The Milwaukee Mushers and their rescue pups returned to Winter Break. We didn’t have enough snow to give out sled rides this year, so we settled for doing demonstrations and letting them run with rigs and bikes. When they weren’t running the trails, these very good dogs were available for meet and greet (and treat if you were lucky!).

Lizz from Tootsies Tea gave out samples of her delicious tea flavors. Milwaukee is brew city, and while that originally meant beer, today our brewed beverage love has expanded to coffee. Lizz is making a compelling case for including tea with her custom-designed flavors including lots of dried fruits, flowers, and herbs.

Wheel & Sprocket provided free Fat Tire Bike rentals so everyone could experience winter biking joy! This year, the conditions were just right for riding, and people of all ages took them for a spin.

New to Winter Break this year, Kettle Moraine Kubb Club taught people how to play the popular lawn game Kubb. It’s a fun and fast-paced game where players try to knock over wooden blocks by tossing wooden batons.

While walking specific trails, attendees might have noticed plaster-cast animal footprints on the ground. This was part of the DNR’s scavenger hunt designed to test your knowledge about Wisconsin wildlife. Observers guessed which animal left those prints, and then checked their answers by finding the corresponding stuffed animal hidden in trees.

Johnny Types Ink composed one-of-a-kind poems on the spot, transforming attendees’ words, emotions, and stories into beautifully crafted poetry.

Attendees watched hiker Emily Ford and her dog Diggins on their journey along Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail. Emily became the first woman and person of color to hike the Ice Age Trail in winter. The documentary explores resilience, the kindness of Wisconsin’s community, our connection with animals, and access to the outdoors. Watch the Trailer here.

Attendees warmed up, roasted marshmallows or served up s’mores. They gathered with new and old friends and stayed toasty.

MKE Bento served up a special winter menu that was perfect for the day. It included hot dumplings, rice bowls, hot sandwiches, spicy noodles, and plenty of vegan options. It gets rave reviews every year.

Ice Age Trail Alliance brought seeds, pinecones, yarn and more to create a humble bird feeder. Winter can feel desolate, like everything is dead or hibernating. A birdfeeder is a great antidote. It’s a little injection of joy and delight when birds and critters stop by your window to grab something to eat.

Kim Schlomann of Rustic Rose Suri Alpacas invited guests to learn to take a hands-on turn at the loom, where she was weaving her alpaca fibers into a scarf. Guests also got to shop for soft and warm alpaca wares like hats and mittens, and learn about the spinning process for fibers.

The Ice Age Trail Alliance knows the joy of a Very Good Stick. They had walking sticks available for decoration with colorful yarn and ribbons. This is an all-ages joy kind of project. We saw many sticks out on the hiking trails. Just look in at the photo above for ‘Bonfires with a Backdrop.’ #sticknation #sticktok

Mike Krueger from the Milwaukee/Waukesha Beekeepers Association shared fascinating insights about native bees and how they survive the winter months, as well as honeybees and what beekeepers must do to keep them safe and happy in the cold. He also gave out honey and propolis samples.

Laura of 1207 Wax Works showed off the traditional process of hand-poured beeswax candle-making, including how candle molds are properly wicked, the importance of wick sizing and placement, and the hand-pouring process from start to finish. Attendees learned all about beeswax, including its natural properties and clean-burning qualities.

New this year, we partnered with Access Ability Wisconsin to bring all-terrain wheelchairs to the event. People got to take these chairs out on the trails at Havenwoods for a test drive. Like this year, next year, people of all abilities will be able to attend, participate, or even volunteer, or lead an event.

Buena Tierra Run Club arrived early to take advantage of the trails at Havenwoods, and invited everyone to ¡Corre con nosotros! [run with us!] Their dedicated run crew met a few new Winter Break friends who joined in on the run. Then they stuck around for the fun and got to meet Smokey the Bear!

Bird City Milwaukee took people on a relaxed, welcoming birding walk, led by their experienced birders. They also had an indoor setup where they modeled the sizes of Wisconsin woodpeckers with wooden blocks, talked birding tips, and shared their favorite field guides.

There were sled dogs for petting outside, and inside temperatures were just right for some of the DNR animal ambassadors to come out to play. This is Foxy the Snake, who is both friendly and introverted. When her social battery is empty, she’s done. Girl, same.