TRAVEL GUIDE

Wisconsin Travel and the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Are you in need for some fresh air? Why not make the beautiful Schlitz Audubon Nature Center a part of your Wisconsin travels! Here you can take a hike along the shores of Lake Michigan, visit the educational exhibits at the recently opened Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Learning Center, or attend an interactive presentation where you can have an up-close encounter with raptors such as Frederick the American bald eagle! Did you know that over 250 species of birds that have been recorded within this 185-acre sanctuary on Lake Michigan? Five ponds, ravines, woodlands and prairies provide habitat for the hawks, ducks, owls, warblers, finches and falcons that live there.

History

Before making this nature center a part of your Wisconsin travels, read up on the center's history. The Schlitz Audubon Nature Center (SANC) is an environmental educational center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the 1800's the Center's 185 acres of property had been farmland. It was purchased by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company in 1885 as a place to rest the brewery's draft horses. With its woods, meadows, ravines, bluffs and beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline, this was a play loved and used by a young girl named Dorothy Vallier who eventually became the center's founder in 1971. Today at 95, Dorothy is still on the Center's Board of Directors with the title of Director Active Emeritus! The Schlitz Foundation accepted her proposal for the land to be used as a nature center in 1970 and more than 30 years later, the center offers classes and programs for all ages. Each year, the Center teaches 37,000 schoolchildren about nature, and use the land as an outdoor classroom. This center teaches more kids than any other nature center in Wisconsin!

Dorothy K. Vallier Environmental Learning Center

Opened in 2003, this learning center was dedicated to its founder and long-term patron Dorothy K. Vallier. It is an award-winning sustainable building that supports energy efficiency, water conservation and sustainability. It also provides much needed space for more classrooms, an enlarged auditorium, new exhibits, a nature-focused preschool and a nature store.

Hiking

Why not schedule a great hike at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center as part of your Wisconsin travels? Located on the shores of Lake Michigan are the Center's 6 miles of trails that take you through 185 acres of unspoiled natural beauty, just 15 minutes away from downtown Milwaukee! As you explore the trails along Lake Michigan, you will see ponds, forest, prairies, a 60 foot town, the beach and much more! A self guided hike costs $2 for kids and $4 for adults. Hikes can be combined with other free programs such as Raptor Saturday or RepAmphibiantile Sunday.

Wings and Things Raptor Programs

These interactive programs feature SANC's live bald eagles, owls, hawks and falcons. As part of your Wisconsin travel adventures, you will be able to experience a "wow" of seeing these beautiful birds up close! You will hear stories of these raptors as our neighbors and how they serve as indicators to the health of the environment. You will meet creatures such a Fredrick the American bald eagle as well as enchanting night owls that are native to Wisconsin. Most presentations take around an hour and you can choose between a formal presentation or an up-close meet and greet!

Nature Preschool

As the only nature preschool in Wisconsin, SANC teaches 3 and 4 year olds to love the nature world while have lots of fun at the same time! Kids will experience the freedom of casual exploration in the seemingly limitless natural world as they go on daily discoveries of the Center's 185 acres of diverse habitat. The preschool's broad based curriculum includes art, music, perceptual and cognitive skill development.

Location and Contact Information

The Schlitze Audubon Nature Center is located on 1111 E. Brown Dear Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For more information call (414) 352-2880.