Guided Cranes of the World Tour – Crane Behavior 101 | 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

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.

Included in festival registration.

Guided Prairie Walk | 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

Meet at the Branch Family Trailhead, International Crane Foundation

Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. The trails cover a diverse landscape that reflects over 30 years of restoration efforts. Guests will experience a variety of native ecosystems, including oak savanna, native prairie and wetlands, while learning about the site’s restoration and land management.

Included in festival registration.

Ho-Chunk Storytelling – History & Culture with Bill Quackenbush | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Three Seasons Classroom, Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Join Bill Quackenbush, Tribal Historic Preservation Office for the Ho-Chunk Nation, for his presentation on storytelling, a critical component of American Indian culture. Through stories, community history and values are passed on, forging vital connections between the past and present and charting a course for the future. Storytelling is a fundamental human activity grounding people in place and culture. It reminds us of those inextricable ties to the land, our own wild nature and who we are as individuals and communities.

Included in festival registration | Arrive early for presentation, as capacity is limited to 60.

Wildlife Photography – Taking Your Photos From Bland to Grand with John Van Den Brandt | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

Whether you are a serious photographer or a novice point and shooter, Wildlife Photographer John Van Den Brandt can help you take your wildlife photography from bland to grand. This seminar is packed with tips that will immediately improve your wildlife shots and will help you become a more fluid and instinctive wildlife photographer, from image conceptualization to field tactics. John’s presentations are known for their solid, practical information, humor, and of course, breathtaking images.

$25 per person | Registration is required | Limited to 40 participants.

Guided Cranes of the World Tour – North American Cranes | 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.

Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

This tour focuses on the two North American cranes – the Sandhill and Whooping Crane – their unique natural histories and recovery from low population numbers. Participants will learn about the history and ecology of both species, the importance of wetlands, and how international cooperation is used to protect vital crane habitats.

Included in festival registration.

Evening Crane Congregation Tour | 2 to 5:30 p.m.

Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

The experience will begin with a presentation from world-renowned bird expert Dr. Stan Temple, Senior Fellow at the Aldo Leopold Foundation and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The presentation will orient participants to the history and behaviors of Sandhill Cranes. An open-air, rustic ride through the floodplain will bring guests within a short walk of the large viewing blind situated on the bank of the Wisconsin River within the Leopold-Pine Island Important Bird Area. The blind affords ample space to observe the incredible phenomenon of congregating cranes.

$100 per person | Registration is required | Limited to 22 participants.

If you’re interested in joining the waitlist for this event, please contact Eric Snyder. The Aldo Leopold Foundation is also offering regular guided tours beginning in mid-November through early December 2022. Learn more about these tours here.

Shack Tour | 2:45 to 4:15 p.m.

Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Visit the historic Shack and hear the stories about the pioneering restoration work initiated by Aldo Leopold and his family. Experience the inside of the Shack, and stroll through restored prairie and woods along the Wisconsin River.

Included in festival registration.

Guided Sunset Crane Viewing Tour | 3 to 5 p.m.

Check-in at Ho-Chunk Gaming parking lot.

During this guided sunset crane viewing tour, witness the marvel of cranes in their natural fall staging areas. This two-hour tour provides the chance to see flocks of cranes flying overhead and feeding in nearby agricultural fields. In addition, tour guides will provide information on crane behavior and migration during the short bus ride to the viewing site. Viewing tents will be set up at the tour site; please note that standing will be required, and to dress warmly if needed.

$50 per participant | Registration is required | Limited to 54 participants.

If you’re interested in joining the waitlist for this event, please contact Eric Snyder.

Guided Prairie Walk | 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.

Meet at the Branch Family Trailhead, International Crane Foundation

Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. The trails cover a diverse landscape that reflects over 30 years of restoration efforts. Guests will experience a variety of native ecosystems, including oak savanna, native prairie and wetlands, while learning about the site’s restoration and land management.

Included in festival registration.

Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time | 6:30 to 8 p.m.

RG Brown Theatre, UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County

The first full-length documentary film ever made about legendary conservation thinker Aldo Leopold, Green Fire explores Leopold’s extraordinary career and enduring influence. The film traces how Leopold shaped the modern conservation movement and continues to inspire projects all over the country that connect people and the land.

Included in festival registration.

Saturday | November 12

Guided Sunrise Crane Viewing Tour | 6 to 8 a.m.

