How to Spend a Weekend with Kids in Green Bay: The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary

In last week's travel post, I shared how we met up with the grandkids in Green Bay, Wisconsin for a winter staycation.  We stayed at a hotel that had an amazing waterpark for small children and that is how we spent most of our time, but we also took little field trips to The Children's Museum and the Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is a real treat! There is a real fun indoor nature center plus a 600 acre wildlife refuge.

The nature center has really cool educational exhibits.  The house below that my daughter is standing in front of, shows all the different ways animals can get inside your house and has suggestions on how to safely keep them out.

Their favorite area in the nature center was the beaver dam area.  At the top of the stair case was a pond display showing what a beaver home looks like on top of water,  then there was a slide the kids go down that would take them inside the beaver den.  They said the slide was very dark and scary, but so much fun.

Below the staircase you can walk through the beaver den.

Here's a short video of the kids coming down the beaver slide and into the den.

The grandkids also enjoyed 'Habitat Hole" where they could crawl through holes and see all the different habitats animals create to live in.

They loved all the different animals they could climb, crawl into, and take photos of.

There was lots of taxidermy and educational displays, along with some live animals like birds, snakes, and spiders!

Outdoors we saw lots of rescue animals like beavers, and this cougar.  He was so cute and cuddly, it was hard to imagine he could hurt a fly, but I'm sure he could!

There were indoor buildings too where you could see bats, snakes, birds, and view the beavers from another viewpoint.

The duck/geese pond area was amazing! I've never seen so many ducks in my life.  You can buy feed from the observation building and feed them.

They also have lots of birds of prey rehabilitating like this beautiful snowy owl.

This little grey bird seemed to really enjoy my granddaughter's attention.  He came right up to the window to interact with her.

It is always a treat to see Bald Eagles.  I see them almost everyday in my neck of the woods, but seeming them up close like this is quite the experience.

 The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is open 363 days a year and is free, although donations are always appreciated and encouraged.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

How to Spend a Weekend with Kids in Green Bay: The Children's Museum

Now that my Yellowstone/Grand Teton travel series has come to an end, I thought I'd spend the next few weeks sharing a few staycations we had this past winter before I begin my spring travel series to Colonial Williamsburg.

Last February my son-in-law had to speak at a conference in Green Bay so he brought his whole family with him for a fun weekend with us.  Usually he travels alone, but the wife and kids miss him and since Green Bay in only four hours from us, it was a way he could work, and the kids can still see him in the morning/evening, and we could visit with the grandkids.   It was a win-win for everyone!

We had to find things to do in Green Bay in winter that our grand kids would enjoy, and wouldn't cost an arm and a leg, so we chose The Children's Museum of Green Bay and the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.  We also stayed in a hotel that had a great waterpark for small children.  That was truly the highlight of their weekend and they spent hours in the pool!

This week, I'm going to share all about the children's museum.  This is such a cute little museum, and my grandkids loved it.  

One of their favorite areas of the museum was "The Fire Station"!  Here they learned all about the importance of fire safety.  They could climb inside and on top of the fire truck, put on fire and police man uniforms, and slide down a fire pole!  

They loved trying on the uniforms!

Sliding down the fire pole was pretty exciting too!

At the "Backyard Experience" they got back to nature under a mighty oak tree.  Atticus loved the tree house and slide.

Alethea enjoyed the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Stand.

And Atticus learned all about Chicken Coops while Baby Lazarus (in the background) played inside a truck.

The learning objectives in the "Backyard Experience" is to:

1. To discover and count animals in a forest.
2. To learn about characteristics of an oak tree.
3. To understand animal habitats.
4. To generate an interest in nature.

Atticus spent a long time playing with the Tinker Toys in the "Under Construction" exhibit.

Even adults can learn a thing or two in a children's museum.  I was fascinated by this sign in the "Vet Clinic" that explained all the different feelings a cat's tail makes.

Grandpa and the kids spent a long time playing with this contraption.  Elisha is figuring out that if he places a ball in one hole, air pressure moves it through the tubes and pops it out another hole.

Lazarus enjoying a little lap time with Grandpa.  As usual, I'm not in any of the photos because I was the photographer. I usually try to make another family member take my photo so my grandkids know later in life, "Yes, grandmother was alive", but this day it was so hard because we had to keep our eyes on four kids all at the same time.  They were all running off in different directions instead of staying in one area together.

In the "Splash" exhibit the kids engaged in water play.  What did doesn't like playing with water?

This is a cool exhibit for a Green Bay children's museum, for the exhibit revolves around the Great Lakes.  They learn about water energy, and they can explore a lighthouse! 

The learning objectives in the "Splash" exhibit are:

1. To explore water flow, volume and cause and effect.
2. To discover the land around The Great Lakes.
3. To learn boating vocabulary.
4. To experience the importance of lighthouses.

But perhaps their favorite exhibit of all was the "Digestive System".  Boy, did they love this exhibit! The kids physically go through a body's digestive system to learn all about how the body digest food.  They begin by crawling through the mouth, then they come out the end by "pooping" in a toilet (aka a slide into a toilet bowl".  I know it sounds gross, but they loved it!  As they crawl through the digestive it makes all sorts of bodily noises like swallowing, gurgling, and yes, farting. 

At the "Imagination Station" Alethea painted a picture.  

The kids had so much fun at The Children's Museum of Green Bay.  I highly recommend it if you're ever in the area.

Before I do, I have to show you one more picture.  We went to a Mexican restaurant later that evening and they had these cute statues that the grandkids just adored.  I love this photo.  Atticus is always "posing".  He sure loves the camera and the camera loves him.  Elisha is just so busy giggling at big brother Atticus he doesn't even notice the camera, and Alethea is just smiling pretty for the camera.

 Next week I'll share our visit to the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

Coloring Pages from "Cozy Moments to Calm Your Heart"

Well winter is over so it is time to show the last pages I have done from my "Cozy Moments to Calm Your Heart" Devotional Coloring Book.  I did not finish the book, but because it is a winter-themed book, I'm going to stop and re-start it next winter.  In the meantime, I'm returning to my "Coloring Through the Book of Psalms" Devotional.

Being Fruitful

 "You were given His wonderful new life to enjoy"

Romans 6:4

The Best Rest

"I will both lie down in peace and sleep:  for you alone, O Lord make me dwell in safety"

Psalm 4:8

The Smallest Measure

"Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too"

Philippians 2: 3-4

God's Good Purpose

"Relax, everything is going to be all right:  rest, everything's coming together;  open your hearts, love is on the way!"

Jude 1: 1-2

What We Want Most

"You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest"

Psalm 139:3

Noticeable Things

"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest"

Exodus 33:14

When Quiet Comes

"Be still and know that I am God"

Psalm 46:10

Above The Storm

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights."

James 1:17

Our Soul At Rest

"Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me"

Psalm 116:7

A Holy Calm

"He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul"

Psalm 62:2

Improving Our Outlook

"I have given rest to the weary and joy to all the sorrowing"

Jeremiah 31:25

The Gift of Peace

"I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart!  And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives.  So don't be troubled or afraid."

Joh 14:27

 I hope you enjoyed my coloring pages and that you were nourished by the scriptures.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

For more "Cozy Moments to Calm Your Heart" Coloring Pages, check out these posts:

"Cozy Moments to Calm Your Heart" Devotional Coloring Book

More Coloring Pages from "Cozy Moments to Calm Your Heart"