For the City Times

Celebrate spring this April by learning about the plants, animals and people of Portage County through free, public programs at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Schmeeckle Reserve.

Taught by UW-Stevens Point students, the programs are offered at the reserve’s Visitor Center, 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, unless otherwise noted. Dress for the weather. For more information, call 715-346-4992 or go to www.uwsp.edu/cnr/schmeeckle.

April programs include:

· Welcome Home, Woodcock! Saturday, April 1, 1-2 PM. Also known as the timberdoodle, the American woodcock has returned from migration. Help Schmeeckle Reserve staff attract this bird to the Visitor Center.

· Temperatures a Rising, Ducks a Flying, Saturday, April 8, 11 AM -noon. Find out which duck is most like you as you meet some along the Wisconsin River. Meet at the Pfiffner Pioneer Park band shell.

· April Showers Delight, Thursday, April 13, 6-7 PM. Learn more about the plants and flowers of Schmeeckle Reserve and how they provide a home and food for local animals.

· Healing Powers of Forests, Saturday, April 15, 11 AM -noon. Unearth the many healing properties of the woods in Schmeeckle Reserve.

· Flies and Bees and Wasps, Oh My! Sunday, April 23, 1-2 PM. Explore the differences and similarities between Wisconsin flies, bees and wasps then hike through the reserve to find these insects at work.

· Where Does Your Food Come From? Thursday, April 27, 6-7 PM. Dig into central Wisconsin’s agricultural roots and explore the farming practices of today. Activities for all ages will inspire the farmer in each of us.

· From Tadpole to Toad, Sunday, April 30, 1-2 PM. Meet Jeffrey the wood frog and listen and call for his vocal friends.