Friends of Peninsula State Park

First Day Hike
2017-01-01
Details to be announced.

Annual Candlelight Ski/Hike
2017-02-04 | Peninsula State Park – Winter Warming House (Lot 5), 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, WI, 54212, United States
Candlelight Ski at Peninsula State Park
Peninsula State Park’s Candlelight Ski/Hike will take place during the Fish Creek Winter Festival, on Saturday February 4, 2017 from 5:30 to 8 PM.
Gail Anderson, a volunteer and member of the Friends of Peninsula State Park says, “The Candlelight Ski/Hike is one of our favorite activities in Peninsula. The one-mile loop is magical, with hundreds of lit candles lining the trail. What fun to see all of the people enjoying this very special evening.”
Participants will enjoy a tour through the woods, a bonfire, and cookies and cider in the park’s warming shelter. The trail will be groomed for both skiers and snowshoers. Hiking will be allowed if conditions are not adequate for skiing, so plan to join the fun, with or without snow.
For this event, enter the park at Highland Road, one mile north of Fish Creek at the intersection of Highway 42 and County Road A, and park in Lot 5. There is no charge for this event, but donations are appreciated. A State Park vehicle admission sticker is required and can be purchased in person at Park Headquarters in Fish Creek, or with cash or check at the event. Please, no pets or sleds at this event.
Volunteers are needed to help with parking, candle set-up and candle lighting. Anyone interested in helping out on February 4 should contact Park Headquarters at 920-868-3258.
The Candlelight Ski will be cancelled if weather conditions are severe. Candlelight skis/hikes are very popular events at DNR properties, with some attracting thousands of visitors on a given night. Given the department’s responsibility to provide a safe recreational experience, access to these events may be restricted at times when parking capacity has been reached. Thank you for helping make these events a success.
For information, please call Park Headquarters at 920 868-3258 or visit the Friends website: www.peninsulastatepark.org.
The Friends of Peninsula State Park is a non-profit organization dedicated to assist with the preservation and goals of Peninsula State Park. The Friends provide volunteer services and financial support for the interpretive, educational, recreational and visitor service programs at Peninsula State Park. New members are always welcome. A membership form is available on the website or at the park office.
Contact:

Sally Pfeifer Co-Chair salpfeifer@hotmail.com
Gail Anderson Co-Chair gailnick.anderson@gmail.com

Friends of Peninsula State Park Annual Meeting
2017-08-26 11:30 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Peninsula State Park – Weborg Point, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, 54212, United States
Please join the Friends of Peninsula State Park for a potluck picnic lunch. Our new park Superintendent, Brian Markowski and Assistant Superintendent, Jennifer Birkholz will discuss what is new in the park & what is planned for the future.
Where: Weborg Shelter
When: Saturday, August 26, 2017
Time: 11:30am – Picnic lunch followed by a short business meeting.
Please bring a dish to pass. Soft drinks and hot dogs will be provided by the Friends. Parking at Weborg is limited. Additional parking is available just north of the campground at Nelson Point. A park sticker is required.

Peninsula State Park Celebrates the New Year with a First Day Hike
2018-01-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Peninsula State Park – Weborg Point, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, 54212, United States
On the trail for the 2016 First Day Hike. Photo by Kelli Bruns
On January 1, Peninsula State Park will sponsor a First Day Hike, offering visitors the opportunity to rejuvenate by taking a family friendly trek led by Friends of Peninsula State Park. “This is a great way for the whole family to start off the new year with a healthy activity,” says Chris Holicek, Friends president.
First Day hikers will meet at the Weborg picnic shelter at 10 AM on January 1. The easy one- to three-mile hike will follow the Sunset Bike Route and Weborg Marsh. There will be an opportunity to warm up in the shelter afterwards with hot chocolate and cookies until noon.
Children are welcome with adult supervision, but pets are not allowed. Participants are advised to bring a water bottle, binoculars, and field guide, and to dress for the weather, with hiking boots or snowshoes. A state park vehicle sticker is required.
“We are excited to host a First Day Hike as part of the national effort to showcase state parks as close to home places for connecting people to nature, promoting year-round recreation and fostering healthy outdoor lifestyles,” says Brian Markowski, Peninsula State Park Superintendent.
This year will be the sixth time Peninsula State Park has participated in America’s State Parks’ First Day Hikes. Last year nearly 55,000 people across the U.S. rang in the New Year by collectively hiking over 133,000 miles on guided hikes. Numerous others hiked state park trails on their own throughout the day.
For cancellation information, please call the park office at (920) 868-3258, or refer to the Friends of Peninsula State Park web page. For more information about Friends of Peninsula State Park, visit their web page at peninsulastatepark.org or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peninsulafriends/.

