The Friends of Capital Spring and its event partners will host a Wellness in Nature event on Saturday, Sept. 23, 1-5 p.m., where representatives of the Ho-Chunk Nation will be the honored guests and educators for the event.
Located at the lakeshore William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park shelter 2, this event is centered around sharing and exploring the benefits of nature on physical and mental well-being.
Historically, Madison, and the majority of Wisconsin, sits on ancestral land for the Ho-Chunk Nation. The state government forcibly removed the Ho-Chunk from their home in 1832. In present-day Wisconsin, many Ho-Chunk people are returning to their ancestral lands.
(Photo by Claire Carlson)
During this event, according to a press release from Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area, participants will be able to engage in activities such as lakeshore hiking trails with educational signage and a naturalist-led nature observation area, Ho-Chunk cultural activities and dug-out canoe, family bike ride (bikes will be provided for those in need, but participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes to participate in this activity), trishaws for attendees with mobility issues, reading and flute-playing of The Ho-Chunk Courting Flute by Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Bill Quackenbush, canoeing and fishing on Lake Waubesa with Dane County Parks, CPR demonstrations and heart health games with SSM Health and Dean Health Plan by Medica, prairie crafts and more.
At 3 p.m., a picnic buffet of BBQ pork sandwiches, salads, vegetarian chili and assorted bars will be available for $10 per adult to age 16, $5 per youth, and 5 and under free. Featured speakers will present during the picnic including Dr. Roopa Shah, MD at SSM Health Dean Medical Group on Wellness in Nature and Bill Quackenbush on Tribal Healing.
This event is free and open to the public. Click here for a full schedule of events. To register and RSVP for the different activities, send an e-mail to Clare at [email protected] with the number in your group. And to learn more about the Ho-Chunk Nation and their ancestral lands visit their website.
