By the first weekend in December, forty degrees feels toasty in Wisconsin. On a walk to Vilas Park, short-sleeved joggers were out in force. Teens in t-shirts kicked soccer balls over the nets of a tennis court. Kids abandoned hats and mittens as they sprinted along the half-frozen shoreline of Lake Wingra.
But true Wisconsin winter always arrives. We’ll have a white Christmas, and can only keep our fingers crossed that January won’t have too many howling blizzards.
Needless to say, 2020 promises to be a winter like no other.
How will we face it? The key to getting through these next three (or four, or five) months is the same key that has sustained us so far through the stress of the pandemic: we have to get outside.
Rachel C. Peterson, writing for the Star Tribune, spent nine years living 200 miles above the Arctic Circle in Norway, where the sun sets in November and doesn’t come up again until January. To push through the long dark, her recommendation is to “get outside and breathe in as much fresh air as you can, every day”—and be social while you’re at it!
Fortunately, in Wisconsin, it’s easy to do both in our abundance of parks and trails.
Wisconsin’s great outdoors remains the safest space to meet with our loved ones, and winter can be a fun time to visit each other’s favorite places or try out new hobbies together.
Many trails are also open for snowshoeing or groomed for skiing. If the snow and ice are intimidating, winter can also be a great time to try birding from your car, when our brave cold-weather birds stand out against the bare branches.
At any time in our lives, but especially in the midst of a pandemic, the outdoors can provide a new way to frame our thinking and improve mental well-being. Many psychologists promote the idea of connecting with nature to cultivate a sense of the “small self,” which moves our focus outward to the wider world and creates inspiration and awe.
A great way to find community, gain a fresh sense of purpose, and be inspired by the natural world is to participate in citizen science projects.
The annual Christmas Bird Count helps the Audubon Society add to more than a century of data, providing vital insights into changes in bird species, ranges, and populations.
And all year round, the Department of Natural Resources hosts the Snapshot Wisconsin program, where an army of volunteers looks at trail camera footage from across the state and categorizes the wildlife that appears. The program just surpassed 50 million photos and is an unparalleled source of information for conservation in Wisconsin. It’s an entertaining and exciting glimpse into the lives of Wisconsin’s wild creatures.
If you’re starting to feel blue this winter, check out our events calendar on our website to find ways to get outside. We work to keep up-to-date with land trust events and volunteering opportunities, both virtual and in-person, on our events page. You can visit our interactive map of special places to find new spots to explore all winter.
And if you’re searching for ways to make a difference, check out our new website, knowlesnelson.org, to learn more about the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, Wisconsin’s most important tool for conservation, and how you can help advocate for its future.
It might feel tempting to curl up and hibernate this winter. But there are brilliant, inspiring landscapes out there waiting for you! Come join us in Wisconsin’s wonderful winter!
Photo by Ken Mattison.
