Unleash your inner explorer and discover Ozaukee County's natural areas on June 20th. Download a passport and explore 7 natural treasure sites with scientists and naturalists. Sites include preserves, parks, waterfowl areas and recent additions to Ozaukee's internationally acclaimed program to restore and reconnect their waterways.
End your day of adventuring at the Celebration at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, north of Port Washington, where good food, music, wildlife programs, exhibits, and an exciting silent auction await you. Trade your passport for free raffle tickets.
2015 Sponsors
Junior Woman's Club of Mequon-Thiensville
WUWM
and a Besadney Conservation Foundation Grant through the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
Featured Artist: Ellen Anderson of Mequon
2015 Treasure Sites
Mequon Nature Preserve
Come and see the largest land restoration project in southeast Wisconsin! Be sure to climb the 40 foot observation tower
Blue-wing WPA
Staff from USFish & Wildlife Service and Ozaukee County will be on hand to talk about Waterfowl Production Areas and Ozaukee's Fish Passage Program. Dan Vogel will introduce you to the birds of Blue-wing.
Cedarburg Bog
Hike the half mile ADA compliant trail to beautiful Watts Lake, complete with interpretive signs. This surprising site is open from 9 to 3. A Bird Walk is offered at 9 a.m. with Tim Vargo (Urban Ecology Center bird expert,) and guided Nature Walks at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Ulao Creek Restoration
Visiting this site is a great opportunity to learn about waterway restoration and to see how this creek went from a straight ditch to a beautiful meandering stream.
Waubedonia Park
Ozaukee's Ecological and Parks Divisions staff will introduce you to the river's fish, recent Fish Passage projects and all the park's recreational amenities. If conditions permit, they will do some fish shocking and fish identification.
Covered Bridge Park
Visit the last remaining covered bridge in Wisconsin, built in 1876. Learn about and participate in ongoing water quality monitoring as you discover this romantic park, picnic area and canoe launch on Cedar Creek.
Forest Beach Migratory Preserve
Hike the trails at this 5-Star Bird Hotel. Visit the many exhibits, shop the silent auction, talk with science and outdoor expert,Tom Krueger, DNR, meet Ozaukee’s game warden, Tony Young, the Raptors of Pineview with Jeanne Lord, see artist Ellen Anderson’s Ozaukee County-themed paintings, listen to some down-home music with Steve & Friends and enjoy the food from Smokin’ Joe’s BBQ.
Organizations at Treasures of Oz 2015
Ellen Anderson Arts
Friends of the Cedarburg Bog
Friends of Harrington Beach State Park
Great Waters Group - Sierra Club
Interfaith Earth Network
Kettle Moraine YMCA/ Feith Family Ozaukee Branch
Lakeshore State Park
Mequon Nature Preserve
Riveredge Nature Center
Ozaukee County Land & Water Management
Ozaukee County Planning and Parks
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust
Pineview Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Port Fish
Port Washington Historical Society/ Port Exploreum
Purple Martin Society
Respect Our Waters
Solutions 101
Southeast Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Wellspring
Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory
Wisconsin DNR Ozaukee County Game Warden
Wisconsin Humane Society/ Ozaukee Campus
Very special thanks to:
EcoWeb Design for our website
Robin Fleming Studio for our graphic design