Nature Passport

media release: 

This year, Nature Net is revamping its renowned Nature Passport to elevate how Wisconsin families can make the most of their summer outdoor adventures! Whether you’re discovering hidden gems or completing simple missions, the updated Nature Passport ensures families can make the most of the incredible natural wonders that our community has to offer. We’re also a proud supporter of the Nature Everywhere Initiative—so whether you're visiting a Nature Net site or exploring your own backyard, Nature Passports offer ideas for getting outside and connecting with nature no matter where you are.

The Nature Passport is a free and self-guided activity journal inviting children and their families to visit the various Nature Net sites and spend time engaging with the natural world. Each site has a list of activities for kids to complete along with further information about the location. Families may work to complete as many of the nature missions as they can, or simply use their Passport as inspiration for their own adventures. Offered in both English and Spanish, Nature Passports are available at Nature Net sites (seen at naturenet.org/directory-of-centers-southcentral-2) and local libraries from now until the end of summer. Each site has something truly unique to explore, so what are you waiting for? Get out there and explore!

With a mix of indoor attractions like the Madison Children’s Museum and Cave of the Mounds, and stunning outdoor spots such as Cherokee Marsh and the UW–Madison Arboretum, there's always somewhere to explore no matter the weather. Nature Net Director, Betsy Parker, notes that, “the Nature Passport has always been one of my favorite programs we offer. It can be hard for families to stay creative with activities throughout the summer, so I love that we can provide a pocket-sized tool that inspires adventure and connects people with our local resources.”

Nature Net is a program of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center and works to get families and educators outdoors. This year’s Nature Passport is offered as a free resource thanks to support from Wild Birds Unlimited and printing via Images Plus. Additionally, the UW-Madison Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Program (LACIS) assisted in creating the Spanish language version of the Passport. If you would like to get more involved and keep the Nature Passport going for the next generation of environmental stewards, donations are accepted at naturenet.org/nature-passport/ or at AldoLeopoldNatureCenter.org.