To register for programs, please call the nature center or fill out the online registration form. Scouting program registration forms can be found on this page. Payment can be made in the form of check or cash and dropped off in person or by mailing it to the nature center.

Nature Story Time Hike: Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, Robert Frost

Saturday, January 7th, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Bring the family out to listen to Robert Frost's timeless classic of a traveler enjoying the simple pleasures of a quiet snowy evening is brought to stunning life by Caldecott Honor-artist Susan Jeffers. After the story, we will head into Bristol Woods to do activities tied to the story.

Free

PNC Board Meeting

Saturday, January 14th, 9:00 a.m.

Guided Snowshoe Hike

Saturday, January 21st, 1:00 p.m.

Join a Pringle Naturalist for a guided hike through the woods for some winter fun. Snowshoes will be provided - this is a great way to try out a new sport without having to purchase the equipment. There must be enough snow on the ground in order for the event to occur. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows. Ages 10+

Friends: Free/General Public: $5.00

Leave No Child Inside: Snow Day

Saturday, January 28th, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Just because it's cold out doesn't mean there's nothing to do. Bring the entire family as Pringle shows you different ways to enjoy the winter weather. Different activities are scheduled throughout the day; come and leave when you like.

Free

Nature Story Time Hike: Snowflake Bentley, Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Saturday, February 4th, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Join us for this true story of a Vermont farm boy who was mesmerized by snowflakes and once he acquired a microscope with a camera, Bentley spent his life taking countless photographs of snowflakes. After the story, we will head out on a hike with activities tied to the story.

Free

1st Annual Kenosha County Youth Ice Fishing Derby at KD Park

Saturday, February 4th, 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Pringle will be there starting at 8:00 a.m.)

Pringle will be out at KD Park with snowshoe rental and demonstrations during this Kenosha County Parks event. KD Park is Kenosha County's newest park. For more information on the Ice Fishing Derby, call Kenosha County Parks at 262-857-1869 or click here. For more information on the snowshoe rental, call the nature center.

Snowshoe rental: $5.00 (see the flyer for the Derby entry fees)

PNC Board Meeting

Saturday, February 11th, 9:00 a.m.

Great Backyard Bird Count - Build Your Own Feeder

Saturday, February 11th, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Join us the weekend before the Great Backyard Bird Count to build your own feeder to attract birds to your backyard to count. We will offer a short ID session, how to report data to the count, as well as choosing between the different types of bird seed. Supplies are limited. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows. Please bring your own hammer.

Feeder kit price: Friends: $10.00/General Public: $12.00

Valentine's Snowshoe Candlelight Hike

Saturday, February 11th, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Enjoy the winter wonderland at night with family, friends, and loved ones while on the candlelit trail at Bristol Woods County Park. Warm up afterwards by the crackling fire and refreshments will be served inside the nature center. In order to use the snowshoes, there must be enough snow on the ground. Come and leave when you like.

Friends: Free/General Public: $5.00

Great Backyard Bird Count - Feeder Count

Friday, February 17th to Monday, February 20th (Nationwide)

Saturday, February 18th, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Pringle)

If you live in an area where there are not a lot of birds and would like to participate, you can come to Pringle and help count the birds that come to our feeders. For more information on the count and how you can participate, go to the Great Backyard Bird Count's website. No experience is necessary.

Free

Webelos Forester Badge

Saturday, February 18th, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Webelos scouts are invited to Pringle Nature Center to earn their badges. This program covers activities 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 in the Webelos Handbook. Friends and siblings are welcome to join this program if they are between the ages of 8 and 12. Please arrive by 12:45 to check in. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows. Click here for the registration form.

$3.50 per participant registered by February 16th/$6.00 per participant day of program (if space is available)

Teacher Naturalist Volunteer Training

Wednesday, February 22nd to Friday, February 24th

Are you interested in nature and would love to share that curiosity and enthusiasm with the next generation? Pringle Nature Center depends on volunteers to help teach programs and is offering training sessions for the classes we offer to school groups. Come for some or all of the sessions. To see the classes we offer school groups, click our "Programs" link on the left side.

