This course will take students on a guided hike of the Wintergreen Trail at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, one of the most beautiful places to spot the unique and transient spring ephemerals. We will meet at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Visitors' Center at 9am and begin our hike shortly after. Please come prepared with rain gear or other clothing that will allow you to sit on the wet ground and draw for a time. As we walk through the fields and forest, we will focus on the unique ecology of these understory plants that bloom and fade before the forest canopy leafs out. We may see skunk cabbage, hepatica, Dutchman's Breeches, and other fantastic species, taking time to draw several and record notes. Please bring the following: a small field notebook, pens, pencils & erasers, water, and a light snack. The language of this class is geared toward high school students and adults, but children are welcome to come along.
Date: Saturday, April 12
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Ages: All ages
Location: Kickapoo Valley Reserve, La Farge, WI
Instructions: Please bring rain gear for wet conditions (the ground will most certainly be wet!), pens, pencils, eraser, field notebook, water bottle and a light snack.
Sliding Scale Course Fee Guidelines (not including Materials Fees)
Supporter Level Ticket: $70
If you move through the world with financial ease and the means to fulfill many of your wants as well as your needs – you are able to eat out when you want, abundantly meet your needs through employment or can comfortably not work, have access to family wealth, own property, etc. – consider paying at this level, which will help us ensure the long term sustainability of our programs while keeping our offerings accessible to those with access to fewer resources.
Sustainer Level Ticket: $55
If you are able to meet your needs with relative ease while budgeting your educational and entertainment spending – for instance, you are able to take classes and eat out occasionally as long as you are mindful – consider paying at this level, which will help sustain the work of the Folk School at a modest level.
Supported Level Ticket: $40
If you struggle to fund your basic needs and have limited access to resources in your family and community, or if you would not be able to access this offering without a discounted payment option, consider paying at this level. We value your presence and contributions to our community and do not want any economic circumstances to be a barrier to attendance!
A note from the instructor:
“The best way to learn is to experience phenomena with your own senses. That is the goal of this foray into the early spring woods of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Seeing plants in their habitat, noticing the soil, leaf litter, sun exposure, and what other plants accompany them will give us a firsthand look at the ecology of spring ephemerals. The act of observing, noticing details in form, habit, and patterns brings our ideas about the natural world to life and immediately brings us into relationship with it. We will take a moderate hike, stopping along the way to notice particular species and draw what we observe. The end result will be several pages of drawing and observation added to your field notebook. Students should dress for wet weather and for sitting on wet ground. Please bring pen and/or pencils, eraser, paper, water, and a light snack.”
Instructor Bio — Vicki Ramsay
Vicki is an environmental educator living in the Driftless Region. Over the last 20 years, she has taught courses in Biology, Agriculture, Geometry, and Art at Youth Initiative High School and environmental education and summer camps at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. She is the mother of two adventurous and musical boys, ages 24 and 16. Exploring and spending time in nature has been one of the greatest teachers.