Family Weekend Roundup: April 24-26, 2009

Earth Day was Wednesday, but the festivities continue this weekend with lots of kid-friendly events honoring our fab planet. Check out the Urban Ecology Center, Retzner Nature Center, the Havenwoods State Forest or your neighborhood park for earthy activities.



FRIDAY

FROG AND TOAD

Contribute to the Department of Natural Resources' frog and toad survey by heading out late night with the Urban Ecology Center. Dress for the weather and wear footwear that can get muddy. More:

onmilwaukee.com/events/event-94757.html


SATURDAY

PLAY IN YOUR DAY

Kids and families are invited to "Put Play in Their Day" during YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee's "Healthy Kids Day." At 11 of the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee Centers, visitors can partake in fun, engaging and creative activities, games, prizes and fun for all ages. YMCA Healthy Kids Day is free and open to all.
 More:
onmilwaukee.com/events/event-94773.html

EARTH DAY HONORS

To honor this week's Earth Day, the Retzner Nature Center gives you an "Earth Day Extravaganza." Activities all day long for the entire family starting with the Jack Young Memorial Earth Watch followed by a family bird watch, children's activities, informative workshops, hiking, a concert by Tom Pease, campfire songs and s'mores, and a guided twilight hike into Brown's Fen. The planetarium will also show "Destination Mars" at various times throughout the day. 
 onmilwaukee.com/events/event-94954.html


MORE EARTH DAY FUN

Celebrate the planet all over town at Havenwoods State Forest's "Spring Naturefest." Participants will be able to plant trees, learn about "green" living, go on an eco-scavenger hunt, and make crafts from recycled materials. Havenwoods' address is 6141 N. Hopkins St. in Milwaukee.

IN-TOWN EARTH DAY

Stay in town for an Earth Day celebration in Washington Park. Enjoy music, canoeing, nature walks, crafts, games, food, resource booths and more. Start the day by helping clean the neighborhood from noon until 4 p.m. For more info, call (414) 964-8505.

ALL WEEKEND LONG

INDIANA JONES ADVENTURE

A new exhibit to the Harley Museum, "The Indiana Jones Adventure," features the two motorcycles ridden by Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeouf in the movie "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." They're only here for the month of April, so don't miss the exhibit plus activities for the whole family including a treasure hunt and crusader geo-cache.
 More: onmilwaukee.com/events/event-94517.html

SMOKEY THE BEAR
"Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home" is a new green-built exhibit developed by the Betty Brinn Children's Museum in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service. The exhibit includes a variety of educational activities, costumes, puppets and props that will be especially appealing for children ages 2-8.
 More:
onmilwaukee.com/ent/business/bettybrinn.html