Check-in at Ho-Chunk Gaming parking lot.

During this guided sunrise crane viewing tour, witness the marvel of cranes in their natural fall staging areas. This two-hour tour provides the chance to see flocks of cranes flying overhead and feeding in nearby agricultural fields. In addition, tour guides will provide information on crane behavior and migration during the short bus ride to the viewing site. Viewing tents will be set up at the tour site; please note that standing will be required, and to dress warmly if needed.

$50 per participant | Registration is required | Limited to 54 participants.

If you’re interested in joining the waitlist for this event, please contact Eric Snyder.

Visit the International Crane Foundation & Aldo Leopold Foundation headquarters | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Exhibits
• Nature trails
• Gift shops
• Food trucks
• Spirit Lake Arts crane art gallery at both sites

Included in festival registration.

Self-led Crane Viewing Tour – Duhr Riverview West Sandbar | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Trailhead across from the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Festival attendees visiting the Aldo Leopold Foundation headquarters can walk a newly created path to the Wisconsin River to view a historic roosting sand bar used by Sandhill Cranes. Please note that cranes will likely not be seen during midday hours.

Included in festival registration.

The Love, Laughter, and Tears of Caring for Egglets – Crane Egg and Incubation Management at the International Crane Foundation with Cynthia Gitter | 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.

Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

It’s obvious that crane chicks require a lot of care and attention to grow big and strong, but what about the care they need before they hatch? What about the egglet? What secrets are there to help the egg grow and hatch out successfully? Join Assistant Curator of Birds Cynthia Gitter as she shares the love, laughter and tears of the International Crane Foundation’s incubation management program.

Included in festival registration | Arrive early for presentation, as capacity is limited to 40.

Guided Prairie Walk | 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Meet at the Branch Family Trailhead, International Crane Foundation

Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. The trails cover a diverse landscape that reflects over 30 years of restoration efforts. Guests will experience a variety of native ecosystems, including oak savanna, native prairie and wetlands, while learning about the site’s restoration and land management.

Included in festival registration.

Guided Cranes of the World Tour – North American Cranes | 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

This tour focuses on the two North American cranes – the Sandhill and Whooping Crane – their unique natural histories and recovery from low population numbers. Participants will learn about the history and ecology of both species, the importance of wetlands, and how international cooperation is used to protect vital crane habitats.

Included in festival registration.

Shack Tour | 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Visit the historic Shack and hear the stories about the pioneering restoration work initiated by Aldo Leopold and his family. Experience the inside of the Shack, and stroll through restored prairie and woods along the Wisconsin River.

Included in festival registration.

What Are Cranes Thinking?! Translating the Behaviors of Cranes in the Field with Anne Lacy | 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

Have you ever wondered what cranes are thinking when you observe them? Cranes don’t shy away from showing how they feel. Across the globe, cranes yield amazing behaviors during breeding and nonbreeding seasons, and most of these displays allow them to communicate with their mates, other cranes and encroaching predators. In this presentation, Anne Lacy, International Crane Foundation Senior Manager – North America Program, will dive into the idiosyncrasies of crane behavior, both familiar and obscure. The presentation will equip you with the field skills to decipher crane behavior as you observe flocks in their fall staging areas.

Included in festival registration | Arrive early for presentation, as capacity is limited to 40.

Guided Cranes of the World Tour – Crane Behavior 101 | 11 a.m. to Noon

Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

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.

Included in festival registration.

From Wisconsin to the World – Cranes, Communities and Conservation with Rich Beilfuss | Noon to 1 p.m.

Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

Learn about the importance of global crane conservation and its beneficial impacts on local Wisconsin communities and the countries that cranes call home across the globe. President & CEO of the International Crane Foundation Dr. Rich Beilfuss will discuss the Foundation’s mission to secure all 15 crane species and how crane conservation can lead to restored landscapes, waterways, flyways and more sustainable livelihoods in communities worldwide.

Included in festival registration | Arrive early for presentation, as capacity is limited to 40.

Guided Prairie Walk | 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

Meet at the Branch Family Trailhead, International Crane Foundation

Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. The trails cover a diverse landscape that reflects over 30 years of restoration efforts. Guests will experience a variety of native ecosystems, including oak savanna, native prairie and wetlands, while learning about the site’s restoration and land management.

