Recently, I spent a few hours hiking around the grounds of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, in Monona, Wis., near Madison. The center is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
It was one of those days when I felt a strong desire to be outside, since I know those mild days are numbered now.
The nature center's mission is to provide hands-on programs which "... teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and to enjoy what he understands," in the spirit of famed ecologist and naturalist Aldo Leopold. His book, "A Sand County Almanac," is a collection of essays advocating a "land ethic," or a responsible relationship between people and the land they inhabit.
The nature center grounds are geared toward youth education, including admiration and respect for nature, and encouraging sustainability and stewardship of the land. Anyone of any age, though, can tour the Leopold trails--through woodlands, wetlands, prairies, and meadows.
Here's a brief wordless tour of the Monona campus in early autumn:
I hope you enjoyed the tour! It's a wonderful place to visit with children, with a friend, or just by yourself for a relaxing hike.
