October 24 & 25, 2008

Join us for a hayride through the dark woods in Wesselman Park! 

Haunted Hayrides is a wonderful fall tradition! Join us for suspenseful fun for the whole family as you cruise past mildly spooky scenes throughout the dark, Wesselman Park roads. See the headless horseman, a haunted cemetery, a giant spider, huge and creepy inflatables, and more. Also learn about owls and bats during programs about these creatures of the night. 

Each hayride lasts about 25 minutes. Costs are $7 per mortal; infants are free. Concessions are available at the ticket booth. The only question left is, do you dare walk through the spooky forest at the end of the ride?

Check back soon for more information about this event!

March 7 & 8, 2009

A breakfast of pancakes with real maple syrup, sausage, and the choice of orange juice, milk, or coffee will be served inside the Nature Center. Ongoing programs throughout each day teach those who attend about the natural processes taking place inside of trees, the history and process of maple syrup production, and why the end result is worth the effort. These programs includes guided walking tours through the Sugarbush, allowing firsthand observation of trees tapped and readily producing sap and further explanation of the evaporation process that condenses sap to the consistency of maple syrup.

The Maple Sugarbush Festival and Pancake Breakfast is a two-day event that is made possible through the participation of Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve staff and over 80 volunteers. Trees in the Preserve have been tapped since the early 70’s, and the Sugarbush festival has been an annual celebration for over thirty years.

Birding enthusiasts and novices alike will want to be sure to keep their binoculars close next spring for the Ohio Valley Birding Festival. Each year Wesselman Nature Society has partnered with the Evansville Audubon Society, Evansville’s Wild Birds Unlimited store and John James Audubon State Park to bring four days of birding excitement to Evansville and the surrounding region. This festival is a local connection to International Migratory Bird Month (May) which also coincides with an annual variety of rare and beautiful birds that pass through our region.

The Ohio Valley Birding Festival consists of a whole host of activities for birders (or potential birders) of all ages and skill levels. Guided hikes to area birding hotspots such as Howell Wetlands, Hovey Lake, Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area and the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge will showcase a variety of native and migratory bird species. Various lectures and workshops are offered, including topics such as photographing birds, making gourd birdhouses, and providing backyard habitat for birds.

The festival also includes a special day for children and families at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve. Experience a full day of family birding fun with hands-on learning activities related to birds and their environment. A bird banding demonstration, family hike, and a live raptor show will make this a day you won’t want to miss!

Although the schedule for the 2009 Ohio Valley Birding Festival is not yet available, you may download a complete listing of last year's hikes and activities by clicking on the following link: Ohio Valley Birding Festival Schedule (PDF).

June 13 & 14, 2009

Join us for the Reptile Invasion, the largest reptile show in the Tri-State with over 150 reptiles and amphibians on display. During this event, the Wesselman Woods Nature Center will be transformed into a wild serpentarium full of lizards, snakes, turtles, frogs, and salamanders of all sizes! See snakes up to 15 feet long and even alligators!

During both days, programs will be offered on reptile care, venomous snakes, identifying area reptiles and more. Jim Harrison, nationally renowned director of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo in Slade, Kentucky, will be here at 1pm each day to put on two exciting snake shows.

Also each day, snake programs will be offered to help you learn what types of snakes are found right here in the Tri-State.

The Reptile Invasion is presented by the Wesselman Nature Society with the assistance of the Hoosier Herpetological Society (HHS), as well as the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, Monty's Reptiles, and many local reptile enthusiasts.