All of nature sings at this time of year, so Crossroads is celebrating the season with programs that help families connect with nature. For many, the Holiday Cheer Luminary-Lit Hike has become a cherished annual tradition. This year’s festivities also include Science Saturday: Night Tree on December 13, at which children and their adult companions hear a story about a nighttime forest visit before decorating a tree for woodland wildlife—plus a nature-themed Make and Take featuring beeswax candle crafting.

In Night Tree, the beloved holiday storybook by Eve Bunting with illustrations by Ted Rand, a family hikes into the forest after dark to decorate a tree for wildlife and catches glimpses of a deer and an owl. While the book’s artwork is rich with color, hikers on our luminary-lit trail are unlikely to see much color in the evening forest. After dusk, the human eye relies mostly on rod cells, which detect dim light but not color. Deer and owls, with far more rod cells and a reflective layer behind the retina known as the tapetum lucidum, are much better adapted to low light—though even they probably perceive muted color compared to daylight.

On Friday, December 12, the moon will set in the early afternoon, and sunset will occur at 4:09 p.m., meaning it will be quite dark when the Holiday Cheer Luminary-Lit Hike begins at 5:00 p.m. As participants walk the trail, their eyes will gradually adapt to the darkness, heightening their night vision. Within about half an hour, hikers will begin to notice the silhouettes of winter trees rising above the flickering candlelight. If the sky is clear, they may also enjoy a canopy of winter stars—and perhaps even a meteor or two.

While many of us are just beginning to think about wrapping holiday packages, our deciduous trees have finished wrapping their packages for spring. Even before their leaves fell, new buds were carefully wrapped and protected for the winter ahead. This will be the focus of this week’s afterschool Environmental Exploration program, held Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. Designed for elementary students but open to learners of all ages, activities include a hike to examine the buds that contain every leaf, twig, and cell of next year’s growth—nature’s gifts for the coming season.

This season, Crossroads encourages everyone to spend time outdoors and experience the quiet beauty of winter nature. Our trails are open all day, every day, free of charge.

Friday, December 12

5:00–6:30 p.m. — Holiday Cheer Luminary-Lit Hike
Take a stroll along one of our trails, beautifully lit by the enchanting glow of luminaries. When you return, cozy up around a toasty campfire with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the company of good people. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome.
Open to the public and free, thanks to the generosity of our donors.
Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Saturday, December 13

Science Saturday: Night Tree
A Crossroads tradition, families will gather to share a video, enjoy a story by the fire, and visit the forest to decorate a tree for the birds and wildlife. This special family program is intended for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome.
Families may bring bird and wildlife food (the chickadees request black oil sunflower seeds, and the deer like apples).
Registration not required.
Open to the public and free, thanks to the generosity of our donors.
Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Tuesday, December 16

3:30 p.m. — Environmental Exploration: Tree Buds
At this afterschool program, elementary students will learn how trees wrap “packages” containing next year’s leaves and flowers. Weather permitting, participants will take a short hike into the forest. Free and open to all ages.
Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Wednesday, December 17

1:30 p.m. — Wandering Wednesday
Join the naturalist for a gentle one-hour ramble through the preserve. Easy walking.
Free and open to the public.
Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.