Contact:
Steve Strucely, Business Manager
Friends of Peninsula State Park
Office: (920) 868-6256
Mobile: (262) 293-6853
fpspmgr@gmail.com

Candlelight Ski/Hike
2018-02-03 17:30 - 20:00

CANCELED: Work Play Earth Day
2018-04-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Peninsula State Park, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, WI, 54212, United States
Unfortunately, due to the recent heavy snowfall and wet ground conditions, the Earth Day work day at Peninsula State Park scheduled for this Saturday, April 21 has been canceled. The event will not be rescheduled due to other activities in the coming weeks. However, the campfire story time on Saturday and the Earth Day hike on Sunday are still scheduled to take place. You may want to contact the park office at 920-868-3528 to confirm before coming.

Earth Day Campfire Storytime: The Lorax
2018-04-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Peninsula State Park – White Cedar Nature Center
Gather round the campfire to hear the classic Dr. Seuss story about taking care of the trees and animals. Create a Lorax wind-sock to keep, decorated with truffula trees and swomee swans. All ages welcome! Nature Center. Contact the park office at 920-868-3258 for more information.

EARTH DAY HIKE: Eagle Panorama to Eagle Terrace
2018-04-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Peninsula State Park, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, WI, 54212, United States
Meet at Eagle Panorama, the overlook south of the site where Eagle Tower once stood. Walk a beech-maple forest, identifying trees. Learn about forest health issues and the latest news on rebuilding Eagle Tower. Bring binoculars if you have them. Counts as a Like to Hike activity. Moderate hiking, about a mile, trail may be muddy. Contact the park office at 920-868-3258 for more information.

Like to Hike: Spring Walk to the Black Ash Swamp
2018-04-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Peninsula State Park – White Cedar Nature Center
Tucked behind Peninsula’s Nature Center, fed by spring water oozing from the bluff edges, is a temporal wetland. Sturdy black ash trees rise up from a forest floor carpeted with ferns. Despite recent “Snowstorm Evelyn” the swamp is greening up. Join Peninsula’s naturalist on Saturday, April 28, from 10 – 11 a.m. for a peek at this oft overlooked natural gem. Less than half-a-mile, easy walking. We will avoid getting our feet wet, but swamp edges will be muddy. This site is showing signs of dreaded emerald ash borer. Learn the key to this site’s survival, and which species already stake a claim here. This program is free and open to the public, but a state park vehicle sticker is required. If you need additional information email kathleen.harris@wisconsin.gov or phone Peninsula State Park Headquarters at 920-868-3258.

Migrate to Peninsula for Spring Bird Walks
2018-05-01 08:00 - 09:00 | Peninsula State Park – Weborg Point, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, 54212, United States
Migrate to Peninsula State Park the first two Tuesdays in May for spring bird walks. Meet at 8 a.m. at Weborg Shelter on May 1 and May 8 for a casual walk with Naturalist Kathleen Harris. Look for palm, yellow-rumped, and other warblers as well as shorebirds on an hour-long, naturalist-led walk. Will bloodroot be blooming? Limited binoculars available for free loan or bring your own. Easy walking, less than a half-mile. This program is free and open to the public but a state park vehicle sticker is required. Program cancelled in inclement weather. If you need more information call the park nature center at 920 854-5976 or park headquarters at 920-868-3258.

Migrate to Peninsula for Spring Bird Walk
2018-05-08 08:00 - 09:00 | Peninsula State Park – Weborg Point, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, 54212, United States
Spring sunshine has ushered in migrating birds: warblers, orioles, great egrets and many others. Join Peninsula’s Naturalist for an easy stroll at Weborg Point on Tuesday, May 8, from 8 – 9 a.m. Meet at Weborg Shelter and park at the day use lot next to Weborg Campground. In addition to birds, we’ll also look for bloodroot and invasive forget-me-not. Bring binoculars if you have them. Limited binoculars available for free loan. Easy walking. This program is free and open to the public but a state park vehicle sticker is required. If you need additional information call Peninsula at 920-868-3258.

