Wisconsin Explorer Program
A parent-child discovery program in Wisconsin state parks and forests

This year, kids all over Wisconsin are Discovering Secrets.

If you're a parent, grandparent, relative, or grown-up friend of a child, you can help the child with the fun and adventure.

When you visit a participating state park, forest, trail, or recreation area, ask for a free new Wisconsin Explorers booklet. Inside you'll find nature activities, scavenger hunts, games, hikes, and crafts to help you explore Wisconsin’s great outdoors together.

Kids who complete the requirements earn a collectable state symbol patch.

Three booklets are available at the parks, bound in bright colors, or online to print yourself:

• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-8
• Age 9 and older

Materials for 2009 Are Brand New and Improved

• Preschool booklet. The program is expanded to include kids ages 3-5.
• Single name. All kids, regardless of age, aree called Wisconsin Explorers. The "Junior Ranger" name has been retired.
• More booklets. Over nine years, a Wisconsin Explorer can complete nine different booklets. The old program had seven booklets.
• Collectable patches. Kids can earn nine different patches featuring Wisconsin state symbols.

• More hands-on. The booklets look more like nature journals and less like school workbooks.
• Family ties. To encourage families to explore together, the first four activities in each year’s booklets address the same theme at age-appropriate levels. For example, a preschooler might be watching birds while a 7-year-old is looking for feathers and a 10-year-old is learning to identify birds.
• Get Outdoors! Wisconsin. The activities in the books encourage kids and families to be active. The WE program supports the Get Outdoors! initiative by giving families specific activities to do outdoors together.
  

These activities help children develop an awareness and appreciation of the natural world and a sense of stewardship toward Wisconsin's natural resources.

• For families
• For teachers and group leaders
• Participating parks,forests, trails,and recreation areas

For Families

• An adult/child team can pick up a free activity booklet at one of the participating state parks or forests.
• At the park or forest or at home, the child does the activities in the booklet.
• On the evaluation form, check off the activities as your child completes them.
• Take or mail the evaluation form to the park or forest office or fill out the online form for the appropriate age:
  • Wisconsin Explorer Evaluation (Ages 3-5)
  • Wisconsin Explorer Evaluation (Ages 6-8)
  • Wisconsin Explorer Evaluation (Ages 9 and up)
• The child will receive a patch.

For Teachers and Group Leaders

You may use Wisconsin Explorer booklets and activities with children in your class or group. However, children in these groups cannot earn patches. The program is designed for individual children visiting state properties with family members or adult friends.

You may download and print these PDF pages...

• Find Wild Shapes [PDF] (ages 3-5)
• Discover Hidden Patterns [PDF, 247KB] (ages 6-8)
• Detect Puzzling Patterns [PDF, 193KB] (ages 9 and up)
• Exploring Nature Together [PDF] (grownups)

...and these whole booklets:

• Discovering Secrets: Kids ages 3-5 [PDF, 1MB]
• Discovering Secrets: Kids ages 6-8 [PDF, 1.5MB]
• Discovering Secrets: Kids ages 9 & up [PDF, 1.4MB]

You also may ask for one hard copy of each booklet. You may copy activities, pages, or entire booklets as long as copyright information remains on each page.

For more information on this topic, ask Sherry Klosiewski, (715) 365-8966.