Crossroads at Big Creek is celebrating! This week is filled with programs celebrating the Wisconsin Science Festival, International Bat Week, and Halloween. Because Crossroads focuses on ecology, we see connections between all three.
This year’s Wisconsin Science Festival theme is “Rock & Roll.” On Thursday and Friday—when many local students have vacation days—Crossroads will offer special School’s Out Activities.
On Thursday, October 23, at 10:00 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m., we’ll host “Let’s Rock!”—a rock-hunting adventure perfect for elementary and middle school students and curious learners of all ages. Weather permitting, we’ll explore outdoors, but even if it rains, rock hunting is possible inside the Collins Learning Center.
On Friday, October 24, our Halloween celebration continues (as it has all month) when representatives from Open Door Bird Sanctuary present “Weird by Nature: Vultures & More.” Participants will meet a live vulture—once thought to be ominous, but actually one of our most beneficial bird species and also a falcon and kestrel. Following the presentation in the lecture hall, kids and their adult companions can head to the lab for hands-on activities inspired by the “freaky” side of bird behavior.
Saturday, October 25, marks the final day of the 2025 Wisconsin Science Festival. The Door County Master Gardeners and Wild Ones – Door Peninsula Chapter, in association with Crossroads and nine other partners in conservation, will host their “Gardening with Natives for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies Fall Seminar,” focusing on plants, pollinators—and yes, rocks—as one guest speaker will present “Why Monarchs Need Volcanoes.”
That same afternoon, our Science Saturday program will feature “Sedimentary Rocks,” a fitting topic as we head into International Bat Week. Most bat caves are solution caves—formed in karst landscapes where limestone and dolomite have dissolved over eons in slightly acidic rainwater, creating ideal roosting and hibernation sites for many (but not all) bat species.
Like vultures, bats have long been associated with Halloween, despite the myths. In truth, bats are among the most beneficial animals on the planet, predators consuming enormous numbers of agricultural and forest insect pests, including mosquitoes and moths.
On Monday, October 27, at 6:30 our Monday Matinee will feature another predator, often-misunderstood Halloween icon: “Owls, the Ultimate Night Predator.”
At Crossroads, we celebrate geology, ecology, and the iconic creatures of Halloween—none of them truly spooky (except perhaps feral black cats, and indeed, any feral cats, which cause devastating harm to our songbird populations).
We invite you to explore, learn, and celebrate with us at Crossroads as we honor science, nature, and the wonders of the season!
Thursday, October 23
10:00, repeated at 2:00 School’s Out Excursion: “Let’s Rock”
Join us for a geology adventure and rock hunt—perfect for elementary and middle school students, and curious adult learners. If the weather is inclement, we have plenty of rocks indoors!
Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Friday, October 24
10:00 School’s Out Excursion: “Weird by Nature—Vultures and More”
Representatives from the Open Door Bird Sanctuary will bring a vulture, kestrel, and falcon for a family-friendly program. Afterward, families can explore weird bird behavior in the lab.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Saturday, October 25
8:30–1:00 Master Gardeners Fall Seminar: Gardening with Natives for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies
Lectures include “Native Shrubs and Trees for Birds and Bees” featuring David Garison Stevens from the UW–Madison Arboretum, and “Why Monarchs Need Volcanoes” featuring Emily Stone of the Cable Natural History Museum.
Registration $10, includes lunch. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
2:00 Saturday Science: Sedimentary Rocks
Why do sedimentary rocks have layers—unlike other rocks? This hands-on program is designed for children, but learners of all ages are welcome.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Monday, October 27
1:30 Monday Movie Matinee: Owls—The Ultimate Night Predator
The owl’s incredible sight and hearing are second to none in the animal world, and its ability to fly in utter silence is nothing short of remarkable. This film explores how owls reign as the lords of darkness.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Tuesday, October 28
3:30 Environmental Exploration: Seeds
Hike the meadows to discover how native plants develop and disperse their seeds.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
6:30 Wild Ones Meeting/Webinar: “Little Things that Run the World”
Dr. Douglas Tallamy will remind us of the essential roles insects play and describe simple changes we can make in our landscapes—and in our attitudes—to help keep insects thriving on the ground, in the air, and on our plants.
Meet in the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Wednesday, October 31
1:30 Wandering Wednesday: Halloween Special
Join the naturalist for a fun, easy walk in search of “spooky Halloween icons.” About one hour.
Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
From rocks and raptors to remarkable bats, Crossroads at Big Creek is offering a week filled with programs celebrating the Wisconsin Science Festival, International Bat Week, and Halloween. Because Crossroads focuses on ecology, we see connections between all three!
This year’s Wisconsin Science Festival theme is “Rock & Roll.” On Thursday and Friday—when many local students have vacation days—Crossroads will offer special School’s Out Activities.
On Thursday, October 23, at 10:00 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m., we’ll host “Let’s Rock!”—a rock-hunting adventure perfect for elementary and middle school students and curious learners of all ages. Weather permitting, we’ll explore outdoors, but even if it rains, rock hunting is possible inside the Collins Learning Center.
On Friday, October 24, our Halloween celebration continues (as it has all month) when representatives from Open Door Bird Sanctuary present “Weird by Nature: Vultures & More.” Participants will meet a live vulture—once thought to be ominous, but actually one of our most beneficial bird species and also a falcon and kestrel. Following the presentation in the lecture hall, kids and their adult companions can head to the lab for hands-on activities inspired by the “freaky” side of bird behavior.
Saturday, October 25, marks the final day of the 2025 Wisconsin Science Festival. It brings even more opportunities for discovery. The Door County Master Gardeners and Wild Ones – Door Peninsula Chapter, in association with Crossroads and nine other partners in conservation, will host their “Gardening with Natives for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies Fall Seminar,” focusing on plants, pollinators—and yes, rocks—as one guest speaker will present “Why Monarchs Need Volcanoes.”
That same afternoon, our Science Saturday program will feature “Sedimentary Rocks,” a fitting topic as we head into International Bat Week. Most bat caves are solution caves—formed in karst landscapes where limestone and dolomite have dissolved over eons in slightly acidic rainwater, creating ideal roosting and hibernation sites for many bat species.
Like vultures, bats have long been associated with Halloween, despite the myths. In truth, bats are among the most beneficial animals on the planet, consuming enormous numbers of agricultural and forest insect pests, including mosquitoes and moths.
On Monday, October 27, at 1:30 our Monday Matinee will feature another often-misunderstood Halloween icon: “Owls, the Ultimate Night Predator.”
At Crossroads, we celebrate geology, ecology, and the iconic creatures of Halloween—none of them truly spooky (except perhaps feral black cats, and indeed, any feral cats, which cause devastating harm to our songbird populations).
We invite you to explore, learn, and celebrate with us at Crossroads as we honor science, nature, and the wonders of the season!
Thursday, October 23
10:00, repeated at 2:00 School’s Out Excursion: “Let’s Rock”
Join us for a geology adventure and rock hunt—perfect for elementary and middle school students, and curious adult learners. If the weather is inclement, we have plenty of rocks indoors!
Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Friday, October 24
10:00 School’s Out Excursion: “Weird by Nature—Vultures and More”
Representatives from the Open Door Bird Sanctuary will bring a vulture, kestrel, and falcon for a family-friendly program. Afterward, families can explore weird bird behavior in the lab.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Saturday, October 25
8:30–1:00 Master Gardeners Fall Seminar: Gardening with Natives for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies
Lectures include “Native Shrubs and Trees for Birds and Bees” featuring David Garison Stevens from the UW–Madison Arboretum, and “Why Monarchs Need Volcanoes” featuring Emily Stone of the Cable Natural History Museum.
Registration $10, includes lunch. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
2:00 Saturday Science: Sedimentary Rocks
Why do sedimentary rocks have layers—unlike other rocks? This hands-on program is designed for children, but learners of all ages are welcome.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Monday, October 27
1:30 Monday Movie Matinee: Owls—The Ultimate Night Predator
The owl’s incredible sight and hearing are second to none in the animal world, and its ability to fly in utter silence is nothing short of remarkable. This film explores how owls reign as the lords of darkness.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Tuesday, October 28
3:30 Environmental Exploration: Seeds
Hike the meadows to discover how native plants develop and disperse their seeds.
Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
6:30 Wild Ones Meeting/Webinar: “Little Things that Run the World”
Dr. Douglas Tallamy will remind us of the essential roles insects play and describe simple changes we can make in our landscapes—and in our attitudes—to help keep insects thriving on the ground, in the air, and on our plants.
Meet in the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
Wednesday, October 31
1:30 Wandering Wednesday: Halloween Special
Join the naturalist for a fun, easy walk in search of “spooky Halloween icons.” About one hour. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
