At Crossroads at Big Creek, we and many of our friends obsess about clouds. Appropriately, “Clouds” will be the topic for the weekly “Science Saturday” program….but clouds—the presence or absence of clouds—will affect most of the programs and projects we have planned.

For example, on Friday, September 27, the fifth grade from Sunrise School will celebrate Astronomy Day at Crossroads. We will host the event with assistance from the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society.

Despite the fact that that DPAS is a science-based organization, its members are (in jest, we hope) superstitious about clouds, joking that the more they pay for a new piece of astronomical equipment, the longer they will experience cloud cover. And a fabulous new astronomical camera (purchased with funds from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium matched by member donations) will arrive just about then. Whether or not, the Sunshine School (and with luck, sunshine) will be with us on Friday.

Then, on Saturday morning, the Door County Mushroom Club will hold their Fall Fungi Fest at Crossroads from 9:00AM to 12:00 noon, and that event will include a mushroom hike at 11:45. These people are yearning for clouds—rain clouds!-- because mushroom foraging tends to be best a couple of days following significant rainfall.

This is not superstition. It is fungi survival. [And just saying, human survival depends on fungi survival].  A fungus is not a plant nor an animal, but it is a living organism classified in Kingdom Fungi.

Some, but certainly not all, species of fungi produce fleshy fruiting bodies that we call mushrooms. Mushrooms rarely appear during a dry spell, but they do seem to pop up almost overnight to disperse their tiny spores when the moisture and temperature are adequate for spore germination.

The mushroom hike will be far more productive if rain clouds dump on us soon. And for that matter, when our Junior Nature Club [we still have a few openings—see our website for information and to register a child] has its lesson on fungus, we hope there will be more mushrooms than we find now.

 We do not anticipate a salmon run in Big Creek this year. The water level is just too low. In the same vein, our restoration team is hoping for a few good drenchings so we can go into winter with moisture in the soil.

Whatever the weather, our free weekly kid's program, “Science Saturday,” will include a video, “states of matter” demonstrations using dry ice, and several experiments about clouds. While this program is geared for kids---we encourage learners of all ages to participate.

Even our Nature Exploration After School program on Monday will be sun/cloud-dependent. The colors of autumn leaves are determined,  in part, by the amount of sunshine they receive in late summer and early fall.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, all of these programs and trail use are free and open to the public. Donations are welcome and appreciated.

Friday, September 27                                                                                                       

2:30-4:30 Tours of the Hanson House (Afternoon with Bertha)

Spend part of your “Afternoon with Bertha,” our costumed interpreter who will describe the history of the Hanson House and the Greeves farm. Meet at the Hanson Homestead, 2022 Utah St., Sturgeon Bay (across from the Cove Estuary). Registration is not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors, but donations are welcome.

Saturday, September 28

9:00-12:00 pm Mushroom Club’s Fall Fungi Fest

The Door County Mushroom Club is sponsoring a morning of mushrooms, mushroom products, and mushroom art! The lecture "Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of Door County" will be presented at 10 a.m., followed by a Mushroom Hike at 11:45 a.m. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

2:00 Science Saturday: Clouds

Science Saturdays is a family program geared toward elementary school students, but learners of all ages are welcome. This week, participants will learn how clouds form and recognize the types of clouds. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration is not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors.

Monday,  September 30

3:30 Nature Exploration: Leaf Colors (Kids Program)

This program is intended for elementary school students but is open to all ages. It will be an outdoor program looking for examples of early fall colors, but we will offer demonstrations in the lab if the weather does not cooperate. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration is not required. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, it is open to the public and free.