Spring events set at nature center

Spring is full of activities and events for everyone to enjoy at Navarino Nature Center. The following is a brief overview of the events: • Folk singer Tim Grimm will return to the nature center at 6:30 p.m. Friday for “The Land … The People” concert. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Grimm and his wife, Jan, will perform two 45-minute sets with an intermission. • Kay Brockman-Mederas with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will present a “Sky Dance” program, centering around the woodcock at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The presentation will start with a reading of the “Sky Dance” by Aldo Leopold. Participants will then go on a woodcock walk to view the courtship dance following sunset. • The center’s annual “Evening with the Sandhill Cranes” will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 16. Join nature center staff on a ½-mile hike to the viewing deck on Pike’s Peak Flowage to observe the nightly flight of the sandhill cranes coming back to roost for the night. Binoculars and spotting scopes will be available. Fee: $4 NNC members, $6 nonmembers and $12 families. • The Midwest Annual Sandhill Crane Count organized by the International Crane Foundation will be held from 5:30-7:30 a.m. April 18. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to call the nature center at 715-758-6999 for more details and count information. • The Navarino Trail Fun Run/Walk will be held April 25. This event features a 10K and 5K run, 5K walk and one-mile kids fun run. Registration is available online at Active.com or www.navarino.org. Fees will increase on April 15. More details and a brochure are also available at the nature center’s website. • Following the trail run, the center will host its annual Earth Day open house. Activities will include bird/bat house building, crafts, face-painting, pond study, wildflower walk, Jackie Johnson of the Wolf River Wild Ones, story telling, food and more. Wagon rides will be dependent on trail conditions. James Griesbach will be taking any appliances/scrap metal/waste/tires. Some fees will apply for certain items. Call NNC with questions about what items are accepted. • A stepping stone acrylic painting workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 2 and May 5 with Julie Wilber as the instructor. Learn how to draw and paint with acrylics on a prepped concrete paver. All materials except brushes will be provided. A variety of flat, round and liner brushes are needed. Some brushes will be available for purchase. Fee: $30 members, $35 nonmembers. Call to reserve your spot. Class is limited to 10 students. • There will be a sunset flowage canoe trip at 6 p.m. May 27 on Pike’s Peak and McDonald Flowage. Participants will meet at the nature center. Canoes, paddles and flotation devices will be provided. Please RSVP by May 20. At least five people are needed; the maximum is 18. Fee: $10 members, $15 nonmembers. • Wander down the Wolf River from Shawano to County Road CCC on a two- to three-hour canoe trip beginning at 8:30 a.m. May 30. RSVP by May 20. Canoes, flotation devices and paddles will be provided. Fee: $15 members, $20 nonmembers. For a full list of events, visit www.navarino.org, “Like” the nature center on Facebook or call 715-758-6999.