Registration includes entrance to the Aldo Leopold Foundation and International Crane Foundation, as well as events at each site, including presentations and tours of the Cranes of the World and Leopold Shack. Additional registration is required for add-on events, including crane viewing tours and workshops.

Saturday, November 15, 2025

International Crane Foundation Events

• All Day Events and Activities
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Self-Guided Crane Discovery Center and Migration Center Exhibit Tours
  • George Archibald Welcome Center and Gift Shop
  • Stop by the Welcome Center’s Sandhill Crane Viewing Room for a book signing by our Co-Founder Dr. George Archibald (times when George is there may vary)
  • Craft and Activities Table in the Migration Center
  • Stop by the Migration Center and enjoy crane-focused crafts and activities. Fun for all ages!
  • Self-Guided Nature Trail Walks: Sauey Birding Loop, Deedee’s Wetland Trail, Prairie Loop, Stedman Landscape Loop, Branch Family Trail
  • Food Trucks: Banzo Mediterranean & RMN Mini Donuts and Drinks
    
    
• Opening Remarks with President and CEO Dr. Rich Beilfuss
  8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
  George Archibald Welcome Center Theater
  
• Guided Prairie Walk
  9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
  Branch Family Trailhead
  
  Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. Tour groups will learn about the history of the site, the continued efforts to restore native vegetation, the process of prairie restoration, and how a farmstead was transformed into the landscape that we see today. Your guide will discuss the lessons learned along the way, provide practical information on prairie plants, and outline the restoration projects we’re looking forward to in the future. The total walking distance will be around 0.5 miles. Please note that scooters, wheelchairs, bicycles, and strollers are not allowed on the trails.
  
• Crane Discovery Center Guided Tour
  Theme: Crane Behavior 101
  9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
  Meet behind the George Archibald Welcome Center
  
  This guided tour offers the chance to learn about complex crane behavior, including the basics of crane anatomy, how to identify different behaviors, the practice of costume-rearing crane chicks, and stories about the International Crane Foundation’s work worldwide.
  
• “Behind the Scenes of Crane Conservation Medicine” with Director of Conservation Medicine Dr. Diana Boon
  11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  Ron Sauey Memorial Library
  
• Keeper Chat
  11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  Wattled Crane Amphitheater
  
  Learn about the behind-the-scenes of daily crane care and upkeep, what our Crane Conservation Department does, and hear about the different species in the International Crane Foundation’s crane flock. Questions are encouraged!
  
• “How Birds Fly: The Science and Art of Avian Flight” with Peter Cavanagh
  12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
  Ron Sauey Memorial Library
  
  Peter Cavanagh Author Book Signing and Meet & Greet
  1:30 – 2 p.m.
  George Archibald Welcome Center Gift Shop
  
• Crane Discovery Center Guided Tour
  Theme: Cranes in Folklore
  12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
  Meet behind the George Archibald Welcome Center
  
• Mindful Moments Workshop: Connecting with Cranes and Ourselves with Roger Reynolds
  12:30 – 2 p.m.
  Meet in the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater
  *Add-on event, $45 pre-registration required
  
• “Lessons in Crane Conservation Worldwide” with Jeb Barzen
  2 – 3 p.m.
  Ron Sauey Memorial Library
  
• Guided Prairie Walk
  2 – 3 p.m.
  Branch Family Trailhead
  
  Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. Tour groups will learn about the history of the site, the continued efforts to restore native vegetation, the process of prairie restoration, and how a farmstead was transformed into the landscape that we see today. Your guide will discuss the lessons learned along the way, provide practical information on prairie plants, and outline the restoration projects we’re looking forward to in the future. The total walking distance will be around 0.5 miles. Please note that scooters, wheelchairs, bicycles, and strollers are not allowed on the trails.
  
• Keeper Chat
  2:15 – 3 p.m.
  Wattled Crane Amphitheater
  
  Learn about the behind-the-scenes of daily crane care and upkeep, what our Crane Conservation Department does, and hear about the different species in the International Crane Foundation’s crane flock. Questions are encouraged!
  
• Bird Funerals: Painting Ecological Change – An Artist Presentation by Vesper Rothberg
  3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
  George Archibald Welcome Center Theater
  
• Crane Discovery Center Guided Tour
  Theme: North American Cranes
  3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
  Meet behind the George Archibald Welcome Center
  
  This guided Cranes of the World tour offers the chance to learn about the two North American Crane species and their unique natural histories, as well as their recovery from low population numbers. Participants will learn about the history and ecology of Sandhill and Whooping Cranes, the importance of wetlands, and how international cooperation is used to protect vital crane ecosystems.
  
• Foundations close at 4:30 p.m.
  
  *If you plan to attend a crane viewing tour in the evening, please do not leave your car parked at the International Crane Foundation. You will not be able to collect your car after 5 p.m.

 

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Aldo Leopold Foundation Events

• All Day Events and Activities
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Explore a National Historic Landmark, the Leopold Shack and Farm. Open all day with rotating docents. | Join thousands from around the world who visit the Shack and its signature landscape every year! It is here at the Shack where the Leopolds’ love for nature and their conservation ambitions played out as a working experiment to live a land ethic. Discover a new way to connect with nature and the historic Leopold family Shack through a self-guided tour experience. Explore the Shack and its surrounding landscapes by scanning the QR codes at various tour stops. Visitors will meander amongst the historic landscape with the added bonus of an inside look at the Shack and farm.
  • Food Vendors: Las Milpas Restaurant and Cub Scout Pack 70
    
• Sunrise Crane Field Lecture
  6 – 8 a.m.
  *add-on event, $55 pre-registration required
  
• Opening Remarks by Executive Director Buddy Huffaker
  8:30 – 9 a.m.
  Lecture Hall
  
• Hoo’s Woods Live Raptor Lecture #1
  9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
  Lecture Hall
  
• Guided Nature Hike with Leopold Foundation Stewardship Staff
  10 – 11 a.m.
  
  Bring your questions and join the Leopold Foundation’s seasoned naturalists for a one-mile guided walking tour of our Prairie Vista loop Trail. Whether a first-time visitor or a regular patron, participants will enjoy the scenery of our restored oak savanna and tallgrass prairie, some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. This guided nature hike is a great way to learn more about the work of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the land, plants, animals, phenology, ecology, and the Land Ethic.
  
  Note: This one-mile hike could be strenuous for some, as it will be through varied terrain on improved hiking trails. Please arrive dressed for the appropriate weather conditions of the day.
  
• Guided Shack Tour Led by Leopold Foundation Docents
  11 a.m.  – 12:30 p.m.
  Meet at The Shack
  
  The landscape surrounding the Shack was the primary inspiration for Aldo Leopold’s essays in A Sand County Almanac and continues to be a living classroom for exploring ecological relationships and conservation history. Hear the stories about the pioneering restoration work initiated by Leopold and his family, experience the inside of the Shack, stroll through the second oldest restored prairie in the world, and enjoy the historic woods along the Wisconsin River led by the Leopold Foundation’s exceptionally knowledgeable guides!
  
• Hoo’s Woods Live Raptor Lecture #2
  11 – 11:45 a.m.
  Lecture Hall
  
• Guided Nature Hike with Leopold Foundation Stewardship Staff
  12 – 1 p.m.
  
  Bring your questions and join the Leopold Foundation’s seasoned naturalists for a one-mile guided walking tour of our Prairie Vista loop Trail. Whether a first-time visitor or a regular patron, participants will enjoy the scenery of our restored oak savanna and tallgrass prairie, some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. This guided nature hike is a great way to learn more about the work of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the land, plants, animals, phenology, ecology, and the Land Ethic.
  
  Note: This one-mile hike could be strenuous for some, as it will be through varied terrain on improved hiking trails. Please arrive dressed for the appropriate weather conditions of the day.
  
• “The Passenger Pigeon: Lessons from the Past for Bird Conservation” With Senior Fellow Dr. Stan Temple
  12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
  Lecture Hall
  
• Guided Crane Congregation Tours beginning with a presentation from Senior Fellow Dr. Stan Temple in the Lecture Hall
  2 – 5 p.m.
  West Blind, Seed Hall, and Riverside Farms
  *add on event, pre-registration required
  
• Green Building Tour of the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
  2 – 3 p.m.
  Aldo Leopold Legacy Center Foyer
  
  Take an inspirational tour of one of the greenest buildings in the world and discover how this building continues to honor Leopold’s legacy and the Land Ethic. Using materials harvested locally from the Leopold-Pines Conservation Area, the Leopold Foundation sought to construct a building that reflected Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic. By striving to exemplify the Land Ethic, the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center was awarded Platinum Certification, 61 out of a possible 69 points in its Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification. At the time it was awarded in October 2007, it was the highest certification that had ever been handed out by the U.S. Green Building Council. Join us in learning about the building’s features, such as geothermal earth tubes, radiant floor heating, forward-thinking design, and art from local artists.
  
• Sunset Crane Field Lecture
  3 – 5 p.m.
  *add-on event, $55 pre-registration required
  
• “A Sense Sublime” with Glory-June Greiff
  3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  Lecture Hall

Sunday, November 16, 2025

International Crane Foundation Events

• All Day Events and Activities
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Self-Guided Crane Discovery Center and Migration Center Exhibit Tours
  • George Archibald Welcome Center and Gift Shop
  • Stop by the Welcome Center’s Sandhill Crane Viewing Room for a book signing by our Co-Founder Dr. George Archibald (times when George is there may vary)
  • Craft and Activities Table in the Migration Center
  • Stop by the Migration Center and enjoy crane-focused crafts and activities. Fun for all ages!
  • Self-Guided Nature Trail Walks: Sauey Birding Loop, Deedee’s Wetland Trail, Prairie Loop, Stedman Landscape Loop, Branch Family Trail
  • Food Trucks: Banzo Mediterranean & RMN Mini Donuts and Drinks
    
• Guided Prairie Walk
  9 – 10 a.m.
  Meet at the Branch Family Trailhead
  
  Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. Tour groups will learn about the history of the site, the continued efforts to restore native vegetation, the process of prairie restoration, and how a farmstead was transformed into the landscape that we see today. Your guide will discuss the lessons learned along the way, provide practical information on prairie plants, and outline the restoration projects we’re looking forward to in the future. The total walking distance will be around 0.5 miles. Please note that scooters, wheelchairs, bicycles, and strollers are not allowed on the trails.
  
• Crane Discovery Center Guided Tour
  Theme: North American Cranes
  9 – 10 a.m.
  Meet behind the George Archibald Welcome Center
  
  North American Cranes: This guided Cranes of the World tour offers the chance to learn about the two North American Crane species and their unique natural histories, as well as their recovery from low population numbers. Participants will learn about the history and ecology of Sandhill and Whooping Cranes, the importance of wetlands, and how international cooperation is used to protect vital crane ecosystems.
  
• “The International Crane Foundation’s 10-Year Vision for Cranes and So Much More” with President and CEO Dr. Rich Beilfuss
  10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
  Ron Sauey Memorial Library
  
• Keeper Chat
  10:15 – 11:10 a.m.
  Wattled Crane Amphitheater
  
  Learn about the behind-the-scenes of daily crane care and upkeep, what our Crane Conservation Department does, and hear about the different species in the International Crane Foundation’s crane flock. Questions are encouraged!
  
• Crane Discovery Center Guided Tour
  Theme: Cranes in Folklore
  11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  Meet behind the George Archibald Welcome Center
  
• “Birds of the Great Lakes Lecture and Author Presentation” with Dexter Patterson
  11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  George Archibald Welcome Center Theater
  
  Dexter Patterson Book Signing and Meet & Greet
  12:30 – 1 p.m.
  George Archibald Welcome Center Gift Shop
  
• Observing Whooping Cranes: Hands-on Drawing and Anatomy Workshop with Vesper Rothberg
  12:45 – 2 p.m.
  Ron Sauey Memorial Library
  
• Mindful Moments Workshop: Connecting with Cranes and Ourselves with Roger Reynolds
  12:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
  George Archibald Welcome Center Theater
  *add-on event, $45 pre-registration required
  
• Keeper Chat
  1:15 – 2 p.m.
  Wattled Crane Amphitheater
  
  Learn about the behind-the-scenes of daily crane care and upkeep, what our Crane Conservation Department does, and hear about the different species in the International Crane Foundation’s crane flock. Questions are encouraged!
  
• Guided Prairie Walk
  2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
  Meet at the Branch Family Trailhead
  
  Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. Tour groups will learn about the history of the site, the continued efforts to restore native vegetation, the process of prairie restoration, and how a farmstead was transformed into the landscape that we see today. Your guide will discuss the lessons learned along the way, provide practical information on prairie plants, and outline the restoration projects we’re looking forward to in the future. The total walking distance will be around 0.5 miles. Please note that scooters, wheelchairs, bicycles, and strollers are not allowed on the trails.
  
• “Reintroducing Whooping Cranes in Wisconsin” with Whooping Crane Biologist Nicki Gordon
  2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
  Ron Sauey Memorial Library
  
• Tiny Heroes, Giant Flights: A Crane-Inspired Story and Puppet Workshop
  2:45 – 3:30 p.m.
  George Archibald Welcome Center Theater
  
• Crane Discovery Center Guided Tour
  Theme: Crane Behavior 101
  3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  Meet behind the George Archibald Welcome Center
  
  This guided tour offers the chance to learn about complex crane behavior, including the basics of crane anatomy, how to identify different behaviors, the practice of costume-rearing crane chicks, and stories about the International Crane Foundation’s work worldwide.
  
• Foundations close at 4:30 p.m.
  
  *If you plan to attend a crane viewing tour in the evening, please do not leave your car parked at the International Crane Foundation. You will not be able to collect your car after 5 p.m.
  
