own two feet. A warm fire and hot cocoa will be awaiting you when you return.
Embark on a journey of cosmic discovery with our Stargazing Scavenger Hunt! This unique experience blends the excitement of a traditional scavenger hunt with the magic of stargazing, creating a night filled with discovery and awe-inspiring celestial wonders. As you hike the luminary trail, use clues to identify specific celestial landmarks in the night sky. Stop at telescope stations along the way to get a closer look at the cosmos. Astronomy Guides will be on hand to provide assistance and share interesting facts about the astronomical wonders under observation. Binoculars encouraged! Headlamps, especially those with a red light, recommended!
If the sky is cloudy, astronomer Jim Hahn will provide an hour-long presentation called “The Sun’s Place in Space.” What occupies the space in our little corner of the Milky Way galaxy? How have we discovered and established distances to our neighbors? Join us as we explore the Sun’s neighborhood, covering concepts like light-time and stellar evolution along the way. Afterward, participants can experience our solar system with the “Journey Through the Cosmos: Planetary Walk.” This self-guided experience invites participants to explore the relative distances between planets in our celestial neighborhood through a scaled model walk, providing an engaging and educational adventure for all ages.
Snowshoe rental is available ($10/hour for non-members and FREE for Members). Event may be altered/canceled due to weather conditions.
All ages welcome | Children must be accompanied by an adult
Trails Aglow programs are now free for everyone!
Pre-registration is not required, but helpful so we can update you about weather conditions or cancellations.
Saturday, March 8 9:30 am – 11:00 am FULL | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm FULL For scouts and youth ages 4+
Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H groups, and youth organizations of all kinds are invited to a sweet adventure at Riveredge Nature Center! This 1.5-hour program is designed for young people to delve into the fascinating world of maple syrup production. Participants will witness the enchanting process from tapping maple trees to the final amber product during a naturalist-guided hiking tour of the Riveredge sugarbush.
Engage in hands-on activities such as identifying maples, tapping trees, and experiencing the magic of sap turning to syrup. Our knowledgeable guides will share the history and science behind maple sugaring, making this experience both educational and delicious. Immerse yourselves in the sights, sounds, and tastes of this traditional practice, fostering a deeper appreciation for nature and its sweet bounty. Take part in a time-honored Riveredge tradition- a pancake & pickle, topped with maple syrup produced by the trees you’ve just visited. Don’t miss out on this sticky, sweet adventure that promises to leave everyone with a lasting, maple-flavored memory!
$50 per 5-10 youth $75 per 11-15 youth $100 per 16-20 youth $125 per 21-25 youth (please contact Alina Prahl before registering)
One chaperone per 10 youth required and included. Additional adults go towards the group count. If your group is larger than 25 youth or additional adults, please register for more than 1 group. The maximum number of youth per session is 75 (3 groups of 25).
Pre-registration is required by February 28 at 12:00 pm (noon). Use the buttons below to register for your preferred time.
If you have questions or need more information about Youth and Scout Maple Sugarin’ Day, please contact Alina Prahl at aprahl@riveredge.us or 262-375-2715.
Enjoy your Friday night by luminary light! Take in the beauty and serenity of a crisp winter evening on a self-guided 1.5 mile illuminated trail – a great adventure for both grownups and children. Traverse our trails on skis, snowshoes (6+ inches of snow), or your own two feet. A warm fire and hot cocoa will be awaiting you when you return.
Theme: Owl Prowl. Join a Riveredge naturalist for a hike through the woods to meet our nocturnal friends. Two hikes: 5 PM and 6:30 PM
Snowshoe rental is available ($10/hour for non-members and FREE for Members). Event may be altered/canceled due to weather conditions.
All ages welcome | Children must be accompanied by an adult
Trails Aglow programs are now free for everyone!
Pre-registration is not required, but helpful so we can update you about weather conditions or cancellations.
Enjoy your Friday night by luminary light! Take in the beauty and serenity of a crisp winter evening on a self-guided 1.5 mile illuminated trail – a great adventure for both grownups and children. Traverse our trails on skis, snowshoes (6+ inches of snow), or your own two feet. A warm fire and hot cocoa will be awaiting you when you return.
Theme: S’mores Night. Enjoy an ooey gooey treat around a bonfire after your hike!
Snowshoe rental is available ($10/hour for non-members and FREE for Members). Event may be altered/canceled due to weather conditions.
All ages welcome | Children must be accompanied by an adult
Trails Aglow programs are now free for everyone!
Pre-registration is not required, but helpful so we can update you about weather conditions or cancellations.
Enjoy your Friday night by luminary light! Take in the beauty and serenity of a crisp winter evening on a self-guided 1.5 mile illuminated trail – a great adventure for both grownups and children. Traverse our trails on skis, snowshoes (6+ inches of snow), or your own two feet. A warm fire and hot cocoa will be awaiting you when you return.
Theme: Wine Night. Stay warm on this wintry stroll with good company and a glass of wine (for ages 21+)
The Wine Bar and campfire will be located at the Coop and will be featured on the Trail Map that you will receive when you check in at the Front Desk. Wine and hard cider will be available for purchase for adults 21+. Hot chocolate (free) and Riveredge apple cider (available for purchase) will be available everyone! If you would like to take a beverage with you along the trail, please bring a thermos, tumbler, or other container that you can take to-go!
Snowshoe rental is available ($10/hour for non-members and FREE for Members). Event may be altered/canceled due to weather conditions.
All ages welcome | Children must be accompanied by an adult
Trails Aglow programs are now free for everyone!
Pre-registration is not required, but helpful so we can update you about weather conditions or cancellations.
