Wonders of Winter
WINTER PROGRAMS
PREMIER SPONSORS: COMMUNITY FIRST CREDIT UNION
Questions about winter programs? Email Rhiley Mulder at [email protected]!
There are no refunds for cancellations; substitutes are permitted. Refunds will be issued for programs cancelled by Bubolz due to low registration or lack of snow.
Craft & Cocktail: Holiday Porch Pots
December 3rd & December 4th, 2026 | 6:00-8:00pm | $50/Person | 21+ Event
Join us for a seasonal craft & cocktail event to create a holiday porch pot! Each event has the same activities, so please only register for one. You must bring your own pot, but all decorating materials, clippings, dirt, etc will be provided.
POTS CANNOT EXCEED 12 INCHES IN DIAMETER.
Registration opening Nov. 6th at 12:00 PM.
Winter Survival: Family Course
December 19th, 2026| 10:00 am -12:00 pm
In this winter workshop families will have the opportunity to learn and practice basic outdoor survival skills, right here at Bubolz. Our naturalists will teach families the basics of outdoor safety and survival, within our nature center. Naturalists will discuss methods for building a shelter, fire starting techniques, and good practices for surviving outdoors.
This program will consist of approximately 40 minutes of discussion inside our building, covering the basics on outdoor safety, shelter building and fire building. Following this, families will spend time outside building shelters and starting fires with limited supplies.
Families can anticipate 30 minutes being spent on shelter building, and 30 minutes on fire building, with plenty of time to have fun outside in between!
Hot chocolate will be available at the start of the program to warm up, as we discuss what we will be doing when we head outside. In addition, each family will get a bag of s’mores supplies to roast over their fire at the end of the program.
This program is designed to teach the BASICS of outdoor safety and survival to families, and interested individuals. It is required all children in attendance must be ages 7 and up, due to the nature of the program (no exceptions). One ticket may be purchased for each immediate family unit, exceeding no more than 6 people.
Cost:
Bubolz Members: $25 / family
Non-members: $30 / Family
Winter Solstice Hike
December 23rd, 2026| 5:00-8:00 pm
Join us from 5-8pm to enjoy the Winter Solstice! The shortest day of the year, and the longest night, is traditionally seen as a sign of light and renewal before the days begin to slowly start extending their daylight hours.
Enjoy a self-guided hike, lit by the lights of luminaries to help you navigate our trails.
This event is listed as a hike, however is weather dependent. Snowshoes and skis will be available to rent for a fee if snow allows (a 6 inch of snow is required in order to rent equipment).
S’mores and hot chocolate will also be available at the start of the trail for $1.00 each, as well as our bonfire.
The trail used for this hike is approximately 1.5 miles in length, and takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to walk. Please allow enough time to complete the trail prior to 8pm. Luminaires will be blown out and picked up promptly after 8pm.
Rentals below include the $5 trail fee:
CROSS COUNTRY SKI RENTAL
Non-members: $20
Members: $15
*Price includes equipment and trail fee
SNOWSHOE RENTAL
Non-members: $10
Members: $5
*Price includes equipment and trail fee
IF THIS EVENT IS CONVERTED TO A HIKE:
Members and Non-members: $5
Winter Ecology Snowshoe & Hike
December 11th | 3:30-5:00 pm
December 22nd | 11:00 am -12:30 pm
Lace up your boots or strap on snowshoes for a guided walk through Bubolz’s winter trails. Together, we’ll look for tracks, listen for birds, and explore how plants and animals adapt in the cold. ❄️
This program will be a 1 mile hike along our red snowshoe trail, or if there is snow, participants will have the chance to rent snowshoes for the hike.
The price of the program is $5 per individual.
If we are able to snowshoe, and you would like to rent snowshoes:
Members: Snowshoe rentals are included in program price
Nonmembers: $5 fee per person for snowshoe rental (optional)
Cross Country Ski Clinics – TBD
Join a naturalist for a fun, family friendly cross-country ski lesson. Learn the basics: putting on equipment, falling down and getting up, ski techniques, and stopping. Includes Ski Rental.
Each participant will have some time out on the cross country ski trails!
Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe
January 22nd | 5:00-8:00 pm
February 5th | 5:00-8:00 pm
Come out anytime between 5:00 – 7:00 pm to snowshoe our 1 mile illuminated snowshoe trail or cross country ski our 1.5 mile illuminated White Cedar Trail. This event is a self-guided hike, lit by the lights of luminaries to help you navigate the trails!
This event may be modified to a hike if there is a lack of snow.
There is no pre-registration for this event. Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe rental prices are listed below. They are on a first come serve basis. If you have your own equipment, there is a $5 trail fee.
CROSS COUNTRY SKI RENTAL
Non-members: $20
Members: $15
*Price includes equipment and trail fee
SNOWSHOE RENTAL
Non-members: $10
Members: $5
*Price includes equipment and trail fee
IF THIS EVENT IS CONVERTED TO A HIKE:
Members and Non-members: $5
ADD ONS:
Hot chocolate: $1
S’mores: $1