The Mississippi Valley Conservancy will host its prairie stargazing walk from 7–9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Tunnelville Cliffs, near La Farge.
The public is invited to go for a guided walk and discover the planets, stars, and galaxies of the late summer’s evening sky.
This easy walk, on a relatively flat trail, will include observation of night life on the prairie and in the sky. The prairie stargazing walk is part of the conservancy’s 2023 Linked to the Land series, of outdoor learning experiences in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, sponsored by Olson Solar Energy, with support from WXOW / News 19.
This twilight walk will be led by John Heasley, founder of Driftless Stargazing. Heasley also is coordinator of the Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative, which includes the Tunnelville Cliffs nature preserve. Tunnelville Cliffs is a 1,118-acre nature preserve, with public access on the Kickapoo River, near La Farge. The site includes springs, creeks, more than 9,000 feet of frontage on the river, and forests, cliffs, prairie, sedge meadow, and open grasslands. The property is surrounded by additional protected lands, providing a wildlife refuge of 2,278 contiguous acres on the Kickapoo River.
The nature preserve is part of a proposed Dark Sky Park of the International Dark Skies Association, and an update on that project will be shared with participants at this walk.
What to bring and wear
Bring a red flashlight (if you don’t have one, a red film will be provided for use with your regular flashlight). More items to bring include binoculars (optional and some extras will be available) and insect repellent (optional). Long pants and closed-toed shoes are recommended. Feel free to bring a folding chair or a blanket to prevent neck strain and enjoy the heavens above.
Advance registration is required for this free event by Tuesday, Oct. 3, at www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events. Details and directions to the meet-up location will be provided to all registrants a few days before the event.
For more information, contact Sarah Bratnober at sarah@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or (608) 784-3606, ext. 8.
About Mississippi Valley Conservancy
Founded in 1997, Mississippi Valley Conservancy is a nationally accredited nonprofit regional land trust that has permanently protected more than 25,000 acres of scenic lands in southwestern Wisconsin by working with landowners, businesses and local communities on voluntary conservation projects. The focus of the conservancy is to conserve the bluffs, forests, prairies, wetlands, streams and farms that enrich our communities, for the health and well-being of current and future generations.
