Superior Lifelong Learning
At the beginning of 2022, we started redesigning our lifelong learning program and this summer we're launching an outdoor learning series. In the future, it is our intention to host more classes and community conversations centered around aging, food justice, and other topics of interest. Additionally, we are working to create time and space for storytelling as this was one of our top areas of interest during our input sessions this winter. Please be in touch if you have ideas or questions about our lifelong learning program.
Outdoor Learning
2022 Summer Series
Join us outdoors to learn about the plants, geology, and birds! There is a walk scheduled every first and third Friday June through September from 1:30 - 3:30 PM with an additional two morning bird walks. The walks will be slow-paced and capped at 15 participants; we will create waitlists as needed. Please be in touch if there is anything we can do to make these walks accessible to you. All events are free and open to all. Donations are appreciated and tax-deductible but not necessary.
Summer Schedule
Scroll to the bottom to see a calendar view
Questions? contact us at education@corecr.org or 715-779-3457
June 3rd: 8 to 10 AM
Birding the Big Ravine
We will spend a couple hours hiking various parts of the Big Ravine trail network looking and listening for the birds that live there. We will start on the Gil Larsen Trail under the old Iron Bridge, but prepare for a pretty steep climb up one of the connector trails leading from the bottom of the ravine up to one of the rim trails.
Guide: Neil Howk recently retired from the National Park Service after a 40 year career. He was the assistant chief of interpretation at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from 1992 - 2017. He is also president of the Chequamegon Audubon Society and has lived in Bayfield since 1983.
Items to bring: binoculars, good walking shoes, water. A smart phone with a birding app might also be helpful.
Meeting Location: The municipal parking lot on Washington Avenue across from Broad Street next to the Gill Larsen Trailhead.
June 3rd: 1:30 to 3:30 PM
Edible and Medicinal Plant Identification
Join local forager and wildcrafter, Monarda Thrasher for an outdoor plant identification workshop. Participants will learn about many wild plants- weeds and natives- and their uses as food and medicine.
Guide: Monarda Thrasher has been making medicine from plants for over 15 years. They offer plant walks and classes, as well as herbal consultations and prepared medicines.
Items to bring: Whatever you need to help you learn about plants. A phone for photos and audio recording; a notepad; bags for samples.
Meeting Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
June 11th: 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Resilient Landscapes and Rain Garden Workshop
Register here for the FREE City-sponsored public workshop with Metroblooms, experts in resilient landscapes. The workshop will include learning about how rain gardens protect Lake Superior's waters, as well as how to build and maintain a rain garden while helping to restore the rain gardens at the old Courthouse grounds. Our goal is to expand green infrastructure by increasing local knowledge, connecting property owners with skilled contractors, and building volunteer capacity to support the City’s rain gardens. Even if you can't attend the full session, please feel free to join us for a part of the time.
Location: Old Courthouse grounds, currently the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Headquarters. 415 Washington Ave. in Bayfield
Participants should be prepared to work in the rain gardens: wear work clothes, bring work gloves, and be prepared for bugs. Participants are encouraged to bring tools: clippers, loppers, shovels, leaf rakes, and hard-tined rakes. Final details will be sent to registrants by June 1st.
Questions? Contact: Kate Kitchell at katepkitchell@gmail.com
June 17th: 1:30 to 3:30 PM
Bald Eagle Ecology
We will take a short hike along Lake Superior to an active bald eagle nest. From a comfortable distance we will discuss bald eagles, including nesting behavior, the history of population decline and increase, and how nestlings have helped us monitor levels of environmental contaminants.
Guides: Bill Route and Karin Kozie are wildlife biologists. Bill recently retired from the National Park Service where he spent 15 years capturing and handling bald eagle nestlings to assess levels of contaminants in aquatic systems. Karin Kozie conducted some of the first investigations of bald eagle nesting behavior on the Apostle Islands and did early studies on environmental contaminants in bald eagles in the area.
Hiking difficulty: Moderate. Access will be through private property. Wooden steps will take us down to a sand and pebble beach where we will hike about 1/4 mile to the nest.
