Friday, September 20, 2019
The Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center and Nature Museum, which opened in 1937, continues to provide outdoor educational opportunities to the entire southeastern Wisconsin community.
Tucked inside the border of Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, and located just minutes away from Miller Park, the 23-acre center features woodland, wildlife, green space, a playground, and so much more. Hawthorn Glen provides hands-on activities for families throughout all four seasons. The Glen has now played a vital part in over eight decades of community engagement for hundreds of thousands of Milwaukeeans. Over 12,000 children attend Hawthorn Glen with their schools or families each year!
The Nature Museum, which features dozens of animals that are native to Wisconsin, is often a highlight for kids, parents, and Glen staffers alike.
"I just love hanging out with the animals," Evan Bennett, a Hawthorn Glen animal care attendant, said. "One thing I really like is when kids come in and get really excited [because] they have never seen a lot of these animals up close." Bennett personally prefers the snakes (see right), but with the turtles and turkeys and everything in between, there are certainly enough animals for everyone to enjoy at the Nature Museum.
"[Hawthorn Glen] is a hidden gem," Jake Acton, who is something of a jack of all trades at Hawthorn Glen as an animal care attendant, a land steward, and a naturalist for the field trip program, said. "But the people that discover it can't stop coming; they love it, whether it's playing on the playground or going inside and checking out the new animals. It's always changing and there is always something new to see."
Hawthorn Glen has a jam-packed fall schedule featuring affordable, family-friendly activities, classes, and workshops (click the links below to register):
Join us for our 26th annual Halloween Glen! Actors will present interactive and educational skits at eight decorated stations at Hawthorn Glen. This year’s theme is Nature’s Performers; a chorus of creatures that sing, dance and act. Meet animals that perform to survive; facing thrills, chills, adventure, and romance.
Walk back in time as we explore Hawthorn Glen’s history. Discover how glaciers shaped the landscape. Learn of the many different uses of the property throughout the years and plans to ensure and enhance its conservation.
This nature tale time includes a story, craft, and nature hike, or a trip to our nature museum.
Fall is a wonderful time to watch nature’s amazing transformation as it prepares itself for the coldest of seasons. Hike through our vibrantly colored urban forest with our naturalists and explore how our native flora and fauna adapt for the changes ahead. Enjoy collecting leaves as we hike, and then paint a brightly hued t-shirt of your own.
Be a part of the pack at Hawthorn Glen as we carve animal-themed pumpkins for Halloween. Our naturalists will help you discover fun facts about the animals chosen for your pumpkin template. We will also harvest the seeds so we can roast a tasty treat.
The Iroquois developed this technique during the Victorian Era to sell beading art. Learn simple Iroquois raised beading techniques and learn the history and culture of the Haudenosaunee (People of the Longhouse).
This is the perfect time of the year to cozy up by our fire, prepare no-bake treats, listen to seasonal music and make hand-made gifts to give or (keep).
Outdoor Skills Workshops