Field Trip Orientation & Itinerary
 
 
 


http://www.uwex.edu/wgnhs/bdrk.htm





Welcome to Wisconsin!
    Wisconsin is a great state to visit and to live in. It has a strong rural as well as urban flavor to it. Agriculture, industry, and recreation are major activities practiced here. You can learn more about our state by visiting our travel bureau.
    On this particular field trip you will be learning about several Earth Science topics. You will learn about how our rock strata have been formed and reshaped over time. A major theme in this regard will be Wisconsin's glacial history - portions of the Badger State are world-renowned for the fine condition of glacial features that illustrate our recent glacial past. You will also view features from our volcanic past, as well as the result of differential weathering of rocks on the landscape. In the portion of the state you will be touring you will have a good chance of seeing severe weather, most notably thunderstorms and possibly a tornado (see below). You will also be traveling across a "tension zone" where one major vegetative zone grades into another. You will have the chance to view Lake Michigan and some of the unique shoreline features it has created. Likewise, you will walk across an ancient limestone reef that stretches from here to Niagara Falls! There will a planetarium show along with an actual "star party", as well as solar astronomical activities. Finally, you will be traveling through the region where Aldo Leopold, the "father of conservation", did his seminal work on ecology and developed his land ethic so well described in his "A Sand County Almanac."

Best Time To Visit-
    Because of our changeable weather it would be best to visit in late June or early July. Wisconsin climate lies within the Koppen Dfb classification system. This means we not only have the cold winters we are known for, but that it can get humid in the summer. By visiting at this time you also have a good chance to observe some interesting weather. The region you are traveling lies at the end of "tornado alley" and we have an average of 22 tornadoes here a year so you might see some great storms.

What To Bring-
    We will be spending much of our time outdoors, but will be using motels for our overnights. Here is a basic list what you should bring - use this list as a starting point and add other necessities as needed:

  1. Hiking boots
  2. Rain coat/pants
  3. Extra socks
  4. Notepad/pencils/pens
  5. Small backpack or fanny pack
  6. Water bottle
  7. Sun block
  8. Lip balm
  9. Insect repellent
  10. Camera
  11. Sandals
  12. Swim suit


Trip Itinerary (specific time slots are identified on the page that details a day's activities) - you can easily jump to this page by clicking this link that is at the top of each day's page - WEEK ITINERARY

DAY
WHERE & WHAT
LODGING
1
  • Arrive at your Green Bay hotel by 2:00 PM for our initial orientation meeting.
  • Travel to Menasha to tour the Weis Earth Science Museum.
  • Dinner in Menasha.
  • Attend a star show at the Barlow Planetarium.
 Ramada Inn
2750 Ramada Way
Green Bay, WI 54301
920.499-0631
2
  • 8 AM - Depart Green Bay for the Door County Pennisula.
  • Tour Wequiock Falls to see rock exposures in the Niagara Escarpment.
  • Bayshore County Park - another view of the Niagara Escarpment as we hike to Green Bay.
  • Red River County Park - view elevated beach ridge from glacial Lake Nipissing.
  • Sturgeon Bay School District's Crossroads Learning Center (CLC) for astronomy studies.
  • Water quality testing, Green Bay versus Lake Michigan.
  • Evening Star Gazing session at the CLC.
 Americinn
622 S. Ashland Ave.
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
920.743-5898
3
  • Travel south along Lake Michigan to study geology/meteorology/climatology at Two Creeks Forest Bed and Point Beach State Park.
  • Tour the Ice Age Visitor Center in the Kettle Moraine State Forest as we learn about glacial geology.
  • Hike up Dundee Kame to get a view of the glacial features well preserved here. We will also see wind turbines and discuss the environmental aspects of these.
  • Visit an ecological restoration at a school and learn how it is used in studying environmental science.
 Microtel Inn & Suites
920 S. Military Rd.
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
920.929-4000
4
  • Return to the Kettle Moraine State Forest to study more of its glacial features.
  • Travel to Madison where we will visit the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum.
  • Tour the State Capitol to enjoy its architectual geology.
 Microtel Inn & Suites Madison
2139 E. Springs Dr.
Madison, WI 53704
608.242-9000
5
  • Travel west to tour Cave of the Mounds and learn about karst geology.
  • Tour Natural Bridge State Park to view this arch and see evidence of early human habitation in Wisconsin.
  • Hike Devil's Lake State Park and view its geological features.
  • Visit the water park in Wisconsin Dells to have fun and discuss the importance of Wisconsin's water resources.
 Park Plaza
626 W. Pine St.
Baraboo, WI 53913
608.356-6422
6
  • Hike Parfey's Glen State Natural Area where we will discuss erosion geology, microenironments, and scenic beauty.
  • Visit Van Hise Rock area.
  • Visit the Aldo Leopold shack and discuss his impact on current environmental views.
  • Travel to Wausau where we will cross an ecological tension zone.
  • Climb to Rib Mountain State Park to view hard Quartzite and see its resistance to glacial erosion.
 Hampton Inn Wausau
615 S. 24th St.
Wausau, WI 54401
715.848-9700
7
  • As we return to Green Bay we will stop to see the granitic rocks of the Wolf River batholith, once a proposed nuclear waste dump site.
  • We will see Anorthosite, a rare igneous rock.
 Back to Green Bay, the end of our trip.

 

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