Fall Candlelight Hike and nature programs at UWSP’s Schmeeckle Reserve

Explore the outdoors at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Schmeeckle Reserve this fall, with the annual candlelight hike and family nature programs offered free and open to the public.

The annual Fall Candlelight Hike will be held at the reserve, 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, from 6-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24. Themed "Schmeeckle Spies: Masters of Disguise," this family-friendly event offers jack-o'-lantern and torch-lit trails, character programs at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., snacks and crafts. A donation of $4 per person or $10 per family is suggested to support future events, programs and projects of the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve.

Parking for this popular event is offered in the reserve's overflow lot and on North Point Drive, Michigan Avenue and Maria Drive. The paved Visitor Center lot is reserved for those with disabilities or other special needs.

Family nature programs, led by UW-Stevens Point natural resources students, will be offered October through December. For any questions, reach out by emailing at [email protected], calling 715-346-4992 or visiting in person at the Visitor Center. Reasonable accommodation for special needs will be made with advanced notice. Please dress for the weather.

October programming includes:

• Aiding an Ailing Schmeeckle, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6-7 p.m., (Visitor Center) - Find out how pollutants get into Schmeeckle's waters, take a short hike to examine the Reserve's marshland and become an environmental doctor to help diagnose our special natural area.
• Turning Red with Larry the Leaf, Thursday, Oct. 16, 4:30-5:30 p.m., (Green Circle Trailhead) - Discover why leaves change in the fall.
• Sheds, Scat and Scuffs - Oh Deer!, Friday, Oct. 17, 4:30-5:30 p.m., (Menzel Pavilion) - Learn how to identify signs of deer in your area.
• Wellness Walk, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2-3 p.m., (Green Circle Trailhead) - Ease your stress and anxiety by immersing yourself in Schmeeckle's ecosystems.
• Snow Birding, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2:30-3:30 p.m., (Menzel Pavilion) - Find out the hows and whys of our migrating friends' annual vacations.
• Bear Aware, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 6-7 p.m., (Visitor Center) - Investigate the adaptations needed to help bears thrive and explore a bear's toolkit for survival through hands-on investigation.
• Pine Trees: A Gateway to Life, Thursday, Oct. 30, 4:30-5:30 p.m., (Menzel Pavilion) - Take a walk through the woods to discover how people in the past used pine trees to provide for their families. Uncover how these trees can meet the needs of both humans and animals.

Learn more at www3.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/schmeeckle.