Mr. Tom Struve will talk about...The Mighty Mississippi - Connecting America’s Heartland to the World. Guests will enjoy this in-depth look at the entire Mississippi River System. As the largest artery at the base of the network of important tributary rivers in our nation’s inland waterway system, she becomes an epic American transportation link to the world. Her industrial and commercial transportation prowess benefits every American citizen every day.

Summer schedule for garden work is Wednesdays from 9am to 11am for routine weeding and watering. Vacation/travel time is here so whoever can make it, please come to Freedom Park and help keep things looking nice for summer events and tours. Everyone’s efforts are appreciated!

Summer schedule for garden work is Wednesdays from 9am to 11am for routine weeding and watering. Vacation/travel time is here so whoever can make it, please come to Freedom Park and help keep things looking nice for summer events and tours. Everyone’s efforts are appreciated!

Registration is required: Please email Linda Schenk at linda.schenk@freedomparkwi.org with how many people would like to sign up. Please supply: 1. The full name of the person(s) attending, email, phone number. I will call you back and get your credit card information over the phone.

Do you like history? Than this is your tour to join Prescott native historian Dallas Eggers. He will regal you with stories on a historical bus ride from Prescott to Pepin. We will be stopping at various towns and attractions along the way. Dallas will also be focusing on the history of Pepin. Let the bus take you to places you’ve never seen and hear stories you’ve never heard!

Drop off and pick-up at Freedom Park ~ 200 Monroe St. Prescott, WI 54021 Please be at the park and ready to board the bus at 10:00am. Drive time will be 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Event will happen rain or shine so dress accordingly.

There will be stops and bathroom breaks along the way.

Limit of 48 people (School Bus)

Cost $30 + tax per person (Lunch is extra)

Lunch at The Pickle Factory in Pepin Wisconsin at 12:15pm.

Come and join the Prescott Public Library and the National Park Services for a day of stories and education by our Butterfly Bench! Family friendly and FREE!

Come and hear Judith Sparrow present on birds that you will find in your backyard. Judith will help you identify various bird species and she will educate you on how to feed, maintain, and care for these birds.

Judith Sparrow Bio: “I have been a "birder" for over 45 years and I have 92 species of birds on my yard list at my home, located around 4 miles south of downtown Prescott. As of now, I have 18 bird feeders in my yard.”

Pictured: Baltimore Oriole, male

Grape jelly in cups and cut-up oranges served separately will attract them to your yard.

Author Kelly Johnson will read from her newly released book: Grandma and Grandpa’s Great Loop Adventure. Family friendly and FREE event! Books for sale. Light refreshments will be served.

Help support our local artists! Come and meet Ms. Doreen Smith. Light refreshments will be served.

What is the Summer Kickoff? A chance for Prescott to come together and celebrate our community, and of course, to kick-off the summer with friends, music and fun!

A family friendly FREE event to celebrate Earth Day! Come and enjoy vendors, special presentations (schedule below), kids crafts led by St. Croix Stars 4 H club, stories read by Ms. Sam, Youth and Adult Services Librarian Prescott Library, and a movie night. Come and watch The Lorax by Dr. Seuss (details below.)

Vendors: All Day

• Two Fat Guys Smoking - Food Truck!

• Heritage Woods Honey (and tasting) - Joerg Kessler and Kathy Sweeney

• Cooper Hansen Photography - Tom Hansen

• Young Acres Farm - Amy Young

• Prescott Public Library - Samantha Chester-Moore

• St. Croix Stars 4 H Club - Members - Children’s Activity at booth AND YUMMY Treats baked by the students will be for sale. Come and satisfy your sweet tooth!

• Marathon Petroleum

• Coulee River Trails (CRT)

• RiveHugh Art - River Hughes

• Stewards of the Gardens Group

• Outdoor games - Giant Jenga, Bean Bags

Presentation Schedule: Located in the River Room

Just show up for a presentation, no pre-registration needed!

• 11:00am to 11:30am - Wisconsin Master Naturalist Joerg Kessler presents E-tools for Nature Adventurers

  No need for paper field guides to find out what you are looking at on a Nature hike. Smartphone applications allow users to identify and learn about the birds, plants, and insects we encounter as we explore Nature. Master Naturalist Joerg Kessler will demonstrate the basic functionality of 4 Smartphone applications, iNaturalist for wildlife ,Picture This for plant identification, Merlin for bird identification by sight or song, and eBird for bird surveys.

• 12:00pm to 12:30pm - Tom Hansen presents Bird migration of the area.

