Field Trips & Programs Spring/Summer 2019
The Friends of Sax-Zim Bog is continuing to build and offer diverse programming for all of the seasons! This summer, education programs will consist mainly of field trips! All of the field trips are FREE for members who have donated over $25 in the last year. Any non-field trip educational program is free to attend for all. If you are not a member, the $25 Field Trip fee includes a membership and 12-months of free field trips. If you have any questions about any of the programs, field trips, naturalist hikes, or workshops, please contact Head Naturalist Clinton Nienhaus via email at naturalist@saxzim.org. Field Trip dates are subject to change, but will typically be run rain or shine!
**RSVP is REQUIRED for attendance to programs or field trips**
REGISTER ONLINE HERE
Saturday, July 20
Sax-Zim Bog BioBlitz VII
Bog BioBlitz VII 2019 details here
9:00 am- 2:00 pm Meeting at the Welcome Center
The concept of a bioblitz started a couple decades ago…and for a noble but bittersweet reason; teams of biologists (ornithologists, mammalogists, botanists, lichenologists and so on) were sent to tracts of rainforest jungle that were on the verge of destruction; their mission was to record every living species and every bit of natural history they could before it was lost to humanity forever. The concept evolved in North America to become an educational event where the public can go in the field with a specialist in any one of many disciplines and record what they find and learn about it at the same time.
Friends of Sax-Zim Bog has made this an annual summer event. In 2017 we hosted over 40 folks who went in the field to learn about birds, orchids, butterflies, dragonflies, spiders, moths, wildflowers, fishes and bog ecology. Each year seems to find new species to our Bog Species List and it is exciting to showcase the biodiversity of the Sax-Zim Bog to attendees of all ages!
Click here to register for the Bog BioBlitz VII! or just show up on the day of the event
Saturday, August 3
Wildflowers of Late Summer Field Trip
10:00 am- 3:00 pm Meeting at the Welcome Center
The fall can be an overlooked time of the year to search out wildflowers, as many of the familiar species of summer have finished flowering and are starting to die back. However, fall is a wonderful time to observe the diverse Aster communities of uplands and wetlands. There is some great diversity in late season wildflowers: goldenrods, swamp aster, late season orchids, and more could be found on this field trip! Click here to register for the Fall Wildflowers Field Trip.
Saturday, August 10
Learning about Lichens Field Trip
12:00- 5:00 pm Meeting at the Welcome Center
Northern Minnesota is home to a diverse lichen community. These species cover nearly 8% of the terrestrial surface of the earth, yet are relatively unknown to most of us. Join us on this trip to get firsthand experience in lichen identification, as well as to learn a few of the more common lichens in our area. During the trip, we will be making small collections of lichens for the Welcome Center or personal use! Click here to register for the Lichen Field Trip.
Saturday, August 17
Fungus Among-us Foray: Mushroom Field Trip co-sponsored by the Minnesota Mycological Society and Paul Bunyan Mushroom Club
9:00 am- 2:00 pm Meeting at the Welcome Center
Mushrooms are an important part of any ecosystem and early fall is a great time to see fungi of all shapes and sizes. These important decomposers have an important role in the boreal forest and attract attention from people enjoying their beauty to those of us who enjoy eating mushrooms! Come join us for this field trip exploring some of the basics of identifying mushrooms and enjoy a fall day searching for mushrooms in the Sax-Zim Bog. This trip will be a partnership between the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog, Minnesota Mycologial Society, and Paul Bunyan Mushroom Club! Click here to register for the Mushroom Field Trip.
Directions to Welcome Center on Owl Avenue
**Open mid December to mid March from 10am-3pm daily
**Also marked on our birding map
Directions from Cotton, MN on US53…
*Go West from Cotton on CR52/Arkola for 11 miles
*Turn South (left) on Owl Avenue
*Go 1.75 miles (second curve) to Welcome Center
Directions from Meadowlands, on CR133…
*Go East on CR133 to CR229/29
*Turn North (left) on CR229/29
*Go North to T at Correction Line Rd
*Turn West (left) on Correction Line Rd
*Road curves North and becomes Owl Ave
*Go North on Owl Avenue for 2.5 miles to Welcome Center
All field trips are free for members who have donated $25 in the last year. Membership is $25 and includes free entry to any field trip in a 12 month period! If you have any questions about any of the programs, please contact Head Naturalist, Clinton Nienhaus, via email at naturalist@saxzim.org.