Programs and Events
Join us for the many programs and events hosted by the Aldo Leopold Foundation!
2023 Season Crane Tours and Great Midwest Crane Fest Tickets are Available for Purchase on September 1
Crane Tour Season is November–Early December
The Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm has become the region’s premier vantage point to experience the incredible sights and sounds as the cranes congregate by the thousands before commencing their annual migration. Two new crane viewing programs will be offered during the 2023 season for a total of five unique viewing opportunities! Classic, Premium, and Exclusive Tours or Photography and Group Blind Rentals are available for purchase beginning Friday, September 1.
Visit the Great Midwest Crane Fest
2024 Phenology Calendar, “What Did Aldo Observe,” is Available to Order Online—September 15
Every month features a sidebar on Aldo Leopold’s observations of events during 1935-1948. Those dates can be compared with the dates on the calendar when the events are now expected to occur. Then we provide an excerpt, in Aldo’s own words, of an entry in the Shack journals for the month. One thing becomes clear from Aldo’s journal entries and the average dates on which he recorded his first observations of various events: What we are observing today is markedly different from what Aldo observed!
Soundscape and Sense of Place
Thursday, September 21, 7-8 p.m., Virtual event on Crowdcast will also be available after 9/21.
Join renown ornithologist Dr. Stan Temple as he explores Aldo Leopold’s fascination with natural sounds and how they enhance our sense of place. Dr. Temple will introduce the new field of soundscape ecology and share his detailed recreation of the dawn chorus of birds that Leopold meticulously documented at his beloved shack in June 1940. Phenology Calendar Coordinator Emily Oyos will be your host for the evening.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration at The Aldo Leopold Foundation
Monday, October 9, Time of event to be announced
E13701 Levee Road
Baraboo, WI 53913
Celebrate and honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day with the Sauk County Historical Society on Monday, October 9 in Baraboo at the Aldo Leopold Foundation.
Phenology and the Shack Journals
Thursday, October 12, 7-8 p.m., Virtual event on Crowdcast will also be available after 10/12.
Phenology – the study of seasonal ecological events – was a core aspect of the Leopolds’ Shack experience. The Shack journals are full of phenological notes, from the start of sandhill crane migrations to the first appearance of spring blooms. These journals were a reservoir of inspiration for Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, and they are important reference points for assessing changes in the timing of natural phenomena around the Shack.
Join Phenology Calendar Coordinator Emily Oyos and Program Associate Kei Kohmoto as they explore both the fun and importance of phenology, the past and present roles of the Shack journals, and how you can engage with seasonal events just like the Leopolds!
The Great Midwest Crane Fest—Celebrating Community and Conservation
Friday, November 10–Saturday, November 11, the Aldo Leopold Foundation and
International Crane Foundation
Witness the marvel of Wisconsin’s largest crane congregation and participate in guided crane-viewing tours, photography and crane behavior workshops, conservation-related lectures, and extraordinary events. Explore the beautiful landscapes and rich histories connecting the festival hosts, the Aldo Leopold Foundation and International Crane Foundation.
Sandhill Cranes…in your living room!
Thursday, December 14, Virtual Event on Crowdcast
Dr. Stan Temple guides you through the history of the Sandhill cranes AND you get a peek into how the Aldo Leopold Foundation stewards the land to keep the cranes coming back year after year. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to sit back, relax, and witness the spectacle of 10,000 cranes.
For additional programming, visit our Digital Learning Resources page: