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March 20, 2024
Image by: Lorelai Steinberg
Heckrodt in Menasha offers fun activities for children to enjoy outside.
The weather is warming up and soon we can enjoy time outside in Wisconsin. If you are looking for something to do with your younger siblings or the kids you baby-sit, there is a great option in our backyard.
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is one of many great places in Menasha. Their playground includes many stimulating activities for children and many opportunities to learn.
The children’s adventure bridge is an obstacle course that helps children with their movement and has a section based on different animals.
The first section includes a balance beam and is based on a fox, encouraging children’s balance skills.
The next section is based on an eagle, having a rope for children to swing across a “valley.”
After swinging to the next section, they’re met with logs to hop on. This section is based on a spider.
After hopping across the logs they must climb into a web of ropes into a tunnel to burrow like a groundhog. This parkour is fun for children of all ages.
The sensory walk encourages children to take off their shoes and “awaken their senses” to experience nature first hand. The sensory walk is similar to the adventure bridge but for much younger children. They have different textures such as smooth rocks and fungi, bumpy tree bark, squishy moss, and soft feathers. This is great if you want your child or younger sibling to experience the beauties of nature in a safe environment.
Stock Image from Google Creative Common License
Heckrodt's playground contains an eagle nest. Do you know blue jay nests are made of? Read the article to find out.
Heckrodt’s playground also contains a real eagle nest for children to play in. They encourage teamwork between children, having a pulley system where one child must fill the bucket with sticks while the other pulls the bucket up into the nest to continue building the eagle nest. Did you know that blue jays nest in branches and their nests are made from grass, twigs, and moss?
Heckrodt relies on donations from the public. They do not charge general admission but there is a drop box that visitors can put donations in. More than 50,000 people visit Heckrodt Wetland Reserve each year.
Upcoming Events:
April 11, 9:30 am to 10:30 pm: Turtle Tots
April 20, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm: Mayhem In The Mud
Plastic Recycle Drive: Feel free to bring in plastic bags you find. They accept the following: produce & bread bags, ziploc bags, grocery bags, bubble wrap, cereal & ice bags, dry-cleaning bags, shopping bags, and birdseed bags. If Heckrodt reaches their goal of 500 pounds, they will get a free recycled bench. Deposit bags in their Nature Center.
First Tuesday of each month, 6:30 pm: Birding Club. The club membership is $10/year. If you want more information find the Heckrodt Birding Club page on Facebook.
by Lorelai Steinberg
March 20, 2024
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