Interpretive Program

Learn all about bats, a most unique and misunderstood mammal. Bat ambassadors will talk about the bats we can expect to find in Wisconsin, their life-cycle, and threats challenging the bat population. Meet in the Nature Center. Lot 1. All programs are free, but a state park admission sticker is required on all vehicles. Some […]

Join the park naturalist to observe and learn about monitoring bluebird nesting boxes. The Eastern Bluebird is a longtime symbol of happiness, good health and hope in North America. After years of declining numbers, hear about their amazing success story. There will be a short walk to check out some of the active boxes, with discussion […]

Dave LaLuzerne was born with a green spark in his heart. (Interestingly, his last name is the French word for alfalfa.) Nurtured through pharmacy school and many years as an herbal pharmacist in his own herb shop, he now finds his passion is educating people about the numerous and wondrous ways to use herbs for […]

This is the time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. Learn about the pollinator gardens at Newport, along with ideas for habitat at your own house. Learn about Wisconsin's native bees. Meet at the Nature Center, Lot 1. All programs are free, but a state park […]

As Wisconsin highlights Invasive Species weekend, join park volunteers and master naturalists Maureen and Tom Flatley as they hike into the area of Newport that was devastated by a straight-line windstorm in August of 2025. You will see firsthand not only what forest recovery looks like, but also the challenges that invasive species play in […]

Head out with the park naturalists and try your hand at Nature journaling. This is an activity designed for everyone, no matter your skill level. What nature journaling is: What nature journaling is not: Come with an open mind, an adventurous heart and a willingness to connect with nature! Materials provided, or bring your own. […]

Spend some time with the park naturalists as they explain all aspects of monitoring a monarch way station for the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project. This citizen science program can easily be done right in your own yard. Meet at the Nature Center, Lot 1. All programs are free, but a state park admission sticker is […]

The pristine beaches and towering forests of Wisconsin’s only formally designated wilderness park looked very different just a hundred years ago. Join park naturalists on a tour of the site of a once-bustling logging town and discover what brought indigenous peoples and European settlers to Newport. Meet at the picnic area, Lot 3. All programs […]

This is a drop-in interpretive program. Take on the role of paleontologist and answer these and other questions: What are fossils and what do they look like at Newport? How are fossils formed? Take part in a self-paced fossil scavenger hunt. Look for the table set up in the picnic area, Lot 3.  All programs […]

Join Open Door Bird Sanctuary at Newport State Park for an exciting birds-of-prey education program that brings you face-to-face with some of Wisconsin’s most fascinating raptors. Discover the amazing adaptations, behaviors, and conservation stories of these incredible birds through an engaging, family-friendly presentation designed to inspire curiosity and awe. Whether you’re a lifelong bird lover […]

This is a drop-in interpretive program. Newport’s trees are markers of the park’s history. Grab a measuring tape and pick a tree to estimate its age. Learn how different trees stretch for the sun and theorize what your chosen tree has seen throughout its lifetime. Look for the table set up in the picnic area, […]

Embark on a journey through the delicately curling fern fronds found on Fern Trail and document their beauty with a cyanotype print. Naturalists and volunteers will delve into the prehistoric past of ferns, their reproduction and how to identify them. We will then use fern fronds to create stunning sun prints. Meet at the picnic […]