DELAFIELD, Wis. — The Wisconsin Science Festival is a statewide celebration of the enterprise of science and discovery.
It started on Monday and runs until Sunday.
One of the biggest parts of the festival is the BioBlitz where people try to identify as many species as possible.
As part of this year’s BioBlitz, the Delafield Public Library is having children explore the world around them.
Andrea Bisordi is the Head of Youth Services with the Delafield Public Library. She recently led a group of young children and their parents on a Tyke Hike down the Ice Age Trail.
Bisordi encourages them to observe the different species of animals, plants and fungi they see.
“We don’t want to touch mushrooms we don’t know anything about because some of them can make you sick and no one wants to get sick,” Bisordi told them.
With this trip, Bisordi said she has two goals.
She explained one is to help Delafield reach a thousand miles as part of its “Let’s Hike, Delafield” initiative. That’s a way to get the community more active while also promoting ways to unwind, explore and spend time with family.
Bisordi said the other goal is to identify the different species they see and record them through the INaturalist app.
“A scientist can’t be everywhere at once,” said Bisordi. “They need citizen scientists like us to be out here making these observations. It helps them to understand the Callery pear or the buckthorn, which is an invasive species and then to look at cattails and keep the wetlands in good shape.”
Ryan Rodefer’s son, Fin, is one of the kids participating in the Tyke Hike. Rodefer said this was the perfect opportunity for his three-year-old to see their community.
“With his friends being able to experience different parts of nature,” said Rodefer. “We have learned a lot about trees, a lot about bugs, insects and the mushrooms. He’s really into that sort of thing, digging in the dirt and being able to be out here to play.”
For Bisordi, few things are more rewarding than introducing kids to new experiences.
“Oh my gosh,” said Bisordi. “It’s the best to see their excitement about the things they see, the ducks, the mushrooms, the little berries because it’s just all new and it’s fun to be able to bridge that for them.”
She hopes this Tyke Hike will foster the children’s curiosity and a desire to learn about the nature around them.
For more information on how to take part in the BioBlitz and the remaining events happening with the Wisconsin Science Festival, click here.