At Schlitz Audubon This Winter, the Programs Start Around Closing Time

The trails at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Even so, between now and January 2, the center has scheduled seven guided hikes, owl programs, and seminars that start at 4:30 p.m. or later. Those dates include owl prowls, a night hike from the tower down to the Lake Michigan shoreline, and lantern-lit walks with a bonfire at the end.

At the same time, a section of the property most Bayside walkers know well is closed and being dug up. A new pond and a marsh are going into the West Meadows. When the trail reopens it will take a different route. For the next couple of months, the familiar daytime loop at 1111 E. Brown Deer Road is the one part of the nature center that isn't changing.

Seven Evenings on the Calendar

Here are the late-day nature programs as the center lists them. Prices are shown as member and nonmember rates.

The November night hike is entirely outdoors, and the owl prowls have both indoor and outdoor portions. Each of the three has a backup date. The night hike moves to Thursday, November 12 if the weather doesn't cooperate. The Adult Owl Prowl falls back to Tuesday, November 17. The Family Owl Prowl's rain date is Tuesday, November 24, at the same time. If you plan a weeknight around one of these, it helps to keep the backup night free too.

The two owl prowls are listed separately, one for adults and one for families. Both combine a night hike with the center's owl ambassadors. In December, the Winter Residents of Wisconsin seminar features the center's Great Horned Owl. The Illuminated Hike is the holiday-season walk. It includes lantern decorating, a bonfire, and hot chocolate. The January 2 date is listed as a New Year event.

Two early-morning programs round out December. The Christmas Bird Count guided hike runs Saturday, December 19, from 8 to 10 a.m. It's free to everyone, but you need to register. The Winter Solstice Hike is Monday, December 21, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. It costs $17 for members and $23 for nonmembers, and it includes a walk along the lakeshore and a campfire.

What's Closed on the West Meadows Loop Right Now

The center's visit page currently carries a trail and construction notice. Part of the West Meadows Loop is closed while the West Meadows Stormwater Management Partnership is underway. Visitors are asked to follow posted trail signs and to watch for construction workers directing traffic on the road.

That work is the nature center's share of a larger Village of Bayside project called Shared Waters. According to the Village's project page, construction started in October and should be finished by November 30. It includes three new stormwater ponds at Schlitz Audubon and two at The Shul. The October 14 update said one of the three ponds at the nature center was underway. Dead wood had been cleared to make room for the new ponds, and the project was on schedule. In its October 28 update, the Village said work on pond three had continued and was on track while the contractor watched the weather.

The Shul's part of the project changes how you get onto that property. The Village says the work includes rebuilding the parking lot, adding two ponds on the south and west sides, and closing the Brown Deer Road entrance.

This doesn't affect the trails most evening programs use. The Central Wetlands Loop runs 1.65 miles and is fully accessible, as is the Visitor Center. The Mystery Lake Boardwalk is wheelchair accessible. The Milner Lake Michigan Viewing Deck sits at the north end of the Lake Terrace Trail. The night hike on November 10 follows a route from the tower down to the shoreline.

What the Meadow Becomes

The trail closure is temporary. The meadow it runs through is being permanently rebuilt. The center's project page describes three pieces, all in or near the West Meadows.

1. A berm near Lake Drive and Brown Deer Road. A low berm with a control structure will direct stormwater during major rain events. It will also protect the existing water conditions in the center's Hardwood Swamp Restoration area.
2. A larger Gentian Pond. On the east side of the West Meadows, Gentian Pond will be expanded into a bigger waterfowl pond with an adjustable control structure. The Conservation Team will be able to raise or lower the water by season to make conditions better for different ducks and migrating birds.
3. A new marsh west of Gentian Pond. This area is mostly dead ash trees and invasive buckthorn today. Crews will dig a shallow pond with two small pools of open water, build a berm to hold the water low, and plant sedges and grasses that grow up out of the water.

When the work is done, the center plans to reroute the West Meadows Loop so it connects visitors more directly with the new pond and marsh. The new route will include small footbridges across overflow areas. The center also says the restored pond and marsh will be used as outdoor classrooms. Its Barbara Stover and Susan Bell Birding Academy programs will use them to show how different birds use different kinds of habitat.

The two partners give slightly different sizes. The center's page says its improvements will capture up to 490,000 gallons. The Village's more recent figure is 471,000 gallons at Schlitz Audubon, out of about 787,000 gallons across both sites. For comparison, the Village says the pond near Village Hall and Mount Bayside holds about 290,000 gallons. The Village says that at the nature center alone, the project area grew from about 1 acre to 1.7 acres during design. The Village also says the idea has been discussed for about 30 years, with the last 18 to 24 months spent moving it from concept to construction.

This matters for a regular visitor because Gentian Pond will no longer sit at one fixed level. With water levels managed by season, the West Meadows you walk next spring may look different from the one you walk in fall. That's why it's worth seeing the area now, before the old route is gone.

The Daytime Routine, Including One Big Saturday

The first big date of the season is in the daytime. Xtreme Raptor Day 2026 is Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for ages 3 to 17, and free for children 2 and under. The day includes raptor encounters, shows, and activities.

After that, weekends go back to the usual pattern. Raptor encounters run at the Visitor Center from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Nature ambassadors are in the Great Hall on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. Both are included with membership or admission. Family Nature Packs are free for members and $10 for nonmembers. Each one has a seasonal scavenger hunt, an animal tracks guide, a magnifying glass, and a notebook.

The 60-foot observation tower may close in bad weather, which is common this time of year. The Lake Michigan trail goes down to the beach, but swimming isn't allowed. The beach isn't tested for water quality and has no lifeguard. Pets aren't allowed anywhere on the grounds. Registered service dogs on a leash are welcome.

Holiday closures for this season will be posted on the center's calendar. Last season the center posted closures for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Check the calendar before planning a holiday-week walk with visiting family.

Where a Membership Starts to Pay Off

Members get in free all year. Annual rates are $70 for an individual and $85 for a family, which covers two adults plus children or grandchildren 17 and under. Student and military memberships are $45 each, and you can add two guests for $20.

This season's evening programs make the cost easy to compare. The member rate is $6 lower for the night hike, both owl prowls, and the Solstice Hike. If your household signs several people up for a November owl prowl, a December Illuminated Hike, and the solstice walk, those savings add up quickly against an $85 family membership. You'd also get free daily admission and free Nature Packs on ordinary weekends.

I love that some of the best nights at Schlitz Audubon this season are right here in Bayside, five minutes from home for a lot of us. If you're thinking about how places like the West Meadows fit into your own plans for 2027, or you'd simply like to know what your home is worth right now, Brynn Woll is happy to talk. Schedule a call or get your instant home valuation.