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Prairie Fest -Fly Above the Prairie!
August 3 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm UTC-4
Celebrate nature with yoga, prairie tours, environmental education displays, short nature pop-up presentations, and a monarch butterfly release at this year’s Prairie Fest on Saturday, August 3rd from 9:00 AM – Noon at the beautiful Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum, adjacent to the former UW-Oshkosh -Fond du Lac Campus.
Prairie Fest is a FREE family-oriented environmental education event with activities for all ages. Enjoy this video overview: Prairie Fest
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE as of 6/28/24:
For EARLY BIRDS enjoy:
-Bird hike with Lisa Mick from UWO & Friends of the Gottfried @ 8 a.m.
-Yoga in the Prairie Featuring Lucy Mathers @ 8:30 a.m.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DISPLAYS from 9:00 a.m. – noon
Learn about pollinators, flyers, native plants, cranes, and other nature and sustainable topics from:
-WI Dragonfly Society
-Randy Peterson, Artist and Monarch Enthusiast
-Wild Ones
-Audubon
-International Crane Foundation
-Amanda Abramovich Local Legacy
-CSA (Congregation of Sisters of St Agnes)
-Fond du Lac Public Library
-Citizens Climate Lobby
-Earth Justice Now
-The Loop
-Historical Society
GUIDED TOURS:
10:00 am: Native Plant ID Walk.
Learn about native plants and how to identify them.
Learn about native plants and how to identify them.
11:00 am: Family/Kids Walk
Search for dragonflies -Get the whole family out in nature, strollers, and wagons welcome.
Search for dragonflies -Get the whole family out in nature, strollers, and wagons welcome.
NATURE POP-UP TALKS (20-25 mins):
-9:30 a.m.
What is Bird City Fond du Lac? by Laura DeGlier
What is Bird City Fond du Lac? by Laura DeGlier
Learn more about where do we find birds in Fond du Lac, how does the city support this effort, why does it matter, and how you can get involved.
-10:30 a.m.
The Fascinating Life of Dragonflies and Damselflies by Edgar Spalding and Jessie Seiders from the WI Dragonfly Society
The Fascinating Life of Dragonflies and Damselflies by Edgar Spalding and Jessie Seiders from the WI Dragonfly Society
Learn about the different species of dragonflies and damselflies and try to catch one near our ponds during the family/kids walk at 11 a.m.
-11:30 a.m.
Monarch Butterflies, Their Amazing Life Cycle, Migration and How We can Help Them Flourish by Randy Peterson
Monarch Butterflies, Their Amazing Life Cycle, Migration and How We can Help Them Flourish by Randy Peterson
Learn about the monarch butterfly life cycle with large and lifelike sculptures Randy has created. Learn about little-known facts of these beloved insects and successful techniques for planting milkweed and flowers to help fuel the Monarchs great migration.
OTHER FUN KIDS ACTIVITIES from 9:00 am-noon:
-Prairie Dog Challenge (Youth Obstacle Course). Venture through the Arboretum with zigs, zags, ups, and downs. Go through once or as many times as you can!
-Face/arm painting by Amy from Perspective Studios
-Kids arts and crafts
-Face/arm painting by Amy from Perspective Studios
-Kids arts and crafts
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES Released into Prairie -Noon -12:15ish
Live music from 10:00 am-11:30 am.
Prairie Fest is presented FREE to the public thanks to our sponsors: Fond du Lac Area Foundation and Fond du Lac Evening Optimist Club.