  
  

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Aldo Leopold Foundation Events

• All Day Events and Activities
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Explore a National Historic Landmark, the Leopold Shack and Farm. Open all day with rotating docents. | Join thousands from around the world who visit the Shack and its signature landscape every year! It is here at the Shack where the Leopolds’ love for nature and their conservation ambitions played out as a working experiment to live a land ethic. Discover a new way to connect with nature and the historic Leopold family Shack through a self-guided tour experience. Explore the Shack and its surrounding landscapes by scanning the QR codes at various tour stops. Visitors will meander amongst the historic landscape with the added bonus of an inside look at the Shack and farm.
  • Food Vendors: Las Milpas Restaurant and Cub Scout Pack 70
    
• Sunrise Crane Field Lecture
  6 – 8 a.m.
  *add-on event, $55 pre-registration required
  
• Guided Nature Hike with Leopold Foundation Stewardship Staff
  10 – 11 a.m.
  
  Bring your questions and join the Leopold Foundation’s seasoned naturalists for a one-mile guided walking tour of our Prairie Vista loop Trail. Whether a first-time visitor or a regular patron, participants will enjoy the scenery of our restored oak savanna and tallgrass prairie, some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. This guided nature hike is a great way to learn more about the work of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the land, plants, animals, phenology, ecology, and the Land Ethic.
  
  Note: This one-mile hike could be strenuous for some, as it will be through varied terrain on improved hiking trails. Please arrive dressed for the appropriate weather conditions of the day.
  
• “Owls, Designed for Darkness” Live Raptor Program by Schlitz Audubon #1
  10 – 11 a.m.
  Lecture Hall
  
• Guided Shack Tour Led by Leopold Foundation Docents
  11 a.m.  – 12:30 p.m.
  Meet at the Shack
  
  The landscape surrounding the Shack was the primary inspiration for Aldo Leopold’s essays in A Sand County Almanac and continues to be a living classroom for exploring ecological relationships and conservation history. Hear the stories about the pioneering restoration work initiated by Leopold and his family, experience the inside of the Shack, stroll through the second oldest restored prairie in the world, and enjoy the historic woods along the Wisconsin River led by the Leopold Foundation’s exceptionally knowledgeable guides!
  
• “Owls, Designed for Darkness” Live Raptor Program by Schlitz Audubon #2
  11:30 a.m.  – 12:30 p.m.
  Lecture Hall
  
• Guided Nature Hike with Leopold Foundation Stewardship Staff
  12 – 1 p.m.
  
  Bring your questions and join the Leopold Foundation’s seasoned naturalists for a one-mile guided walking tour of our Prairie Vista loop Trail. Whether a first-time visitor or a regular patron, participants will enjoy the scenery of our restored oak savanna and tallgrass prairie, some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. This guided nature hike is a great way to learn more about the work of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the land, plants, animals, phenology, ecology, and the Land Ethic.
  
  Note: This one-mile hike could be strenuous for some, as it will be through varied terrain on improved hiking trails. Please arrive dressed for the appropriate weather conditions of the day.
  
• “Why are Birds so Important in Conservation History?” with Senior Fellow Dr. Stan Temple
  1 – 1:45 p.m.
  Lecture Hall
  
• Guided Crane Congregation Tours
  Starting with a presentation from Senior Fellow Dr. Stan Temple in the Lecture Hall
  2 – 5 p.m.
  
• West Blind, Lecture Hall, and Riverside Farms
  *add-on event, pre-registration required
  
• Green Building Tour of the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
  2 – 3 p.m.
  Aldo Leopold Legacy Center Foyer
  
  Take an inspirational tour of one of the greenest buildings in the world and discover how this building continues to honor Leopold’s legacy and the Land Ethic. Using materials harvested locally from the Leopold-Pines Conservation Area, the Leopold Foundation sought to construct a building that reflected Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic. By striving to exemplify the Land Ethic, the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center was awarded Platinum Certification, 61 out of a possible 69 points in its Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification. At the time it was awarded in October 2007, it was the highest certification that had ever been handed out by the U.S. Green Building Council. Join us in learning about the building’s features, such as geothermal earth tubes, radiant floor heating, forward-thinking design, and art from local artists.
  
• Getting Started in Nature Journaling with Kathy Devries!
  3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
  Lecture Hall, Aldo Leopold Foundation
  
  Take a break, slow down, and get curious about the everyday wonder and beauty around you. Explore the practice of Nature Journaling by collecting and recording your observations, questions, and explanations in a notebook. This indoor workshop features a variety of cool Wisconsin nature specimens to explore, along with a complimentary nature journal to get started.  You do not need to be an artist or a naturalist to begin nature journaling. Just bring your enthusiasm and curiosity!
  
• Sunset Crane Field Lecture
  3 – 5 p.m.
  *add-on event, $55 pre-registration required