Suburban Soles – Guided Nature | South Milwaukee Heritage Days

Suburban Soles 2020 – “Lichen the Little Things”
Sunday, June 14, 2020 – 10:00 a.m.
“Suburban Soles 2020 – “Lichen the Little Things”
GPS Grant Park Area 5 & 6

A hike focusing on the smaller things in life. Lichens, a fungus that is so much more, and insects, our six-legged providers. Jamie Schiesel graduated from UW Whitewater with a BS in environmental science. He is now an educator at the Mequon Nature Preserve providing free educational programs for both children and adults. He has always been interested in insects and other invertebrates and developed a passion for Lichens from his trips hiking the mountains of Colorado.

Suburban Soles is proudly supported by the Friends of Grant Park and takes place every other Sunday at 10 am in Grant Park, located in beautiful South Milwaukee, WI. Each event will focus on a different area of study and will be guided by a new expert field guide. Locations vary each week. On Sunday, June 14th we Learn about Lichen!

**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**
PLEASE NOTE: All Suburban Soles 2020 events are subject to change. Please mark your calendars, but be sure to check back at least 1 week before the event to be sure it will still be taking place. decisions to cancel events will be made a minimum of 3 days before each event and will be assessed depending on health safety and event guide’s comfort level with the COVID-19 situation at that time.

Suburban Soles 2020 – “Wonder & Wander Along the Water”
Sunday, June 28, 2020 – 10:00 a.m.
“Suburban Soles 2020 – “Lichen the Little Things”
601 Milwaukee Ave

Join Alice Thompson, wetlands expert, and Janette Marsh watersheds specialist as we wander along the Oak Creek watercourse, west of the lagoon exploring the surrounding landscape to discover the small critters along the creek.

Suburban Soles 2020 – “Bloom Where You are Planted”
Sunday, July 12, 2020 – 10:00 a.m.
“Suburban Soles 2020 – “Lichen the Little Things”
GPS Grant Park Area 5 & 6

Let’s take a look at the native and non-native plants of Grant Park. What is a “native” plant, anyway? Are non-native plants “bad” plants? Join MATC Horticulture Instructor, Delisa White, as we walk the trails of Grant Park, locating both native and non-native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Grant Park’s woods and ravines are ecologically diverse and full of beautiful native plants. And because the first Milwaukee County nursery and greenhouse were originally located on the grounds of the park, we’ll also see many non-native plants that may have been planted on-site in the 1920’s and ’30’s. Can the natives and the non-natives coexist? How might the changing climate influence the native plants of the park? Join us to answer these questions and more!

Suburban Soles 2020 – “South Milwaukee Takes Root”
Sunday, July 26, 2020 – 10:00 a.m.
“Suburban Soles 2020 – “Lichen the Little Things”
Grant Park Golf Course

Put on your hiking shoes and join us for this week’s installment of Suburban Soles focuses on the earliest days of the settlement in what we now know as South Milwaukee. Join local historian Nels Monson as we meet at the Grant Park Clubhouse where you will learn about the family of John Fowle, who settled on this spot in 1835. Afterward, we take a short stroll down the hill towards the beach area, where you will hear about the various industries and enterprises located thereabouts during our city’s formative years. The discussion continues as we cross over the footbridge towards the Yacht Club before the return hike back up towards the Clubhouse. For those wishing to learn more about South Milwaukee’s pre-industrial years, this event is sure to please.

Suburban Soles 2020 – “Pollinator Power”
Sunday, August 9, 2020 – 10:00 a.m.
“Suburban Soles 2020 – “Lichen the Little Things”
GPS Grant Park Area 5 & 6

Family-Friendly Fun in Grant Park! This Suburban Soles will be geared toward the
young naturalist at heart, so bring the young ones and let them buzz around!

What do bats, bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and hummingbirds have in common? All of them have the power of pollination! Join us as we celebrate these sometimes small but mighty creatures that play a large part in keeping our ecosystem healthy. This hike will be led by Wehr Nature Center Naturalist, Brooke Gilley.

Suburban Soles 2020 – “Let’s Work Together”
Sunday, August 23, 2020 – 10:00 a.m.
“Suburban Soles 2020 – “Lichen the Little Things”
GPS Grant Park Area 5 & 6

Come out and learn about the amazing plant communities and ecosystems found in Grant Park! Land Steward from Urban Ecology Center, Jeff Veglahn, will lead you on a walk through Seven Bridges where you will learn about the plant communities, ecosystems, and the plants and trees that you will find there. Rain or shine, we’ll still enjoy a nice Sunday hike! Hope to see you on August 23rd!

Suburban Soles 2020 – “Leave it to Trees”
Sunday, September 13, 2020 – 10:00 a.m.
“Suburban Soles 2020 – “Lichen the Little Things”
GPS Grant Park Area 5 & 6

Follow Mike Wendt, retired Arboriculture Instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College and self-titled Tree Geek around the park to gain insights into our woody friends. This guided walk will include fool-proof ways to identify different trees, and how trees can be successfully used in landscapes. Got questions about trees, what’s bothering them, or what’s that tree in YOUR yard? Bring a twig sample to the talk. Mike guarantees a minimum of 100 tree trivia facts during the walk, and warns participants that tree enthusiasm can be contagious!

Suburban Soles 2020 – “Meet Your Wild Neighbors”
Sunday, September 27, 2020 – 10:00 a.m.
“Suburban Soles 2020 – “Lichen the Little Things”
601 Milwaukee Ave

Urban wildlife abounds throughout Milwaukee County, and Grant Park is lucky enough to enjoy a wide variety of urban mammals. Join DNR’s Milwaukee County Wildlife Biologist Dianne Robinson to discuss our wildlife neighbors. Learn how to coexist with these urban critters, even when they are a nuisance.