Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center

05/11/2026

You can help protect migrating birds tonight by turning off exterior lights! Read the post 👇 for more info!

🚨Lights Out Alert! 🚨 Tonight, an estimated 17.6 million birds will fly over Wisconsin!

We’re urging everyone to turn off or dim non-essential outdoor lights and close window shades from 11 p.m.–6 a.m. to help birds safely on their journey.

Most birds migrate at night, and light pollution can disorient them, leading to deadly window collisions. In addition to turning down the lights, you can also help by treating windows. If you’re looking for a quick fix, draw lines on your windows (no more than 2” apart) with a bar of soap or washable window markers.

A few simple steps can save countless birds, conserve energy, and protect our night skies. 🌌🐦

👉 Share this post to spread the word!

Want migration alerts sent straight to your inbox? Sign up for Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast alerts through the link in the comments. BirdCast added 4 Wisconsin cities this year: Appleton, La Crosse, Madison, and Milwaukee. If you don’t live near one, choose the closest city to you.

BirdCast sends alerts only on the biggest migration nights; about 8–10 nights each season that account for roughly half of all migration traffic.

SOS Save Our Songbirds | Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance | Wisconsin Society for Ornithology - WSO | Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative | Focus on Energy

05/05/2026

Thank you Spiral Food Co-op for choosing CNC for the May Round Up!

Our May Round Up at the Register Partner is Carpenter Nature Center. CNC has been serving the community since 1981, nestled at the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers near Hastings, and located only thirty minutes from the metro, Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center provides a unique opportunity to learn and explore the outdoors. They preserve wildlife habitats while providing educational experiences for community families. To ensure people of all economic backgrounds can connect to nature, admission is completely free.
Let our cashiers know you want to round up to the nearest dollar (or more) to help CNC continue their important work.

Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center

05/02/2026

Run or stroll on over to CNC this weekend! Kiddos and families can enjoy a temporary Story Stroll presented by Washington County Libraries. The story We All Play by Julie Flett will be up on a short paved loop at our MN Campus for South Washington County Schools Community Education Screen Free Week May 2nd-8th 2026.

Stop in the visitor center for additional details about the route or pick up activity sheets to take home!

https://commed.sowashco.org/early-learning/early-childhood-family-education-ecfe/screen-free

04/27/2026

04/24/2026

It’s and do we ever appreciate our volunteers! Each year CNC volunteers contribute over 9,000 hours of service! We could not do the amazing work we do without the help of the 200+ volunteers along with our corporate group volunteer service days.

Whether it’s assisting with onsite environmental education programs, tree plantings, National Honor Society, or special events your impact helps our mission come to life. Thank you for sharing your passion and dedication with CNC.

If you’re interested in starting your volunteer journey, fill out the Online Interest Form or email Volunteer Coordinator, Tess Santelman at [email protected]

https://tinyurl.com/CNCVolunteerInterest

04/21/2026

The Hastings Area Earth Day Birding Festival is only 5 days away! While MOST of the festival activities are centered around Hastings, we will also have an afternoon opportunity to bird at the CNC Wisconsin Campus. Our expert guide, Sonia, is excited to share the beauty of birding the woodlands and prairies!

Sonia Austin-Martinez's passion for birding was ignited shortly after moving to Minnesota 13 years ago. Birds brighten her days and she loves to pass along birding knowledge to others. You might find her out in the field looking for new species, enjoying our regular residents, or helping with one of Carpenter Nature Center's bird banding projects.

For more information about the festival, visit https://carpenternaturecenter.org/plan-your-visit/annual-events/birding-festival/

04/20/2026

Goldfinch approved 💛 Thank you to St. Croix Valley Bird Club for your generous donation! A new water fountain feature has been installed at the Al and Laurie Hein Visitor Center in WI. It took less than 10 minutes for the birds to get their feet wet and enjoy the new addition. Check it out on your next walk around the building or inside while sitting in the Family Room.

Looking for ways to embrace spring and birds? Join us this weekend or later in May for some birding events!

Hastings Earth Day Birding Festival / April 25 / MN Campus.

Wings of Spring Migration Festival / May 9 / WI Campus.

More information about the events can be found on our Annual Event Page: www.carpenternaturecenter.org/annual-events.

04/17/2026

Meet your hike leaders Kathy Carroll and Rick Schmid!

Kathy is the current Kansas state record holder for most birds seen in a calendar year - 365 species during 2020! She relocated to Minnesota in 2023 and started listing in her "new" home state, seeing 318 species. She also enjoys looking for Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), as well as birds, wherever her travels may take her.

Rick is a native of Nebraska who has 55 years' birding experience. He has planned and led numerous field trips throughout the U.S. and Belize. He is also a volunteer and bird ba**er at CNC.

Kathy and Rick will be leading field trips to the Hastings Mississippi River Flats and the 180th Street Marsh as part of our Hastings Area Earth Day Birding Festival on Saturday, April 25th. For more information about this event, visit https://carpenternaturecenter.org/plan-your-visit/annual-events/birding-festival/

04/14/2026

Beginning your birding journey can feel overwhelming, but with an expert guide to teach you tips and tricks, you'll be identifying birds in no time!
Kyle Te Poel will be leading morning and afternoon field trips at our Hastings Area Earth Day Birding Festival on April 25th!
Kyle is a southeast Minnesota native and lifelong bird aficionado, currently living in rural Washington County. His birding and environmental education career has included positions with Minnesota Audubon, National Audubon Society, Project Puffin Center, several parks, museums, and nature centers, and two posts as a National Park Ranger in California and Minnesota. He is currently celebrating his 10th year operating Next Bend Birding Tours, offering tours both locally and nationwide. Kyle is the only guide in the country certified as a Green Business, with a serious dedication to sustainability and preservation. His favorite bird is the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.

04/07/2026

Join us on April 25th for the Hastings Area Earth Day Birding Festival for hikes led by local, expert birders, including Big Ben Douglas!
Ben has been a part of the festival for close to ten years as a guide, presenter and keynote speaker. In 2024 Ben was the Carpenter Nature Center volunteer of the year and continues to participate and create birding programs with Carpenter Nature Center. Ben is also currently the Vice President of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.