Eagle Trail Hike
2018-05-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Peninsula State Park – Eagle Tower, 45.163211456809854,-87.19849467431641
Experience Peninsula’s most spectacular trail. Meet at Eagle Tower (dismantled) parking lot then walk a two-mile route seeing sky-high bluffs of the Niagara Escarpment, watching for trilliums, and discovering park history. Eagle Trail will be muddy and slippery; this is a difficult trail.
Program is free and open to the public but a state park sticker is required. Bring binoculars if you wish. If you need additional information call Peninsula Park Headquarters at 920-868-3258 or email kathleen.harris@wisconsin.gov.

Nicolet Trail Hike
2018-05-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Peninsula State Park – Nicolet Beach, 45.16459063279326,-87.22407221948242
Meet at Nicolet Beach to hike the Nicolet Trail via “Shanty Bay”. A sawmill, fishing shanties, and a summer estate were part of the beach landscape one hundred years ago. Enjoy Peninsula stories while walking along a beach and forest trail. Gently rolling terrain, with muddy spots.
Program is free and open to the public but a state park sticker is required. Bring binoculars if you wish. If you need additional information call Peninsula Park Headquarters at 920-868-3258 or email kathleen.harris@wisconsin.gov.

Lend a Hand at Pen Park
2018-05-15 09:30 - 10:30 | Peninsula State Park – Park Headquarters, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, WI, 54212, United States
Lend a hand protecting beautiful Sven’s Bluff on Tuesday, May 15, at Peninsula State Park. Pull garlic mustard at a Door County Invasive Team (DCIST) Work Day. Meet at Park Headquarters at 9:30 then car-pool about a mile. Help pull garlic mustard. Stay 30 minutes or longer. Bring gloves if you have them (provided for those who don’t) and wear sturdy shoes for walking on uneven terrain. Long pants recommended. Snacks provided by DCIST. Bring binoculars if you have them for bird watching. Rain date Tuesday May 22. A volunteer courtesy pass will be provided for those without state park vehicle stickers. If you need additional information email kathleen.harris@wisconsin.gov.

Sentinel Trail Hike
2018-05-22 10:00 - 11:30 | Peninsula State Park, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, WI, 54212, United States
Join the Peninsula State Park naturalist tomorrow (May 22) from 10-11:30 a.m. for a beautiful walk along woodsy Skyline Trail. Meet at Skyline parking lot on Shore Road. Saunter up to spectacular Sven’s Bluff. Identify trees and flowers along the way, and learn a bit of park history. About two miles, rolling terrain. This program is free and open to the public but a state park vehicle sticker is required. If you need additional information call the White Cedar Nature Center at 920-954-5976.

Eagle Trail Hike
2018-05-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Peninsula State Park, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, WI, 54212, United States
Meet at Eagle Tower parking lot. See 150-foot bluffs, wildflowers, and magnificent cedar trees on a naturalist-led hike. Discover park history, too. Two miles. Difficult hiking. Trail may be muddy.

Fish Tank at the Nature Center
2018-06-02 10:00 - 16:00, 2018-06-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Peninsula State Park – White Cedar Nature Center
Want to get up close and personal with a smallmouth bass or bowfin? Visit the Peninsula State Park Nature Center on Saturday and Sunday, June 2 & 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologists have stocked and set up a six-hundred gallon fish tank. Professional natural resources educators will be on hand to share fishy facts. Drop-in kids activities related to fishing are on the docket, too. This program is free and open to the public. For complete program information phone the White Cedar Nature Center at 920-854-5976. (Photos courtesy of Allan Meyer)

Eagle Trail Hike
2018-06-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Peninsula State Park – Eagle Tower, 45.163211456809854,-87.19849467431641
Sky high bluffs and tall trees are featured at two separate Peninsula State Park hikes.
Meet at Eagle Tower parking lot on Tuesday, June 19, at 10 a.m. for a two-hour hike along spectacular Eagle Trail. Learn about the rocks beneath your feet and identify wildflowers along the way. This trail may be slippery and challenging so wear sturdy footwear. Pack water for a rest stop along the way.
On Wednesday, June 20, join the naturalist for a leisurely stroll along gently rolling Sentinel Trail. Discover tree facts and folklore from 1-2 p.m. Meet at Eagle Tower parking lot. Both programs are free and open to the public, but a state park vehicle sticker is required. If you need additional information call the White Cedar Nature Center at 854-5976.

