This is the week we ring out the old year and ring in the new. We jokingly call this our  "Annual Ring".  So,  it has become a tradition  at Crossroads at Big Creek that on the first Science Saturday of the year, the topic of our family program is "Tree Rings." 

A tree trunk's so-called "annual ring” is a layer of small wood cells. In our region, seasons alternate between warm and cold. When moisture and sunlight are plentiful in spring, light-colored rings of wood cells form. The thinner dark ring of wood cells forms in dry, cool, late summer and fall. The dark rings actually are a record of the number of autumns the tree has survived. Curiously, fish scales also have annual rings.

Annual rings on fish and trees are much alike. Trunks and fish scales are round. Both increase in circumference each year. Come to think of it, some humans increase in circumference this time of year with all that holiday food. But in nature, the opposite is true. While we humans tend to put on girth in winter, plants and cold-blooded animals grow very little at this time of year.

When the water is warm, fish eat and grow. During the summer months, fish increase in length and correspondingly enlarge their scales. But because they are cold-blooded, fish get very sluggish when the temperature drops. A dark ring, or annuli, develops during minimal growth. 

By studying the distance between annual rings, whether in tree trunks or fish scales, scientists can get a good idea of how well life is going for the tree or the fish.  

If nature centers had annual rings, researchers examining ours would determine that Crossroads has thrived this year. We completed our three-year restoration project at our Big Creek Preserve. We then developed a land management plan for our Ida Bay Preserve and were awarded a grant for that project, which is now underway.

This year, we formalized our environmental restoration education efforts with our "Restoration for Landowners" initiative, which aims to connect landowners with the tools and resources available in Door County.  

We installed a small children's learning/play area in the entry-level of the Learning (near our Great Lakes display) so youngsters can develop a love for nature through hands-on activities. We have also significantly expanded our daytime offering for adult learners.

The 15th Annual Trail Run and the Trails & Ales events were friend-raisers as well as successful fundraisers. Our Halloween Pumpkin Carving, Trails &Treats, and Luminary-lit Hikes exceeded our expectations.

Finally, we have expanded educational opportunities for young people and their families. Now, in addition to Science Saturdays, we schedule a  Tuesday after-school program called "Environmental Exploration," and on vacation days, we offer "School's Out Expeditions."

 One of those School's Out programs will be Friday, January 3, from 1:30-3:00. For " Kitchen Chemistry," the lab will be set up with simple (safe, but potentially messy) experiments for young scientists and their families. 

Science Saturday will start at 2:00 on Saturday and will explore tree rings. And on Tuesday, January 7, our Environmental Exploration hike will visit Big Creek to "Seek for Seeps".  

One of our daytime adult programs is our Current (Environmental) Events group, which gathers on the first Monday of the month to discuss journal articles. In keeping with the tree/water theme, we will discuss the connections between deciduous trees and the hydrologic cycle. Interested folks can pick up copies of the articles at the Reception Desk of the Collins Learning Center, whether or not they intend to participate in the discussion group.

And speaking of fish, Healthy Water Door County will sponsor the 2025 “Fish Tales Documentary and Lecture Series." We will announce the programs soon; they promise to be extraordinary. 

Overall, this trip around the Sun has been bright, and thanks to the generosity of our donors, 2025 promises to be even brighter.

Saturday, December 28

2:00 Science Saturday

“Tree Rings” will be the topic for the first Science Saturday of the new year. This weekly family program is intended for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome starting at 2:00. Registration not required. Open to the public and free. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. 

Monday, January 6 

1:30 Current (Ecological) Events Club

Join our ecological discussion club, where we deep dive into current ecological articles for lively discussions, new friendships, and deepening our understanding of the natural world! This month, we will read journal articles describing the relationship between deciduous trees and the hydrologic cycle. Articles will be available at the Learning Center reception desk during open hours. Drop-ins are always welcome!  Registration is not required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay,

Tuesday, January 7 

3:30 Environmental Exploration-Seek for Seeps

Even in the winter, groundwater seeps from the bedrock into  Big Creek. Weather permitting, this will be a hike, but we have indoor models and demonstrations if the weather is harsh. This program is geared for elementary students but learners of all ages are welcome. Free and open to the public.  Meet Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay