Happy Earth Week

Inside: River Clean Up, Arbor Day, Nine Mile Farm -> Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

April 19, 2026

Know the North Shore: Nine Mile Farm

The 185 acres that make up Schlitz Audubon Nature Center has a long history

Before it was a world-class nature center, the land we now know as the Schlitz Audubon was the "Nine Mile Farm." Named for its exact distance from Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee, the 185-acre site was acquired by the Uihlein family in the 1880s for the Schlitz Brewing Company.

The farm served a very specific purpose: it was a vacation home for the brewery’s draft horses. "Footsore" horses that had been working the hard city pavement were sent north to the farm to rest and graze in the lakefront meadows. Intensive evergreen planting began around 1910, and when the brewery considered developing the land into a shopping center in the late '60s, Bayside residents fought to preserve it, eventually leading to its donation to the National Audubon Society. See the center’s history.

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Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s big cleanup

One of the biggest opportunities to take action this week is the 31st Annual Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 25 from 9 AM to 12 PM.

The cleanup takes place at more than 90 sites across the Milwaukee River Basin, including North Shore locations such as Estabrook Park, Kern Park, Hubbard Park and others. Even better, this year’s event is aiming to set a world record for the largest number of volunteers participating in a one-day, multi-site river cleanup.

Volunteers help remove trash, protect wildlife habitat, and improve the waterways that connect so many of our communities. If you are looking for one Earth Week event that feels both local and big-picture, this is a great choice. Early arrivals may also be able to grab a commemorative T-shirt while supplies last.

Schlitz Audubon Beach Clean-Up 

To wrap up Earth Week, the Schlitz Audubon is hosting a beach cleanup on Saturday, April 25, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. You’ll join environmental educators to scout the Lake Michigan shoreline for litter. It’s a great "citizen science" opportunity that contributes to the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Adopt-A-Beach program.

Urban Ecology Center Earth Week Activities 

The UEC has a full calendar for Earth Week! Highlights include a "Bike to the Beach" cleanup ride on Tuesday, April 21, leaving from Riverside Park at 5:00 PM, and a Nature Journaling workshop at Washington Park on Earth Day (Wednesday) at 5:00 PM. If you’re looking for something low-key, they are also hosting a Friends & Families Game Night on Thursday, April 23, at 4 PM.

Arbor Day

A moment before planting the tree

Arbor Day is Friday, April 24, and even if you do not make it to a formal planting event, it is easy to build your own family tradition around it. A few simple North Shore-friendly ideas:

  • Take a “tree walk” and let kids pick their favorite tree on the block

  • Visit a nature-focused spot like Schlitz Audubon, Doctors Park, or a favorite Oak Leaf Trail section

  • Learn the names of three trees you pass all the time but have never identified

  • Plant a native shrub, flowers for pollinators, or even a tree if you have the space. River Hills residents can score a free tree this spring through Johnson’s Nursery’s Big Plant program: Reserve one free tree per household for the River Hills Arbor Day Event. Free trees are limited and may run out, but larger discounted trees are also available at 20% off retail price with promo code DISCOUNTTREE. Eligible residents can browse options and reserve a tree through Johnson’s Nursery.

Calling Super Moms!

Celebrate Mother’s Day at The Little Gym on May 3 with a fun event for kids ages 4 months to 12 years. Enjoy gymnastics, donut glazing, and a chance to celebrate all the super moms. New class times are also now available. Sign up on the website or text 414-236-9099 for details.

See you out there,
North Shore Family Adventures

P.S. Forward this to anyone still asking, “What should we do for Earth Day???”

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