Sentinel Trail Hike
2018-06-20 13:00 - 14:00 | Peninsula State Park – Eagle Tower, 45.163211456809854,-87.19849467431641

Songs of Nature Concert
2018-07-06 15:00 - 16:30 | Kress Pavilion, 7845 Church St,, Egg Harbor, WI, 54209, United States
Benefiting the Nature Center at Peninsula State Park
With Beth Chafey-Hon, violinist/violist, composer, and arranger
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Online ticket sales are now closed. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door prior to the concert. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted for payment.
The Friends of Peninsula State Park are hosting a benefit concert for the Nature Center on July 6 in the Great Hall of the new Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor. Proceeds will support construction of an addition to the Nature Center that will provide meeting space, indoor restrooms, and additional storage and work space.
Doors open at 2:00 p.m. with a silent auction of Eagle Tower items (click here to view). Light refreshments will be served. The program will also include a brief update on expansion plans for the Nature Center at Peninsula State Park.
Beth Chafey-Hon will perform a program of her own fully-scored compositions for violin and various ensembles. Her music will be accompanied by spectacular images of Door County, including photographs by Tim Erskine, artwork from Edgewood Orchard Galleries, and pictures of the southern California desert that Beth visited last winter.
EVENT SCHEDULE:

2:00 p.m.
2:00-3:00 p.m.
3:00-4:30 p.m.
4:30-5:00 p.m.

Doors open
Check-in and silent auction – light refreshments served
Concert and program
Depart – pick up auction items

2018 Friends Annual Meeting
2018-08-25 11:30 - 14:00 | Peninsula State Park – Weborg Point, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, 54212, United States
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Please join the Friends of Peninsula State Park for a potluck picnic lunch at 11:30 a.m. Following a brief business meeting, there will be a special presentation at 1 p.m. on the “Secret Life of Jumping Worms.” Bernadette “Bernie” Williams, Plant Pest and Disease Specialist in Forest Health for the Wisconsin DNR, has spent the last 14 years studying and surveying earthworms and will be revealing their secrets. Come learn everything you ever wanted to know about worms, especially the invasive “jumping worm”, and leave with a new appreciation, respect, and perhaps even fear of this incredible animal!
RSVP to info@peninsulafriends.org with the number who will be attending. Please bring a dish to pass. Soft drinks, brats, and hot dogs will be provided by the Friends.
Parking at Weborg Shelter is limited. Additional parking is available just north of the campground at Nelson Point. A park sticker is required.
Hope to see you there. Feel free to bring a friend!

13th Annual "Fall 50" Run - Volunteers Needed!
2018-10-20
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**VOLUNTEERS NEEDED**
The “Fall 50” Run is designed to be a daylong adventure set against the colorful backdrop of Door County during peak Fall colors. Participants may compete as members of a team of 2-5 runners or as a solo ultra-marathoner. The course starts at the northern tip of the Door County peninsula at Gills Rock and travels south, primarily on back roads along the western shoreline. It passes through quaint villages and beautiful park areas including Ellison Bay, Sister Bay, Ephraim, Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, Juddville, Egg Harbor, Murphy Park, Little Harbor, Old Stone Quarry Park and finally Sturgeon Bay.
The Friends of Peninsula State Park provide volunteers to assist with parking and rest stations along the route. If you would like to help the Friends with this event, please contact Steve Strucely at manager@peninsulafriends.org.

Holiday Sale!
2018-12-01 - 2018-12-31 | Peninsula State Park – Park Headquarters, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, WI, 54212, United States
Help support the Friends of Peninsula Park while you do your holiday gift shopping! Cute plush animals come with bows and gift tags. Camp Meenahga glass jars are 3 for $10. Pen Park pint glasses are $3 each.
All items are available for purchase at the Park Office. The office is open 7 days a week (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Unfortunately, we are not able to ship items at this time.
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Candlelight Ski/Hike - 2019
2019-02-02 17:30 - 20:00 | Peninsula State Park, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, WI, 54212, United States
Peninsula State Park will host a candlelight ski/hike on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 5:30 pm – 8 pm. Skiers and hikers are invited to head out on a one-mile candlelit trail. Snowshoes are also permitted if there is sufficient snow. At the end of the trail, enjoy a bonfire with refreshments. Participants may wish to bring a small flashlight or headlamp. Pets are not allowed.
Skiers/hikers should enter at Highland Road (one mile north of Fish Creek at the Highway 42 and County A intersection). The event is free, but a state park vehicle admission sticker is required. Purchase your sticker at Park Headquarters (open until 7:30 pm), the new electronic kiosk at Eagle Terrace, or the self-registration station on the day of the event. A trail pass is not required for this event.
The event will take place even if there is not snow, but it will be cancelled if there is severe weather such as extreme cold. Access may be restricted if parking capacity is reached. For more information, or to check the status on the day of the event, call the park office at 920-868-3258.

Work*Play*Earth Day 2019
2019-04-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Peninsula State Park – Park Headquarters, 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek, WI, 54212, United States
Peninsula State Park will will be participating in the statewide Work*Play*Earth Day event on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m.-12 noon. The event is sponsored by the Wisconsin DNR and Friends of Wisconsin State Parks. Help is needed to plant trees, clear brush, and pick up litter. Volunteers should wear work shoes/boots, long pants, and gloves if they have them. Individuals and groups are welcome. Children should be accompanied by an adult.
Please meet at the Nicolet Beach parking lot for group assignments. Noon refreshments and treats will be provided. Park admission is free to volunteers. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, call the park office at 920-868-3258.

Smokey Bear at Pen Park
2019-05-25 10:30 - 12:00 | Peninsula State Park – White Cedar Nature Center
Smokey Bear will be at the White Cedar Nature Center on Saturday, May 25, sharing his fire safety message as part of his 75th birthday celebration. The program begins at 10:30 a.m. with the true story of how rangers rescued Smokey as a cub from a forest fire. Smokey will arrive about 11 a.m. and be at the Nature Center until noon.
The program is free and open to the public but a state park vehicle sticker is required. Come shake paws and receive a Smokey Bear prize. Kids can color a retro nature transfer that park staff will iron on a t-shirt. Shirts are free but donations are appreciated. For additional information, call 920-854-5976 or 920-868-3258, or email kathleen.harris@wisconsin.gov.

Raptors at Pen Park
2019-07-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Peninsula State Park – White Cedar Nature Center
Peninsula State Park welcomes live birds of prey (hawks and owls) from Open Door Bird Sanctuary on Tuesday, July 2, from 10 – 11 a.m. Come to the White Cedar Nature Center to see these impressive birds. Learn how they hunt and survive in the wild and discover what we can do to help them thrive in nature. This program is free and open to the public but a state park vehicle sticker is required. If you need additional information call Peninsula’s nature center at 920-854-5976.

Gettysburg Address and Flag Raising - Plus Smokey Bear!
2019-07-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Peninsula State Park – White Cedar Nature Center
Celebrate Independence Day at Peninsula State Park’s nature center on Wednesday, July 3, from 10 – 11 a.m. We’ll raise the flag together then listen to a reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address by Charles Dickson. Afterwards, Smokey Bear, America’s firefighting bear, will arrive to “shake paws”. Kids who recite Smokey’s fire safety message will receive a prize. This program is free and open to the public but a state park vehicle sticker is required. If you need additional information phone Peninsula’s nature center at 920-854-5976.

2019 American Honey Queen Visit
2019-07-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Peninsula State Park – White Cedar Nature Center
Meet “nature’s royalty” when Hannah Sjostrom, the 2019 American Honey Queen, visits the White Cedar Nature Center on Thursday, July 11. She will highlight the economic importance of honeybees because of their role as pollinators. She’ll reveal amazing ways bees survive, and how we can help them thrive in nature. All ages are welcome at this free event and selfies with this brainy and bee-tiful empress are encouraged.
Drop by the Nature Center any time from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon. Queen Hannah will address the group about 10:30 a.m. Children’s activities are scheduled, too, while supplies last. Be sure to walk to the Nature Center’s bee and butterfly meadow during your visit. Peninsula is featuring a bee as its 2019 commemorative Like to Hike pin, too. The event is free but a state park vehicle sticker is required.
For more information, contact Park Naturalist Kathleen Harris at 920-559-2447 or email kathleen.harris@wisconsin.gov.
