Door County Style

Door County Festival of Nature’s 50 Field Trips, Birdwatching, Hikes and Canoe Trips Opens With “The Niagara Escarpment: Its Natural History and Preservation”

Posted on 21. May, 2010 by Staff Reporter in Learning

“Door County Festival of Nature” celebrates the natural features of the Peninsula.

Roger Kuhns

Door County’s unique natural communities and features – including the Niagara Escarpment, the bedrock foundation of the Peninsula – are the focus of the eighth annual Door County Festival of Nature. The Festival begins with a special keynote presentation, open to the public, at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall on Thursday evening, May 27, at 7:30 pm Dr. Roger Kuhns will present a program on “The Niagara Escarpment: Its Natural History and Preservation.” The program is free for Festival of Nature participants, donations are requested for those not registered for the Festival.

Dr. Kuhns is a geologist, environmental scientist and “sustainologist.” He actively applies sustainable practices in his work and life, to reduce consumption of natural resources, conserve materials, and preserve nature through sustainability that incorporates environment, economics and community. During his presentation, Dr. Kuhns will delve into the geologic history of the Niagara Escarpment and the Niagara Dolomite that forms its foundation. He will visit past, present and currently changing ecosystems beginning some 600 million years ago. By discussing rocks, fossils, natural resources, water, pre-and post-settlement land uses, and historic records, we can better understand the fragile nature of this seemingly durable ledge of rock. The presentation includes examples of sustainable practices that can be applied toward Niagara Escarpment preservation.

On Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29, a variety of field trips will take Festival participants to some of the most beautiful and unique natural areas in Door County, including several sites on the Niagara Escarpment. Over 50 field trips are offered this year, including The Ridges Sanctuary, Toft Point, Washington Island, Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Preserve, Mink River Conservancy, and many other natural areas. Also included on the schedule are birdwatching hikes and canoeing trips on the Ahnapee River and Logan Creek.

There are still openings in many Festival trips. Registration for available field trips will take place at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall on Thursday, May 27, between 5 and 7:30 pm; Friday, May 28, from 8 am – 1:30 pm and 4 – 7 pm; and Saturday, May 24, from 8 – 9 am.

The Festival of Nature will conclude with an old-fashioned Barn Dance and Social, held at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall. All dances are taught by the caller, and the figures build on each other from one dance to the next, so no previous dance experience is needed. Music is provided by Sugar on the Floor Barn Dance Orchestra. The dance begins at 7 pm and is open to the public. No admission is charged, but donations will be accepted at the door.

The Door County Festival of Nature is sponsored by The Ridges Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy, Door County Land Trust, Crossroads at Big Creek, The Clearing, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with support from Door Properties Owners Inc., Birdies of Door County, Baileys Harbor Yacht Club Resort and Baylake Bank. For more information on the Festival of Nature, please call 920.839.2802, or visit http://RidgesSanctuary.org/festival.aspx.

Tags: Crossroads at Big Creek, Door County Festival of Nature, Door County Land Trust, Dr. Roger Kuhns, Nature Conservancy, Ridges Sanctuary, Sugar on the Floor Barn Dance Orchestra, The Clearing