What to bring: Bring binoculars and/or a spotting scope. We will have a fairly good view of the nest, but we may need to stay back a ways to ensure the eagles are not disturbed. Wear hiking shoes for a short beach walk and dress appropriate for the weather. Winds off the bay can sometimes be chilly.
Meeting place: We will meet at Friendly Valley beach road off highway 13 (Lake side). From there we will assess the number of cars, and if necessary, car-pool to a private residence for easy access to the nest.
July 1st: 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Wild Plant Walk
We will walk about and connect with plants on Bayfield trails. We will learn about edibility and medicinal benefits of plants who grow near us. See you on the plant path.
Guide: Katherine Rakowski, is an herbalist, forager, plant lover, gardener, learner and educator. Over her life, she continues to experience and learn with the plants and finds joy in connecting people and plants. She has studied herbalism and foraging for 10 years.
Items to bring: Sun hat, sun glasses, sun screen, water bottle, rain coat (if necessary)
Hiking difficulty: Moderate
Meeting place: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
July 15th: 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Wild Plant Walk
We will walk about and connect with plants on Bayfield trails. We will learn about edibility and medicinal benefits of plants who grow near us. See you on the plant path.
Guide: Katherine Rakowski, is an herbalist, forager, plant lover, gardener, learner and educator. Over her life, she continues to experience and learn with the plants and finds joy in connecting people and plants. She has studied herbalism and foraging for 10 years.
Items to bring: Sun hat, sun glasses, sun screen, water bottle, rain coat (if necessary)
Hiking difficulty: Moderate
Meeting place: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
August 5th 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Edible and Medicinal Plant Identification
Join local forager and wildcrafter, Monarda Thrasher for an outdoor plant identification workshop. Participants will learn about many wild plants- weeds and natives- and their uses as food and medicine.
Guide: Monarda Thrasher has been making medicine from plants for over 15 years. They offer plant walks and classes, as well as herbal consultations and prepared medicines.
Items to bring: Whatever you need to help you learn about plants. A phone for photos and audio recording; a notepad; bags for samples.
Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
August 19th 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Geology and land use history along the Brownstone Trail in Bayfield, Wisconsin
We will walk part of the Brownstone Trail to observe the geology and soils of the area. The discussion will focus on the how the geology, climate, and land use influence what is happening along the Lake Superior shore today.
Guide: Professor Tom Fitz has been studying geology and leading field trips in the Chequamegon Region for decades. His interests are in the relationship between people and the Earth and why the geologic past matters to us today.
Items to bring: Wear comfortable shoes for walking and bring anything you need to be comfortable outside in whatever weather the day brings.
Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
September 2nd 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Edible and Medicinal Plant Identification
Join local forager and wildcrafter, Monarda Thrasher for an outdoor plant identification workshop. Participants will learn about many wild plants- weeds and natives- and their uses as food and medicine.
Guide: Monarda Thrasher has been making medicine from plants for over 15 years. They offer plant walks and classes, as well as herbal consultations and prepared medicines.
Items to Bring: Whatever you need to help you learn about plants. A phone for photos and audio recording; a notepad; bags for samples.
Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
September 16th 8 - 10 AM
Birding the Big Ravine
We will spend a couple hours hiking various parts of the Big Ravine trail network looking and listening for the birds that live there. We will start on the Gil Larsen Trail under the old Iron Bridge, but prepare for a pretty steep climb up one of the connector trails leading from the bottom of the ravine up to one of the rim trails.
Guide: Neil Howk recently retired from the National Park Service after a 40 year career. He was the assistant chief of interpretation at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from 1992 - 2017. He is also president of the Chequamegon Audubon Society and has lived in Bayfield since 1983.
Items to bring: binoculars, good walking shoes, water. A smart phone with a birding app might also be helpful.
Location: The municipal parking lot on Washington Avenue across from Broad Street next to the Gill Larsen Trailhead.
September 16th 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Beach Rocks
There will be a short discussion of the geology of the Lake Superior Basin and some of the major rock types that may be found on its beaches. We’ll explore the beaches in Bayfield and discuss the different rocks types that may be found on the shores of Lake Superior. Where did the rocks originate? What is the geologic story that they tell us? What does the color of sand on a beach tell us? How did rocks play a role in the Bayfield economy?
