Field Trips
Phenology 2012 Field Trip Descriptions
There will be two optional field trips, one to the Cedarburg Bog Natural Area to see native plant communities and phenological monitoring projects, and the other will be a sail on Lake Michigan. These field trips will take place on the last day of the conference, Thursday Sept. 13, 2012. As the trips occur at the same time, conference participants can select to participate in one or the other, but not both.
Cedarburg Bog Natural Area and the UWM Field Station
We will visit the Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Field Station, both located about 48 km north of Milwaukee. The Cedarburg Bog is one of the largest, most diverse, and biologically interesting wetlands in southern Wisconsin. Its most unusual feature is the presence of a string or “patterned” bog, a vegetation type that is typically found much further north. We will access the string bog via a boardwalk, and along the way will see cedar-tamarack swamp forest, shrub carr, and swamp hardwoods, as well as a stream, lake and islands that occur within the bog. There is also a deer exclosure that has been in place for over 30 years. The ecology of the bog and current research projects at the Field Station will be discussed. We will return to the Field Station lab for light refreshments and to observe phenological monitoring projects. The Field Station monitors phenology on cultivated lilacs and fruit trees, as well as on native trees in an upland beech-maple forest, and maintains a weather station that includes a Bowen ratio system.
See the UWM Field Station website for more information about the natural areas and research at the Cedarburg Bog.
This field trip departs (by chartered bus) from the conference center at 12:30pm and returns at approximately 5:00 pm. The trip will include walking outside, so sturdy shoes and a hat would be helpful. Contact Gretchen Meyer if you have any questions.
Lake Michigan Cruise on the Denis Sullivan
($35, with a limit of 50 participants. If there is additional interest a second cruise may be scheduled later the same afternoon.)
We will take a 2-hour sail aboard Wisconsin’s flagship the Denis Sullivan, a re-creation of a 19th century three-masted Great Lakes schooner. Lake Michigan is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area. Take this opportunity to sail out into the lake, and experience views of the Milwaukee skyline from the water. You will have the opportunity to help the crew set the sails or take a turn at the helm, or you can just sit back and relax, and enjoy Milwaukee’s rich maritime past on the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan.
Learn more about the Denis Sullivan here: https://www.discoveryworld.org/things-to-do/exhibits/sailing-vessel-denis-sullivan/
This field trip departs from Discovery World (500 North Harbor Drive), with “castoff” promptly at 1:00 pm. You must allow time to walk to Discovery World from the Convention Center (about 20 minutes) and time to check in (allow 15 minutes) before castoff. The ship returns to Discovery World at approximately 3:00 pm.