Aldo Leopold Nature Center

Aldo Leopold Nature Center Connecting kids & families with nature through fun, hands‑on education and free trails in Monona, WI.
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It is one thing to lead, but another to nurture – and the Aldo Leopold Nature Center does both. Through its programs and approach to education, ALNC provides a safe and positive environment for children and their families to explore the natural world – together. Whether it be discovering how tadpoles grow into frogs; investigating the variety of grasses in a prairie, or quietly soaking up the beau

ty of a summer sunset, ALNC provides an opportunity for children to connect to the land – to discover their own answers to life’s big questions and to create the relationships that will serve them for the remainder of their lives. Experiences at ALNC teach children the subtle, yet profound, lessons learned through nature. Our approach is grounded in Aldo Leopold’s philosophy: “...teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands.” Our work is experiential and hands-on -- teaching students to slow down, to rediscover their own senses, and to use those senses in uncovering the environment around them. We hope you will join us as we educate and engage current and future generations, empowering them to respect, protect, and enjoy the natural world. We want today’s children to become responsible stewards of the land and healthy, confident leaders in a sustainable future.

A big thank you to Conscious Discipline for leading a fantastic workshop for Nature Center staff and fellow educators in...
09/03/2026

A big thank you to Conscious Discipline for leading a fantastic workshop for Nature Center staff and fellow educators in our community! Trainings like this give our team more tools to create safe, welcoming spaces for children.

We’re also grateful to the American Camp Association for helping make this workshop possible through the Character at Camp grant program. Thank you for investing in the educators who help kids build character traits such as confidence, curiosity, and kindness.

Conscious Discipline® American Camp Association

🌿 We’re hiring a Communications Intern for the 2026–27 school year! 🌿The Aldo Leopold Nature Center is seeking an outgoi...
09/03/2026

🌿 We’re hiring a Communications Intern for the 2026–27 school year! 🌿

The Aldo Leopold Nature Center is seeking an outgoing, energetic, and adaptable intern to join our Development & Communications team. This role will support a variety of projects focused on digital communications, outreach, and public engagement.

Learn more and apply by Sunday, September 13:https://aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-27-Communications-Intern.pdf

The first day of Nature Preschool came with a few tears, but our Environmental Educators had plenty of tricks up their s...
09/02/2026

The first day of Nature Preschool came with a few tears, but our Environmental Educators had plenty of tricks up their sleeves to keep little hands and minds busy! 🌿

From blowing bubbles to building dinosaur sandcastles, cooking in the mud kitchen, and observing tiny critters, there was plenty to explore on day one. And this is just the beginning! We’re looking forward to a year filled with fun outdoor adventures.

Photos: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center

09/01/2026

Butterflies are also visiting ALNC’s hummingbird feeder!

This Eastern Comma gets its name from the distinctive silver marking on the brown underside of its hindwings. The curved mark resembles a comma!

Eastern Commas are often confused with Question Mark butterflies, which look very similar. The key difference is in the silver marking: the Eastern Comma has a single curved mark, while the Question Mark has a curved line and a separate dot, resembling a question mark.

Who knew butterfly identification could be such a grammatical conundrum!

Video: Bird Buddy, Aldo Leopold Nature Center

Introducing the Touch Mystery Box! Our new craft activity challenges children to use only their sense of touch to help i...
08/29/2026

Introducing the Touch Mystery Box! Our new craft activity challenges children to use only their sense of touch to help identify objects found in nature.

Sometimes, it might seem a little scary to reach into a dark box without knowing what might lie inside. Not only does this activity help children make inferences based on their sense of touch, but it also encourages them to be brave!

Find the instructions here:https://aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/ALNC-Activity-Touch-Mystery-Box.pdf

“Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless.” —Thomas EdisonWhat does Thomas ...
08/28/2026

“Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless.” —Thomas Edison

What does Thomas Edison have to do with goldenrod, pictured above? More than you might think!

In the late 1920s, Edison searched for a plant that could provide a domestic source of rubber in the wake of Henry Ford’s and Harvey Firestone’s automotive inventions. One of his most promising candidates was goldenrod. He even cultivated plants that grew up to 12 feet tall!

Edison died in 1931 before his experiments produced a goldenrod tire, but his connection to the plant lives on in Solidago edisoniana, a species named in his honor.

Goldenrod tires never hit the road—but goldenrod is putting on quite a show in our prairie. Come see it for yourself!

Photo: Jamie Kollman, Aldo Leopold Nature Center

Look closely. Only the strongest pollinators can enter this bloom!Cream gentian is a native Wisconsin perennial that blo...
08/28/2026

Look closely. Only the strongest pollinators can enter this bloom!

Cream gentian is a native Wisconsin perennial that blooms in late summer, and its pale, tightly closed flowers are now appearing in our prairie.

Bumble bees are its primary pollinators and among the few insects strong enough to push through the flower’s small opening. Once inside, they rub against the anthers to collect pollen before shimmying their way back out.

Cream gentian thrives in sunny places with moderately moist soil, but it is uncommon in parts of its range. So when we find one, we admire it closely and then leave it be!

Photo: Jamie Kollman, Aldo Leopold Nature Center

A moment of appreciation and gratitude for our mighty Environmental Educators who worked so hard throughout this year’s ...
08/28/2026

A moment of appreciation and gratitude for our mighty Environmental Educators who worked so hard throughout this year’s summer camp!

Thank you for all the effort you put into creating positive experiences for summer campers. From the creativity that went into preparing crafts, to learning campers’ names, adapting to unexpected situations, answering all the questions, and making camp a fun, safe, and engaging place to learn about nature, your hard work makes a difference.

Aldo Leopold Nature Center would not be the organization it is today without you. We are so grateful for everything you do.

Shoutout to all the Environmental Educators out there!

Photos: Jamie Kollman, Aldo Leopold Nature Center

08/26/2026

The countdown to the first day of Aldo Leopold Nature Preschool is on! 🌿

Our staff are busy preparing learning spaces, completing training and taking part in professional development before school begins on September 1. We can’t wait to welcome our preschoolers, parents, volunteers and staff for a new year of outdoor exploration, learning and discovery!

Video: Jamie Kollman, Aldo Leopold Nature Center

The Wonder Bugs explored all the rocky trails of the Nature Center!The children learned that rocks are like cookies: the...
08/26/2026

The Wonder Bugs explored all the rocky trails of the Nature Center!

The children learned that rocks are like cookies: they are made of different ingredients and take their shape through changes in pressure and temperature. The group went on a hike and stopped at the famous jumping/sliding rock! Then, they headed into the Basswood Forest, where they hopped from rock to rock and played with the mud kitchen.

Back in the classroom, each Wonder Bug got a bag of rocks and tools for scientific exploration. They sorted the rocks by size, color, and texture. They also used water and magnifying glasses to take a closer look at their discoveries.

What a rock-solid session full of experimentation and, of course, fun play, including rolling and stacking rocks!

Photos: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center

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330 Femrite Drive
Monona, WI
53716

Telephone

+16082210404

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