Tyke Hike #59 - Waterville (UW-Waukesha Field Station)

The Marlin Johnson/Waterville Prairie at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha's Field Station is a true hidden gem of our area. My family absolutely loves this place. This Tyke Hike, 14 individuals were fortunate enough t have the man himself, Mr. Marlin Johnson, guide us through this fascinating area.

We walked through a good chunk of land, enjoying lots of interesting observations along the way.

We investigated milkweed,

went critter catching and sweeping,

made some new six-legged friends,

tasted some flowers and leaves,

learned about the importance of mud by investigating mud nests and habitats,

dissected a goldenrod gall,

stump jumped,

enjoyed a ring-around-the-rosie break,

hid in some big bluestem grass,

measured a tree using some non-standardized measurements,

found some bullfrogs,

felt a moss blanket,

"swept" the trail,

observed and held crabapple time trial races on the Scuppernong Creek,

found fall fly worms,

investigated a kiln,

studied antique farming equipment,

packed into a golf cart,

and made a bouquet. . .just to mention a few.