Wednesday:

Kindergarten, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m./First Grade, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Thursday:

Second Grade, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m./Third Grade, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Friday:

Fourth Grade, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m./Fifth Grade, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Naturalist on Location - Petrifying Springs Park

Saturday, February 25th, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Join the Pringle Naturalist out at Pets Park. If you haven't been out to Pringle and keep meaning to, this will be your chance to meet the naturalist and see what programs are offered at the nature center. There will be two guided hikes - at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - if there is enough snow on the ground, we will use the snowshoes. Concessions available. We will be at the residence located on the north side of Hwy JR across from the xcountry course and on the parks eastern boundry/UW-Parkside's western.

Snowshoe: $5.00

Nature Story Time Hike: The Sugaring-off Party, Jonathan London

Saturday, March 3rd, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

March means it's Maple Syrup time, so join us for a story that tells of how a French-Canadian grandmother prepares her grandson for his first maple-sugaring party by describing the one she first enjoyed sixty years earlier, as well as the process of tapping the maple trees and making syrup and taffy. After the story we will head out on a hike with activities tied to the story.

Free

Junior Girl Scout Finding Your Way

Saturday, March 3rd, 1:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

In the end, participants will understand how to use a map and a compass to find their way around. While learning that this skill can be used everywhere from hiking in the woods to going to the mall. Pre-registration is required at least 48 hours in advance. Click here for the registration form.

$3.50 per scout.

PNC Board Meeting

Saturday, March 10th, 9:00 a.m.

Leave No Child Inside: Sky is the Limit

Saturday, March 10th, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Come and explore the night sky during the daytime! Join us as we use the inflatable StarLab Planetarium to look at the night sky and see what causes the seasons. Space is limited. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows. Children first grade and older are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Friends: $2.00/General: $4.00

Brownie Girl Scout Eco-Explorer

Saturday, March 17th, 9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Explore the world of plants and animals and see how they help each other, and what steps we can take to ensure their survival. Pre-registration is required at least 48 hours in advance. Click here for the registration form.

$3.50 per scout

Webelos Geologist Badge

Saturday, March 17th, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

This program covers activities 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 in the Webelos Handbook. Friends and siblings are welcome to join this program if they are between the ages of 8 and 12. Please arrive by 12:45 to check in. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows. Click here for the registration form.

$3.50 per participant registered by March 15th/$6.00 per participant day of program (if space is available)

Vernal Equinox Night Hike

Saturday, March 17th, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Get rid of the winter blues and help us welcome spring (a few days early!) We will search for the early spring risers that live in the park as well as learn how different cultures welcomed the longer days and warmer weather. Please leave your flashlights at home as they will spoil the experience. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows.

Friends: Free/General Public: $5

Ephemeral Pond Tour

Saturday, March 24th, 1:00 p.m.

Join the Pringle Naturalist as we tour Bristol Woods ephemeral ponds and explore what makes these features so unique to the area as well as talk about the Ephemeral Pond Project. Ages 18+. Registration is required!

Free

Leave No Child Inside: Full Pink Moon Night Hike

Thursday, April 5th, 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

No, it's not a girl moon - this moon earned its name from the wild ground phlox which is one of the earliest blooming wildflowers. We'll follow the trails using the moon light to guide the way. Please leave your flashlights at home as they will spoil the experience. Children first grade and older are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows.

Friends: $2.00/General: $4.00

Nature Story Time Hike: The Salamander Room, Anne Mazer

Saturday, April 7th, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

A boy finds a salamander in the woods and imagines the many things he can do to turn his room into a perfect salamander home. After the story we will head out on a hike with activities tied to the story.

Free

Leave No Child Inside: Come and Explore!

Tuesday, April 10th to Friday, April 13th, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. each day

Instead of staying cooped up inside all of spring break, come out to Pringle Nature Center to see what is trying to bloom and is crawling around! Come and leave when you like.

