About 600 people turned up to be active outdoors together.

The Milwaukee Mushers, aka dog sledders, and their rescue pups were running at Bradford Beach and Havenwoods. At Havenwoods, we had gotten enough snow to give out free rides to lucky attendees. People also enjoyed watching the dogs run and giving them praise and pets.

Lizz from Tootsies Teas changed a lot of minds when it came to tea. She held an interactive workshop on how various plants can help you get through winter, and taught brewing and preparation techniques.

Wheel & Sprocket brought Fat Tire Biking to Havenwoods. They had 5 Fat Tire Bikes for anyone to test drive. Group bike rides were at both events and included those who borrowed bikes and people who brought their own.

Many people were able to try Nordic walking. It’s like walking, but a whole body workout. You apply force with the walking poles which engages the upper body. It also allows you to cheat stability. Milwaukee Rec was kind enough to bring poles and instructors.

At Havenwoods, we made an all-ages scavenger hunt with plaster-cast animal tracks. People got to practice identifying the mystery footprints, which led to a puppet of the animal that made them. The fresh snow made this activity more challenging and fun.

Johnny Types Ink, a personalized typewriter poetry experience, joined us inside at the Havenwoods Education Center. Johnny composed on the spot poetry from attendees words, emotions, and stories and spun it into beauty.

Many guest warmed up in the theater inside the Educational Center with a documentary film about Wild Ice Skating, aka speed skating on frozen lakes. Brian Hansen is an American Olympic Speed Skater who trains and teaches at the Pettit National Ice Center. When the conditions are just right, he ventures out onto wild ice on Lake Michigan.

Good times and great views happened around the stoves. Bonfires were placed to warm hands, roast marshmallows and eat s’mores, and serve as a gathering place to meet new and old friends.

MKE Bento was on site offering a special winter menu. The reviews were outstanding and the hot food was a great addition to a cold winter day. Offerings included dumplings, rice bowls, hot sandwiches, spicy noodles, and lots of vegan options. MKE Bento serves “fresh, local flavors in a box. Handcrafted meals for your on-the-go lifestyle.”

Lots of people visited Brush Box, located inside at the Havenwoods location. Participants received a blank hanging and an abundance of art supplies to decorate and execute their creative vision. Brush Box is an immersive arts company focused on bringing access to art materials and inspiring creativity for all age and ability levels.

Bird City Milwaukee was at both events. At Bradford Beach, they had scopes out for duck spotting. At Havenwoods, they led a bird walk down to the small pond. Havenwoods provided binoculars and monoculars. People commented that they enjoyed this new activity and would start to notice the different birds in their neighborhood.

The internet recently caught on to what The Ice Age Trail Alliance has known for a long time: the appeal of a Very Good Stick. They had walking sticks ready for decorating with yarn and ribbons. People took them out on the Havenwoods trails to test them out. #sticknation #sticktok

In 2025, Havenwoods State Forest turned 45 Years old. Friends of Havenwoods turned 50 years old and Wisconsin State Parks turned 125 years old. We celebrated the milestones with cake and singing.

Havenwoods had many pairs of snowshoes for adults and kids available to borrow for free. The Havenwoods folks got everyone set up with the correct size and provided tips on how to be successful. The deep snow made this activity a hit!

Daniel the surfer explained and demonstrated the basics of Winter Surfing on Lake Michigan. He demystified the gear that he uses when surfing, and showed how to properly get into a wetsuit to keep yourself warm. He also showed off some of his moves in the water, and offered free lessons to anyone who came to see him.