Included in festival registration.

Shack Tour | 1:15 to 2:45 p.m.

Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Visit the historic Shack and hear the stories about the pioneering restoration work initiated by Aldo Leopold and his family. Experience the inside of the Shack, and stroll through restored prairie and woods along the Wisconsin River.

Included in festival registration.

Improving Your Image: 20 Tips for Better Wildlife Photography with John Van Den Brandt | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

John Van Den Brandt of Wild Wind Images presents 20 practical tips you can immediately employ to increase your chances of capturing that wildlife shot of a lifetime. The seminar includes John’s stunning images, many of which have appeared in his nationally distributed calendars. John is known for packing useful information into his classes while entertaining participants and illustrating his points with humor and stories from afield. Whether you are a novice photographer or a serious shooter, you’ll leave this seminar excited to try new strategies and tips for getting closer to wildlife and creating more dramatic, high-impact images.

$25 per person | Registration is required | Limited to 40 participants.

Guided Cranes of the World Tour – North American Cranes | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

This tour focuses on the two North American cranes – the Sandhill and Whooping Crane – their unique natural histories and recovery from low population numbers. Participants will learn about the history and ecology of both species, the importance of wetlands, and how international cooperation is used to protect vital crane habitats.

Included in festival registration.

Evening Crane Congregation Tour | 2 to 5:30 p.m.

Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

The experience will begin with a presentation from world-renowned bird expert Dr. Stan Temple, Senior Fellow at the Aldo Leopold Foundation and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The presentation will orient participants to the history and behaviors of Sandhill Cranes. An open-air, rustic ride through the floodplain will bring guests within a short walk of the large viewing blind situated on the bank of the Wisconsin River within the Leopold-Pine Island Important Bird Area. The blind affords ample space to observe the incredible phenomenon of congregating cranes.

$100 per person | Registration is required | Limited to 22 participants.

If you’re interested in joining the waitlist for this event, please contact Eric Snyder. The Aldo Leopold Foundation is also offering regular guided tours beginning in mid-November through early December 2022. Learn more about these tours here.

Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethics – The Product of Perspective with Steve Swenson | 3 to 4 p.m.

Three Seasons Classroom, Aldo Leopold Foundation

Aldo Leopold has a rich and storied background that heavily influenced the development and writing of A Sand County Almanac and “Land Ethic.” Learn more about Aldo Leopold, his life and work, and the continued legacy of the Aldo Leopold Foundation with the Aldo Leopold Foundation’s Program Director, Steve Swenson. Not only will Steve elaborate upon Aldo’s rich history, but he will highlight some of the critically important work that the Foundation does today to foster a land ethic through his legacy. Come learn more about Aldo Leopold’s history and the history of the Important Bird Area, My Wisconsin Woods and this year’s Leopold Week.

Included in festival registration | Arrive early for presentation, as capacity is limited to 60.

Guided Sunset Crane Viewing Tour | 3 to 5 p.m.

Check-in at Ho-Chunk Gaming parking lot.

During this guided sunset crane viewing tour, witness the marvel of cranes in their natural fall staging areas. This two-hour tour provides the chance to see flocks of cranes flying overhead and feeding in nearby agricultural fields. In addition, tour guides will provide information on crane behavior and migration during the short bus ride to the viewing site. Viewing tents will be set up at the tour site; please note that standing will be required, and to dress warmly if needed.

$50 per participant | Registration is required | Limited to 54 participants.

If you’re interested in joining the waitlist for this event, please contact Eric Snyder.

Guided Prairie Walk | 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Meet at the Branch Family Trailhead, International Crane Foundation

Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. The trails cover a diverse landscape that reflects over 30 years of restoration efforts. Guests will experience a variety of native ecosystems, including oak savanna, native prairie and wetlands, while learning about the site’s restoration and land management.

Included in festival registration.

Guided Cranes of the World Tour – Crane Behavior 101 | 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

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.

Included in festival registration.

Crane Song | 6:30 to 8 p.m.

RG Brown Theatre, UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County

Crane Song is a stunning visual essay about the Sandhill Crane’s migration through Nebraska. The documentary weaves together striking images and majestic sounds of the birds’ journey with stories and insights of individuals who observe these creatures, as well as landowners endeavoring to ensure a habitat that is welcoming to the cranes.

Included in festival registration.