EXPLORE. DISCOVER. CONNECT.
The Nature Prescription: Healing Through Nature
The Acreage Speaker Series Presents
The Nature Prescription: Healing Through Nature with Ian Karl
As a species, humans have spent the vast majority of our evolutionary history outdoors. Only in the past few generations have we become primarily an indoor species—a shift closely associated with rising mental and physical health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and attention-related difficulties.
While time in nature is not a cure-all, it offers powerful opportunities for regulation, well-being, connection, and joy. In this talk, Ian explores current research on the relationship between nature and mental health and shares practical, accessible strategies for engaging children and families in outdoor experiences that support physical, mental, and social well-being.
About Ian
Ian Karl brings more than 25 years of experience in outdoor education and adventure guiding to his work. He holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, a bachelor’s degree in Biology, and is a Wisconsin Master Naturalist instructor. A husband and father of two sons, Ian has spent the past 15 years working in youth mental health, creating meaningful opportunities for young people to engage with the outdoors through adventure Exploration, and nature photography.
Winter Night Hikes with The National Park Service
Winter Night Hikes with the National Park Service
Night Hikes at The Acreage with the National Park Service is back in 2026!
We're back in 2026 with this popular outdoor experience with naturalists and outdoor educators from the St Croix River National River Way! Each night features an engaging theme led by National Park Service rangers from the St Croix National Scenic River way designed to connect you with the ecological wonder at The Acreage and St Croix valley.
The first night is an Owl Prowl exploring the fascinating world of owls in our region. Night two will be a starry experience with telescopes guiding you through the constellations. The series wraps up with a sensory hike engaging your senses with on the trail!
January 28 Owl Prowl
February 19 Night Sky
March 19 Sensory Hike
Grandmas March Day
Grandmas March Day
Overview
Join us for a celebration of spring and folk traditions through music and storytelling with Grandmas March with violinist Maritsa!
Grandmas March Day
Experience the vibrant Bulgarian tradition of Grandma March Day (Baba Marta), a celebration of spring renewal and ancient folk customs. This immersive cultural program introduces participants to the mythological figure of Grandma March through storytelling, traditional folk costumes, and live music.
Led by Maritsa (Bulgarian-American violist and composer) and accompanied by James Rosamilia (cellist), the event explores how traditional folk wisdom remains relevant in modern life. Highlights includes storytelling and the exchange of martenitsa (red and white woven bracelets) to welcome the coming spring.
Night Hikes at The Acreage
Night Hikes at the acreage
Night Hikes at The Acreage with the National Park Service is back for 2026!
Led by naturalists from the National Park Service, each night features a guided theme to connect us to the natural world.
January 29-Owl Prowl-Ranger Dan will call in the owls and teach us about regional species and their behavior.
February 19-Ranger Dan and Ranger Mike will help us explore the night sky with telescopes and star gazing!
March 19-Ranger Dan will lead a sensory hike to strengthen our connection to nature and the outdoors
A $10 donation is requested to support more fun programs at The Acreage.
Snowshoes are recommended. We will have a few on hand. Send us a message if you need a pair! info@theacreage.org
Leaf Off Hike with Botanist Barb Delaney
Free Event! Leaf Off Hike with Botanist Barb Delaney
Join botanist Barb Delaney for a hike exploring woodland habitats above and below the St Croix River terrace at The Acreage in Osceola, Wisconsin. The 2 hour hike will feature plant and tree identification found in the woodland edges of the St Croix River. Expect uneven terrain and a moderate pace. Hikers should wear sturdy hiking shoes, bring a water bottle, and dress for the weather. We will hike rain or shine!
When: October 9, 2025 1:00-3:00PM
Where: Acreage Greenhouse 2585 State Road 35 Osceola, WI 54020
Art & Ecology at The Acreage
Our biggest event of the year, Art & Ecology at The Acreage is coming Saturday, September 13. Join us for a day full of creative exploration and ecological discovery. Come experience The Acreage at this free community celebration of art and ecology.
Land Stewardship for Bird Conservation Walk & Talk
Land Stewardship for Bird Conservation Walk & Talk
Join us for a walking tour at the Acreage at Osceola to learn about local bird species and bird-friendly land stewardship practices. Learn how to make your home and backyard bird-friendly. Audubon birding expert Jacob Crawford will help us identify what's flying in the St Croix Valley by sight and sound throughout the hike. This tour will occur during peak birding season so we encourage you to bring binoculars or borrow ours.