Tuesday - Open Mic we will have our microscopes set up. Find objects in the park or bring some from home to look underneath the microscope

Wednesday - Drip, Drop, Pond you will be able to use our equipment to explore our pond and see what makes it so special as well as not judge a pond by how it looks

Thursday - Going Green we will have different recycling activities going on throughout the day. You can make recycled crafts, calculate your eco-print, and go on the unnatural trail

Friday - Forest Frolic come explore the woods. Find a magic spot, build a shelter, or choose a card to see what you should do

Free

Junior Girl Scout Earth Connections

Saturday, April 14th, 1:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Discover the forests layers as you learn how to identify plants and trees, and find out what a tree's ring can teach you. Pre-registration is required at least 48 hours in advance. Click here for the registration form.

$3.50 per scout.

PNC Board Meeting

Saturday, April 14th, 4:00 p.m.

PNC Volunteer & Membership Appreciation Potluck

Saturday, April 14th, 5:00 p.m.

Brownie Girl Scout Earth & Sky

Saturday, April 21st, 9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Discover the many wonders that occur above our heads and below our feet. Who lives where and why should we care? Pre-registration is required at least 48 hours in advance. Click here for the registration form.

$3.50 per scout

Webelos Naturalist Badge

Saturday, April 21st, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

This program covers activities 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9 in the Webelos Handbook. Friends and siblings are welcome to join this program if they are between the ages of 8 and 12. Please arrive by 12:45 to check in and bring an empty 2-liter soda bottle. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows. Click here for the registration form.

$3.50 per participant registered by April 19th/$6.00 per participant day of program (if space is available)

Invasive Species Workday

Saturday, April 28th, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Help us to continue to restore our Oak Savanna and Prairie areas. We will be cutting down buckthorn, multi-flora rose, and other invasive plants. This also helps create open areas in our woods for school children to explore when they are out here for programming. Please bring your own work gloves; tools will be provided.

Beginning Geocaching

Saturday, April 28th, 1:00 p.m./2:00 p.m.

Join us for a short informational session on how to use a GPS and the rules for Geocaching before heading out with a naturalist in search for the caches. You can bring your own GPS or smartphone with a geocaching app for us to help you figure it out how to use for Geocaching, but we will be using the nature center's GPS's for this high tech scavenger hunt.

Friends: $3.00/General: $5.00

Nature Story Time Hike: Round and Round Again, Nancy Van Laan

Saturday, May 5th, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

One man's trash is another's treasure, as this tale of a resourceful recycler demonstrates. After the story we will head out on a hike with activities tied to the story.

Free

Junior Girl Scout Your Outdoor Surroundings

Saturday, May 5th, 1:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

There are many interesting things to see in the natural world. This program will take an intimate look at the many shapes in nature as well as to leave a minimal impact when we go out to explore. Pre-registration is required at least 48 hours in advance. Click here for the registration form.

$3.50 per scout.

PNC Board Meeting

Saturday, May 12th, 9:00 a.m.

Leave No Child Inside: Discovery Hike

Saturday, May 12th, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join us for an easy hike in Bristol Woods. We'll learn simple skills of nature observation which families can use when exploring outdoors together. Children first grade and older are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows.

Friends: $2.00/General: $4.00

Mother's Day Ephemeral Brunch and Spring Wildflower Walk

Sunday, May 13th, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Celebrate the special woman in your life with a gift of nature. Bring the mom in your life out to Pringle for a light brunch and then on the hour, a naturalist will led a hike to see the spring wildflowers that are blooming. Pre-registration and payment required, no refunds for no shows. When calling, please indicate your hike time preference.

Friends: $10.00/General Public: $12.00/Children 10 and under are half priced

Invasive Species Workday

Saturday, May 26th, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Help us to continue to restore our Oak Savanna and Prairie areas. We will be cutting down buckthorn, multi-flora rose, and other invasive plants. This also helps create open areas in our woods for school children to explore when they are out here for programming. Please bring your own work gloves; tools will be provided.

Plant Exchange

Saturday, May 26th, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Have plants you must prune or cull? How about trading your excess with others? Take home new plants for your yard and have an instant new garden. No time to re-pot your donations? No problem - bags and newspaper will do just fine.

Free

The Pringle Nature Center facility can be booked for private programs, meetings and parties. If you are interested in our staff hosting a school field trip, birthday party or other program you can send a request using our program request forms Either form can be submitted it to the PNC by email or by mail.