October 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join the Mississippi Valley Conservancy for an evening outdoors with a guided walk to discover the planets, stars, and galaxies of the fall evening sky.
This event is part of the Conservancy’s 2024 Linked to the Land series of outdoor learning experiences in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.
Hosted on the hilltop trail at the Tunnelville Cliffs nature preserve in Vernon County, the easy short walk on a relatively flat trail will include observation of night life on the prairie and in the sky.
Tunnelville Cliffs is a 1,118-acre nature preserve with public access on the Kickapoo River near La Farge. The site includes springs, creeks, over 9,000 feet of frontage on the river, forests, cliffs, prairie, sedge meadow, and open grasslands.
The property is surrounded by additional protected lands, providing a vast wildlife refuge of 2,278 contiguous acres on the Kickapoo River.
The nature preserve is part of a proposed Dark Sky Park of the International Dark Skies Association, and an update on that project and information about the value of dark skies will be shared with participants at this walk.
This relaxing and educational twilight walk will be led by Susan Cushing and John Heasley. Susan is a Master Naturalist and experienced Environmental Educator with Kickapoo Valley Reserve. John is the founder of Driftless Stargazing and the coordinator of the Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative.
Those who wish to stay beyond 9:00 p.m. are welcome to do so, however camping is not allowed on the property. Dogs are not allowed in the nature preserve.
Bring curiosity and willingness to explore the quiet and dark of night, red flashlight (if you don’t have one, red film will be provided for use with your regular flashlight), binoculars (optional and some extras will be available), and insect repellent. Dress warm. Feel free to bring a folding chair, recliner, or a blanket to prevent neck strain and enjoy the heavens above.
This event is free and open to the public. Register here.