Mushroom Foraging Workshop
Join local mycelium expert Tavis Lynch as he teaches on mushroom identification and guides a mushroom-foraging hike through the woods.
Spring Woodland Hike with Plant Ecologist Barb Delaney
Spring Woodland Hike with Plant Ecologist Barb Delaney
Spring Woodland Hike at The Acreage
Join Plant Ecologist Barb Delaney for a spring hike through the woodland trails at The Acreage Thursday, May 8 from 10:00-12:00. Barb will guide us through the woods discovering woodland native and non-native species emerging from their winter slumber!
Tickets are Free, but it is a limited group size so don't delay!
A little about Barb
Before retiring, Barb specialized in mapping and describing natural areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin for agencies and non-profits. Currently, she volunteers for Standing Cedars Community Land Conservancy, a regional land conservancy area along the St Croix River in Osceola, Wisconsin.
Stories, Songs, and Conversations with Ben Weaver
Stories, Songs, and Conversations with Ben Weaver
Night Hikes with the National Park Service
Winter Night Hikes at The Acreage
Experience The Acreage after hours through this interactive, engaging program with naturalists from the National Park Service. This three part series starts in January with an Owl Prowl. Participants will learn about owl habit and owl species living in our region. February’s hike will focus on nocturnal animals living in the St Croix Valley followed by an exploration of the night time sky in March! Each session will be led by a team member from The Acreage and a naturalist from the National Park Service. A modest fee is requested to reserve your spot and support nature-based programming at The Acreage.
Winter Market with St Croix Valley Food Alliance (Copy) (Copy)
The St Croix Valley Food Alliance winter farmers market is back! Join us in the greenhouse at The Acreage to connect with and support our local organic farm community!
Bees Wax Basics-From Bees to candles
Bees Wax Basics-From Bees To Candles
Explore the world of honeybees and beeswax with Cathy Mackiewicz from Bone Lake Meadow Apiary!
Class Description
During this workshop, we will work with 100% pure beeswax, a natural, renewable resource. You will learn how to melt and clean beeswax to make candles that emit a bright, healthful light within the same spectrum as the sun. Beeswax burns longer, drips less, and smells wonderful, naturally.
Through demonstration, students will learn:
The wonderful properties of natural beeswax
How to melt and clean 100% raw beeswax cappings
The types of candles (Tea-lights, votives, and tapers)
Types of wicks suitable for making beeswax candles
Essential equipment, dress & location needed to make beeswax candles
How to source, render and filter beeswax
How to make beeswax candles
How to use silicon and other molds to make beeswax candles
Each student will take home two handmade 100% beeswax candles.
Participant Fees
- Class Tuition per student: $40
- Materials Fee: $10
Total: $50.00
Night Hikes with the National Park Service
Winter Night Hikes at The Acreage
Experience The Acreage after hours through this interactive, engaging program with naturalists from the National Park Service. This three part series starts in January with an Owl Prowl. Participants will learn about owl habit and owl species living in our region. February’s hike will focus on nocturnal animals living in the St Croix Valley followed by an exploration of the night time sky in March! Each session will be led by a team member from The Acreage and a naturalist from the National Park Service. A modest fee is requested to reserve your spot and support nature-based programming at The Acreage.
Winter Market with St Croix Valley Food Alliance (Copy)
The St Croix Valley Food Alliance winter farmers market is back! Join us in the greenhouse at The Acreage to connect with and support our local organic farm community!
Night Hikes with the National Park Service
Winter Night Hikes at The Acreage
Experience The Acreage after hours through this interactive, engaging program with naturalists from the National Park Service. This three part series starts in January with an Owl Prowl. Participants will learn about owl habit and owl species living in our region. February’s hike will focus on nocturnal animals living in the St Croix Valley followed by an exploration of the night time sky in March! Each session will be led by a team member from The Acreage and a naturalist from the National Park Service. A modest fee is requested to reserve your spot and support nature-based programming at The Acreage.
After Antarctica: Film and Conversation with Will Steger
Join us for a special movie viewing of After Antarctica featuring polar explorer Will Steger Saturday, January 25 from 2:00-5:00PM.
After Antarctica is a feature-length documentary that follows polar explorer Will Steger’s life journey as an eyewitness to the greatest changes to the polar regions of our planet. Now, thirty years after his historic coast-to-coast expedition across the coldest continent on Earth, Steger is not only known for being the first in history to complete this historic feat - he is also the last.