  Professional Nature photographer Tom Hansen will talk about the migration of common large birds of the area.

• 1:00pm to 1:30pm - Wisconsin Master Naturalist Joerg Kessler Presents “Birds of the Night”

  One fifth of all mammal species are bats. Bats provide the same services at night as birds do in the day. They eat lots and lots of night flying insects and pollinate plants and disperse seeds. Wisconsin is home to 8 species. Of those, four are in serious decline due to white nose syndrome (WNS). Join Master Naturalist Joerg Kessler for an enlightening overview of bat life and how we can help.

• 2:00pm to 2:30pm - Wisconsin Master Naturalist Joerg Kessler presents Beyond Birdhouses - 10 Ways to Help Nesting Birds

  Nesting birds can use human help far beyond a few birdhouses and bird seed. Join Master Naturalist Joerg Kessler for a presentation of ten things we can do to help all our feathery friends, whether nesting and raising their chicks in a birdhouse, shrub, tree or on the ground, during their most vulnerable time, the nesting season.

• 3:00pm to 3:30pm - Wisconsin Master Naturalist Kathy Sweeney presents Certify your yard or container garden as a wildlife resource

  Interested in participating in a community of wildlife appreciators for specific pollinators like monarch butterflies through the Monarch Waystation registry or in the Wildlife Habitat Certification through the

  National Wildlife Federation? Another option is to consider participating in the Home Grown National Park movement? Each certification option provides educational resources and networks of like-minded wildlife

  advocates as well as lawn signs to proclaim your commitment to nurturing specific endangered creatures.

• 4:00pm to 4:30pm - Amy Young - Young Acres Farm presents Young Acres Farm Apples and More!

  Come and hear what Amy has to say about what Young Acres Farm has to offer. Everything from apples to fine dining, to weddings, field trips, and catering.

• Continuous throughout the day - Ms. Sam (Prescott Public Library) presents “Storytime” by the fireplace!

Stewards of the Park Spring Park Clean-Up: Calling all those that love to help maintain our beautiful park! All you need is a can do attitude! We welcome all ages to come and help get our park ready for the season. Be ready to have some fun in the park with great people! Bring your own tools or use the ones here at the park.

Movie Night at Freedom Park - In the River Room

We are showing The Lorax by Dr. Seuss - 6:00pm to 8:00pm

All ages welcome. $3 per child (cash preferred at the door)

Bring a pillow or blanket if you would like. Movie shown in the River Room.

Concessions available for sale: Popcorn, treats, beverages.

In an effort to combat invasive species, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue is organizing the Exotic Pet Surrender Event, a venue for pet owners to relinquish care of exotic animals responsibly. Accepted animals include fish, invertebrates, reptiles, pet birds, small mammals and plants. Domestic pets will not be accepted.

Join the American Legion for an Easter Egg Hunt at Freedom Park!

Join us by our cozy fireplace to hear amazing stories read by Ms. Samantha Barth - Youth and Adult Services Librarian. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa while listening!

All are welcome, join us for the group’s second planning session. Plan to discuss upcoming planting and clean-up projects, as well as Earth Day events at the park planned for Saturday April 20th.

Looking for a GREAT place to volunteer…look no further! We have some AMAZING volunteer opportunities here at our center. Come and hear about all of the things that we have going on here and how you can become a part of our fantastic team! Light refreshments will be served! We look forward to meeting you!

Join us for a presentation by the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW) for an enlightening class on how to attract bluebirds to your yard. They will share with you years of experience in how to begin the process, what supplies are needed, how to attract and how to maintain. Bluebird houses will also be for sale that day for ONLY $10 (Cash)! Mr. Thomley’s STEM class made the houses! All of the proceeds from the sale of the houses will go back to support his class! Get one before they are gone!

Join us by our cozy fireplace to hear amazing stories read by Ms. Samantha Barth - Youth and Adult Services Librarian. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa while listening!

Cozy up to the fireplace with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa and a cookie!

Did someone say…MEAT? Join us at Scab’s Place for a meat raffle! This is a fundraiser for the Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center. Come and try your chance at winning some meat just in time for Thanksgiving!

Our center would not exist without the support of our AMAZING volunteers! Those that tend our gardens, those that sit on our Board of Directors, those that work our welcome desk, those that support our various events, those that give financial support, and the list goes on. This is our time to say “THANK YOU” for all that you do for our center! A lunch will be served in our River Room. Come for lunch and some treats! Please RSVP: linda.schenk@freedomparkwi.org by Oct. 16th.