Submitted by David Kelley (he/him), Friends of Wisdom Prairie It’s early spring. Tendrils of mist dance like sprites on the water. The lake’s surface is smooth like polished silver. Several ducks skim silently like shadows in the fog. This is Lost Lake, a relic of the glaciers, which covered much of Wisconsin until 10,000 years ago. Lost Lake is nestled in prairie and woodland just west of Holy Wisdom Monastery. You hike along the trail, which meanders around the lake. To your right oak trees rise like pillars, leaves rustling in the spring breeze. On your left emergent vegetation creates …
Kids on the Prairie
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises! Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public. November 9 – Join Us for a Celebration of Our Year! We’ll take a short walk near the gardens and Lost Lake listening and looking for signs of life. Afterward, wrap up the season with a slide show of 2025 KOTP activities, games, hot chocolate and cider.
Kids on the Prairie
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises! Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public. October 12 – Trees, Trees, Trees Explore woodlands and savanna. What are trees doing over the winter? Make bark and leaf rubbings. Look for places for insects and animals to shelter from winter cold and snow. Listen to the forest. November 9 – Join Us for a …
Kids on the Prairie
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises! Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public. September 14 – Apple Picking, Cider Tasting and Seed Collection Taste the goodness of organically grown Monastery apples. Learn about seeds and collect prairie seeds to renew the prairie. Each family will get some seeds to take home.
Kids on the Prairie
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises! Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public. August 10 – Butterflies and Bugs Get up close to insects on flowers. Look for monarchs and other insects. Find out what they are doing on different common plants.
Kids on the Prairie
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises! Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public. June 22 – Explore Wisdom Prairie See what’s blooming and buzzing. Look for flowers everywhere even on shrubs and conifers. Make a flower rubbing. How many different kinds of flowers will we find?
Kids on the Prairie
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises! Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public. May 18 – Birds and Binoculars Families will have an opportunity to watch birds, move like a Sandhill Crane, and peek in on a Bluebird nest. We’ll have kid friendly binoculars for kids to try. Migration is happening. What are all those birds eating?
Kids on the Prairie
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises! Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public. April 13 – Spring is Everywhere On a walk to Lost Lake, we’ll see and hear Red-winged Blackbirds, Ducks, turtles and frogs. We’ll look for spring flowers and changes to the landscape. What evidence can we find for critter activity over the winter and now?