Guide: Sharon Schaver is a Professional Geologist and a Wisconsin Master Naturalist. Sharon had a 27 year career with the WDNR as a hydrogeologist in the Milwaukee area. She’s been a volunteer educator/teacher naturalist at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center and the Riveredge Nature Center.
Items to Bring: Magnifying lens (Sharon will have a few along to share) & curiosity
Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
Birding the Big Ravine
We will spend a couple hours hiking various parts of the Big Ravine trail network looking and listening for the birds that live there. We will start on the Gil Larsen Trail under the old Iron Bridge, but prepare for a pretty steep climb up one of the connector trails leading from the bottom of the ravine up to one of the rim trails.
Guide: Neil Howk recently retired from the National Park Service after a 40 year career. He was the assistant chief of interpretation at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from 1992 - 2017. He is also president of the Chequamegon Audubon Society and has lived in Bayfield since 1983.
Items to bring: binoculars, good walking shoes, water. A smart phone with a birding app might also be helpful.
Meeting Location: The municipal parking lot on Washington Avenue across from Broad Street next to the Gill Larsen Trailhead.
June 3rd: 1:30 to 3:30 PM
Edible and Medicinal Plant Identification
Join local forager and wildcrafter, Monarda Thrasher for an outdoor plant identification workshop. Participants will learn about many wild plants- weeds and natives- and their uses as food and medicine.
Guide: Monarda Thrasher has been making medicine from plants for over 15 years. They offer plant walks and classes, as well as herbal consultations and prepared medicines.
Items to bring: Whatever you need to help you learn about plants. A phone for photos and audio recording; a notepad; bags for samples.
Meeting Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
June 11th: 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Resilient Landscapes and Rain Garden Workshop
Register here for the FREE City-sponsored public workshop with Metroblooms, experts in resilient landscapes. The workshop will include learning about how rain gardens protect Lake Superior's waters, as well as how to build and maintain a rain garden while helping to restore the rain gardens at the old Courthouse grounds. Our goal is to expand green infrastructure by increasing local knowledge, connecting property owners with skilled contractors, and building volunteer capacity to support the City’s rain gardens. Even if you can't attend the full session, please feel free to join us for a part of the time.
Location: Old Courthouse grounds, currently the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Headquarters. 415 Washington Ave. in Bayfield
Participants should be prepared to work in the rain gardens: wear work clothes, bring work gloves, and be prepared for bugs. Participants are encouraged to bring tools: clippers, loppers, shovels, leaf rakes, and hard-tined rakes. Final details will be sent to registrants by June 1st.
Questions? Contact: Kate Kitchell at katepkitchell@gmail.com
June 17th: 1:30 to 3:30 PM
Bald Eagle Ecology
We will take a short hike along Lake Superior to an active bald eagle nest. From a comfortable distance we will discuss bald eagles, including nesting behavior, the history of population decline and increase, and how nestlings have helped us monitor levels of environmental contaminants.
Guides: Bill Route and Karin Kozie are wildlife biologists. Bill recently retired from the National Park Service where he spent 15 years capturing and handling bald eagle nestlings to assess levels of contaminants in aquatic systems. Karin Kozie conducted some of the first investigations of bald eagle nesting behavior on the Apostle Islands and did early studies on environmental contaminants in bald eagles in the area.
Hiking difficulty: Moderate. Access will be through private property. Wooden steps will take us down to a sand and pebble beach where we will hike about 1/4 mile to the nest.
What to bring: Bring binoculars and/or a spotting scope. We will have a fairly good view of the nest, but we may need to stay back a ways to ensure the eagles are not disturbed. Wear hiking shoes for a short beach walk and dress appropriate for the weather. Winds off the bay can sometimes be chilly.
Meeting place: We will meet at Friendly Valley beach road off highway 13 (Lake side). From there we will assess the number of cars, and if necessary, car-pool to a private residence for easy access to the nest.
July 1st: 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Wild Plant Walk
We will walk about and connect with plants on Bayfield trails. We will learn about edibility and medicinal benefits of plants who grow near us. See you on the plant path.
