Spring is waking up all around us, and there’s no better time to reconnect with nature than during Earth Week at Hawthorn
Hollow!
Join us for a week filled with opportunities to explore, learn, and celebrate the natural world right here in our community.
Whether you’re looking to enjoy a peaceful walk through the trails, discover native plants, spot local wildlife, or spend
meaningful time outdoors with family and friends, there’s something for everyone.
Each event throughout the week offers a unique way to experience the beauty and importance of our environment, from
guided walks and hands-on activities to community gatherings that support conservation and education.
By participating, you’re not just enjoying nature, you’re helping protect it. Your presence supports our mission to preserve
these special spaces for generations to come.
Take a look at the events below and plan your Earth Week adventure with us, we can’t wait to see you out on the trails!
Hike for Hawthorn Hollow-Sun, April 19 @ 2 pm
Kick off Earth Week with a family-friendly 3.5k hike through the heart of Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary (including
NEW trails)! Explore a rich variety of native ecosystems, from open prairie and wetlands to conifer and hardwood forests,
while stamping your very own Habitat Passport along the way. Every participant receives a 2026 Hawthorn Hollow Earth
Week sticker and a 2.21-mile car sticker to commemorate the journey. The hike concludes at the Nature Center, where
you’ll learn more about Earth Day, Wisconsin conservation efforts, and how Hawthorn Hollow protects the land and
wildlife you just explored. Registration fee is $15/person, $5 for children under 12. For more info and tickets:
https://hawthornhollow.ticketspice.com/hike-for-hawthorn-hollow.
Lyrid Light Show-Wed, April 22 @ 9 pm
Join us at the Heide Observatory for the Lyrid Lightshow, a classic spring meteor shower known for fast-moving meteors
and the occasional bright fireball. The Lyrids originate from debris left behind by Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), which Earth
passes through each April as it orbits the Sun. While the Lyrids do not produce the high hourly rates of some summer
meteor showers, they reward patient observers with quick, sharp streaks that can appear anywhere across the sky, often
flashing suddenly rather than leaving long trails.
Tickets include the use of our anti-gravity chairs, allowing guests to relax comfortably while observing. For best viewing,
guests are encouraged to face away from artificial lights, allow their eyes time to adjust to the darkness, and scan large
areas of the sky rather than focusing on a single point. Observatory staff will share tips on where to look, explain why
meteor activity can vary throughout the night, and discuss how comet debris creates these fleeting streaks of light.
Meteors are unpredictable by nature, and viewing success depends on sky darkness and atmospheric conditions, but even
a handful of sightings can make for a memorable experience under the stars. $15 per person, more info and registration
at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lyrid-lightshow-i-tickets-1978293689680?aff=oddtdtcreator
Traveling Trees/Arboretum Cleanup-Fri, April 24 10 am
Three Kenosha area arboretums are coming together to celebrate Arbor Day with a community event focused on
environmental education, tree planting, and other outdoor activities. Greenridge Cemetery & Arboretum, Hawthorn
Hollow Nature Sanctuary & Arboretum, and the Kenosha County Center Arboretum will each be hosting activities at their
locations, encouraging people to explore local arboretums and learn about the importance of trees in their local
communities.
The event will feature a variety of family-friendly activities, including a tree planting at 10am on the 24th at Greenridge
Cemetery & Arboretum as well as self-guided tree walks the next day the 26th at 10am until 2pm. On April 24th Hawthorn
Hollow will have a clean-up event from 10am to 12pm, a free Flora Find scavenger hunt (with a chance to win a Hawthorn
Hollow T shirt), as well as a guided night hike at 7:30 (FREE, Registration Required via Website). Kenosha County Center
will also have a tree planting at 5pm on the 24th, in addition to other activities until 7pm
FREE Guided Night Hike-Fri, April 24 @ 7:30 pm
Come experience the wonders of night in the woods of Hawthorn Hollow with our Naturalist Ryan Retzke. Learn all about
the adaptations nocturnal creatures have developed to survive and thrive when the sun goes down, gaze in awe at the
night sky, and listen to the songs that fill the woods and fields after dark.
This program is for families and adults (kids under 3 are free). It is a 60-minute outdoor guided hike, so please dress for
the weather!
No refunds unless the event is canceled. Registration is required! Please register with an email address you check often
to ensure you receive instructions or updates. This hike is FREE, donations gratefully accepted, registration is required at
https://hawthornhollow.ticketspice.com/night-hikes-2026
Garlic Mustard Pull Party & Luncheon-Sat, April 25 @ 9 am
The annual Garlic Mustard Pull Party has become a new tradition at Hawthorn Hollow. Join us to help remove this invasive
species and restore the native spring wildflowers to the Hawthorn Hollow Woodlands. After the pull, we sit down to lunch
and dine on a variety of dishes all made with this tasty plant.
Questions? Contact Hawthorn Hollow’s Conservation Land Manager for more information: nicole@hawthornhollow.org
This volunteer event is free, but we ask that you register here: https://forms.gle/7nveypScTW8frwKq6