Cable Natural History Museum

09/05/2026

"I reviewed my lecture notes as I sat on the ferry. I had just reorganized my presentation on "How Animals Learn" and wanted to make sure I remembered my slide order for tonight's evening program on Madeline Island.

Standing on a little stage at the island's Museum, I enjoyed sharing stories of animals I've worked with and the lessons I learned from them. The best way to learn how to train an animal is to practice, after all. That's why I end the program with The Training Game, a chance for us to train each other. I asked for a volunteer that I could teach a new behavior.

The room was quiet for a moment. Then a group of three sisters eagerly started pointing at each other." Read more...

I reviewed my lecture notes as I sat on the ferry. I had just reorganized my presentation on "How Animals Learn" and wanted to make sure I r...

09/04/2026

Our Buildings and Grounds crew was hard at work this week building and installing new musical instruments out at our Wayside Wanderings Natural Play area! Stop by and check out our new dragonfly and cattail instruments. A big thank you to Bill, Larry and Phil for helping put them together. Another HUGE thank you to the Kern family for sponsoring the instruments.

09/04/2026

Last week I attended the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s annual conference in Madison, Wisconsin. At the conference, it was announced that my third book, Natural Connections 3: A Web Endlessly Woven won second place in the Excellence In Craft Contest’s book category. Naturally, I’m thrilled. My essay, “Second Grade Tracking Stories” also won first place in the Family Participation-Youth Outdoor Education category for both blog and newspaper. This week I’ll share that essay with you again!

Read all about it in this week's Natural Connections or listen to the podcast. Find links to both at https://www.cablemuseum.org/connect/ or in our profile.

09/03/2026

Interested in learning more about local mushrooms? Join us for one of our upcoming mushroom programs with hands-on learning! Call 715-798-3890 or visit: https://www.cablemuseum.org/events/ for registration and more information.

09/01/2026

Stop by our Wayside Wanderings Natural Play Area and check out the new story in our story walk: The Gruffalo's Child!

09/01/2026

Congratulations to our very own Emily Stone for being named an Excellence In Craft (EIC) Contest winner Monday night at the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s annual conference in Madison, Wisconsin!
She won first place in the Blog/Family Participation-Youth Outdoor Education category for "Second Grade Tracking Stories" (Natural Connections), first place in the Newspaper/Family Participation-Youth category for “Second Grade Tracking Stories” (Ashland Daily Press), second place in the Newspaper/Conservation-Nature category for “Flying Kittens” (Ashland Daily Press), and second place in the Book category for “Natural Connections 3: A Web Endlessly Woven” (Green Darner Media). If you see her around, make sure to give her a shout out.

08/31/2026

08/29/2026

"I abandoned the idea of obtaining accurate length measurements on our snakes several years ago after struggling with Emory. She just did not want to straighten out!

This week I was excited to catch Digger, the hognose snake, slithering along the front window of her habitat in a mostly-straight line. I grabbed a tape measure and estimated her length at 32 inches. No struggle needed!"

I abandoned the idea of obtaining accurate length measurements on our snakes several years ago after struggling with Emory. She just did not...

08/28/2026

Gems of Lake Superior by Heaven Walker

My hands moved slowly over the pebbled beach as the waves of Lake Superior gently lapped the shoreline. I had found myself a nice spot to sit on the beach, close enough to the waterline to gaze at the rocks being gently tumbled by the waves, but far enough back to have a dry place to sit. As I surveyed the pebbles around me, I spotted what I was looking for. The waxy, red-banded surface of an agate poked out from the shore, beckoning me to pick it up. And though I had found the treasure I was seeking, I was determined to find more during my time along the beach.

Read all about it in this week's Natural Connections or listen to the podcast. Find links to both at cablemuseumnorthwoodsthroughthelens.blogspot.com or in our profile.

08/26/2026

Have you registered yet for the last Forest Lodge Estate Tour for the season? Call 715-798-3890 or visit: https://www.cablemuseum.org/events/list/?tribe-bar-search=forest+lodge to register.