Following the film Will will talk about the film, his incredible career, and his current adventure, The Steger Center in Ely, Minnesota. Don't miss out on this opportunity to hear from one of our nation's most revered and respected explorers.
Winter Market with St Croix Valley Food Alliance
The St Croix Valley Food Alliance winter farmers market is back! Join us in the greenhouse at The Acreage to connect with and support our local organic farm community!
Harvest Celebration with David Huckfelt
David Huckfelt live in the Horst Gallery Saturday, October 25!
Mushroom Foraging Workshop
Join us Sunday, September 29 with mycology and foraging expert Tavis Lynch for an engaging mushroom workshop. Ticket information coming soon!
Art and ecology at The Acreage
Join us for Art and Ecology at The Acreage! Come explore the incredible intersection between art and nature. Wander through the pollinator meadow, meet the animals, learn from ecology experts, and experience a diverse collection of art at The Acreage.
Land Stewardship for Bird Conservation
Do You Want To Be More Bird Friendly? Join us for a fun and informative walk & talk about land stewardship for bird conservation at the Acreage. This program is sponsored by the Wild Rivers Conservancy and the Audubon Society.
Explore the Fascinating World of Bats!
Free pubic event at The Acreage Wednesday, August 7!
Discover the fascinating world of bats! Join us at The Acreage to learn about these amazing flying creatures of the night by experts from the US Fish and Wildlife Services and National Park Service.
Following the presentation, we will set out into the night to use high-tech tracking equipment to identify species living at The Acreage. Don't miss out on this popular and engaging program.
Limited tickets are free
American Red Cross Blood Drive
American Red Cross Blood drive
Join us at The Acreage to support the American Red Cross and our community!
Authenticity and Creativity with Artist Joe Paquet
Authenticity and Creativity: A Conversation with Artist Joe Paquet
Free Event!
Join us Thursday, August 1 at 7:00PM for Authenticity & Creativity with plenaire painter Joe Paquet.
Authenticity and Creativity highlights the elements & questions which bring us closer to unlocking our highest, creative selves.
This presentation will delve into the imperative of self-trust and internal motivation in the quest for meaningful self-expression.
The Acreage Presents Fox and Beggar Theater's "Paper Operetta"
Head on out to the Acreage on Saturday June 8th for a preview of the Fox & Beggar Theater's brand new puppet opera, The Paper Operetta.
Free Event! Spring Ephemeral Hike at The Acreage
Spring Ephemeral Hike at The Acreage
FREE TICKETS HERE!
Free Event! Spring Ephemeral Hike at The Acreage | May 16 10:00AM-12:00PM
Enjoy a spring ephemeral hike with retired professional botanist, ecologist and educator Barb Delaney. You will explore prairie, woodland and wetland habitats at The Acreage discovering and identifying an abundance of spring ephemerals.
Currently volunteering with the Standing Cedars Community Land Conservancy, Barb Delaney is a regional expert in mapping and describing natural areas in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
This 2-hour hike is recommended for adults interested in learning about regional botany, hiking easy to moderate terrain. Participants should come prepared for the outdoors, wear sturdy shoes, and a water bottle to hydrate during the hike.
Shiitake Mushroom Cultivation Workshop
Join us in September at our annual community arts celebration Art at The Acreage. Meet practicing artists, visit the collection in the Horst Gallery, and take home something uniquely you created onsite through pop-up artist workshops!
Night Hikes at The Acreage
Join us for an exciting adventure under the starry sky at The Acreage in Osceola! The National Park Service is hosting a series of night hikes, starting on __, 2024 at 6:30 PM. Come back for another night under the stars.
The Improvised Life with Jazz Artist Sam Miltich
The Improvised Life
All $30 tickets are General Admission
Non-alcoholic refreshments will be served.
The Acreage and Sam Miltich presents "The Improvised Life: Exploring Intersections of Mental Health & Creativity through Jazz," a program highlighting Sam's own story of mental illness and recovery. Featuring original compositions, the program also includes music by famous artists such as Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Django Reinhardt and others that helped inspire Sam in the journey through the creative process in improvisation which has been so crucial in his pursuit of wellness. With a focus on hope for recovery, the program weaves musical performance with Sam’s experience exploring the intersections of mental health and wellness, the creative process used in improvising, connection to the natural world, and his pursuit of well-being amidst the daily challenges of living with schizophrenia.
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