The Learning Series

The Madison Parks Foundation wants to ensure that our children and their families are offered diverse and organized opportunities in our parks. We also know that if our parks are active, our children and their families are active and living a healthier lifestyle. One of the best ways to attract people to come to our parks is to offer fun and engaging programming.

The Learning Series features educational events, hands-on workshops, and informational stories about projects, people, activities, and initiatives. The Learning Series allows participants of all ages to learn a new activity, experience with nature, enjoy time as a family, or connect with friends. These Learning sessions within the Series occur year-round and provide instruction from experienced individuals that are paid a stipend with funds from the sponsorship of the Madison Parks Foundation. The offerings are engaging and diverse and include events like star gazing, candle-lit snow shoeing, learn to log roll, geo-caching, learn about snow snaking (from the Ho-Chunk Nation) learn to stand-up paddle board, learn to cross country ski, bird watching, and many more. In the past couple of months, the Learning Series has offered some unique and entertaining experiences like, “Learn to Listen for Owls, “Learn Curling” and “Learn to Cold Weather Camp.”

Our Madison Parks Division is one of the only Parks departments in the country that does not have a Recreation component to the division and that is why the Madison Parks Foundation is proud to support the Learning Series that provides free programming focused on including everyone. Through the generosity of our community members and grants, we were able to purchase equipment to expand these offering to more people. Thirty Skate Helpers were purchased so more people could “Learn to Ice Skate,” 20 pairs of binoculars for bird watching and nature sessions, 40 bird house making kits, 40 snowshoes, 75 kites and supplies to facilitate more learning opportunities and so much more.

Support the free guided activities in our parks such a bird watching, star gazing, disc golf and more, allowing people to use our parks and learn, regardless of income level.