Guide: Katherine Rakowski, is an herbalist, forager, plant lover, gardener, learner and educator. Over her life, she continues to experience and learn with the plants and finds joy in connecting people and plants. She has studied herbalism and foraging for 10 years.
Items to bring: Sun hat, sun glasses, sun screen, water bottle, rain coat (if necessary)
Hiking difficulty: Moderate
Meeting place: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
July 15th: 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Wild Plant Walk
We will walk about and connect with plants on Bayfield trails. We will learn about edibility and medicinal benefits of plants who grow near us. See you on the plant path.
Guide: Katherine Rakowski, is an herbalist, forager, plant lover, gardener, learner and educator. Over her life, she continues to experience and learn with the plants and finds joy in connecting people and plants. She has studied herbalism and foraging for 10 years.
Items to bring: Sun hat, sun glasses, sun screen, water bottle, rain coat (if necessary)
Hiking difficulty: Moderate
Meeting place: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
August 5th 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Edible and Medicinal Plant Identification
Join local forager and wildcrafter, Monarda Thrasher for an outdoor plant identification workshop. Participants will learn about many wild plants- weeds and natives- and their uses as food and medicine.
Guide: Monarda Thrasher has been making medicine from plants for over 15 years. They offer plant walks and classes, as well as herbal consultations and prepared medicines.
Items to bring: Whatever you need to help you learn about plants. A phone for photos and audio recording; a notepad; bags for samples.
Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
August 19th 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Geology and land use history along the Brownstone Trail in Bayfield, Wisconsin
We will walk part of the Brownstone Trail to observe the geology and soils of the area. The discussion will focus on the how the geology, climate, and land use influence what is happening along the Lake Superior shore today.
Guide: Professor Tom Fitz has been studying geology and leading field trips in the Chequamegon Region for decades. His interests are in the relationship between people and the Earth and why the geologic past matters to us today.
Items to bring: Wear comfortable shoes for walking and bring anything you need to be comfortable outside in whatever weather the day brings.
Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
September 2nd 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Edible and Medicinal Plant Identification
Join local forager and wildcrafter, Monarda Thrasher for an outdoor plant identification workshop. Participants will learn about many wild plants- weeds and natives- and their uses as food and medicine.
Guide: Monarda Thrasher has been making medicine from plants for over 15 years. They offer plant walks and classes, as well as herbal consultations and prepared medicines.
Items to Bring: Whatever you need to help you learn about plants. A phone for photos and audio recording; a notepad; bags for samples.
Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)
September 16th 8 - 10 AM
Birding the Big Ravine
We will spend a couple hours hiking various parts of the Big Ravine trail network looking and listening for the birds that live there. We will start on the Gil Larsen Trail under the old Iron Bridge, but prepare for a pretty steep climb up one of the connector trails leading from the bottom of the ravine up to one of the rim trails.
Guide: Neil Howk recently retired from the National Park Service after a 40 year career. He was the assistant chief of interpretation at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from 1992 - 2017. He is also president of the Chequamegon Audubon Society and has lived in Bayfield since 1983.
Items to bring: binoculars, good walking shoes, water. A smart phone with a birding app might also be helpful.
Location: The municipal parking lot on Washington Avenue across from Broad Street next to the Gill Larsen Trailhead.
September 16th 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Beach Rocks
There will be a short discussion of the geology of the Lake Superior Basin and some of the major rock types that may be found on its beaches. We’ll explore the beaches in Bayfield and discuss the different rocks types that may be found on the shores of Lake Superior. Where did the rocks originate? What is the geologic story that they tell us? What does the color of sand on a beach tell us? How did rocks play a role in the Bayfield economy?
Guide: Sharon Schaver is a Professional Geologist and a Wisconsin Master Naturalist. Sharon had a 27 year career with the WDNR as a hydrogeologist in the Milwaukee area. She’s been a volunteer educator/teacher naturalist at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center and the Riveredge Nature Center.
Items to Bring: Magnifying lens (Sharon will have a few along to share) & curiosity
Location: CORE Community Resources (257 Manypenny Ave, Bayfield)