Science and Technology
Late-Season Wildflowers Field Trip
By late August and September, many plants have begun to prepare for the fall season: setting seed, dropping leaves, or putting out new growth. However, there is still a lot of blooming yet to be done during the later parts of summer by a wide range of species — especially by species that thrive in and near wetlands. This field trip aims for an encounter with at least one orchid species, as well as a suite of wetland species and some spectacular fall blooming species like Greater Fringed Gentian.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 3 p.m.
Galls and Leaf Miner Exploration Field Trip
This new field trip offers an introductory look into the weird, wonderful world of flies, moths and mites, and the often identifiable signs they create on plants. Explore and learn to start noticing the easily-overlooked evidence of these creatures on leaves, stems and branches. Hand lenses are available for use during the field trip.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 3 p.m.
LLO Science on Deck
Scientists and staff of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Large Lakes Observatory invite the community to board and tour the Blue Heron research vessel on the Duluth Harbor behind the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The Science on Deck event is free and runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tours are provided by scientists, crew and students to provide an overview of the R/V Blue Heron’s layout and research capabilities.
At 1:30 p.m. the LLO’s Dr. Ted Ozersky gives a presentation titled “What Lakes Do in Winter.”
The Blue Heron is part of the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System and is chartered by research scientists to explore any of the Great Lakes. For more info visit scse.d.umn.edu.
Fix-it Clinic
Whether it’s cracked, torn, stained, missing a piece or just not working properly, broken things can be made good as new with the right skills and tools. WLSSD has partnered with Duluth Folk School and Duluth Makerspace to host regular events where people can learn how to fix their stuff. Volunteers specialize in a variety of repair skills, including electronics and small appliances, woodworking and furniture, watches and jewelry, clothing and upholstery, sports and outdoor gear, ceramics, artwork and more.
People can sign up in advance to be paired with a skilled volunteer or volunteer their skills to help fix other folks’ stuff. For more information or to register visit wlssd.com/fix-it or call 218-722-3336. Walk-ins are welcome but not guaranteed a time slot.
Fix-it clinics are held on the second Saturday of alternating months.
Autumnal Equinox 2026
Day and night are of approximately equal duration all over the planet on this day.
The official Central Standard Time moment of equinox this year is 7:04 p.m.
Fall Migration Field Trip #1
Migration in the fall season offers some fun but challenging bird watching in northern Minnesota, as many breeding species start to head south. One of the main challenges in Sax-Zim Bog during fall migration is the sheer abundance of habitat for these en-route birds. This is fantastic for the birds, but it can be quite difficult for the birders hoping to see them. This bird-focused field trip seeks to share some of what the Sax-Zim Bog has to offer and demonstrate how to best navigate the area during fall migration.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 8 a.m. The field trip concludes at 2 p.m.
Fall Migration Field Trip #2
Migration in the fall season offers some fun but challenging bird watching in northern Minnesota, as many breeding species start to head south. One of the main challenges in Sax-Zim Bog during fall migration is the sheer abundance of habitat for these en route birds. This is fantastic for the birds, but it can be quite difficult for the birders hoping to see them. This bird-focused field trip seeks to share some of what the Sax-Zim Bog has to offer and demonstrate how to best navigate the area during fall migration.
Field trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period.
Registration is required at saxzim.org. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 8 a.m. The field trip concludes at 2 p.m.
Species Finding Field Trip: Grapeferns
With all the biodiversity in the greater Sax-Zim Bog ecosystem, seeing the uncommon, rare or difficult-to-find species can require special, targeted effort. This is the fourth of this year’s new, species-focused field trip series. The trip is focused on finding one of the coolest groups of ferns: Grapeferns! These little ferns are somewhat sensitive, but, oddly, they prefer disturbed habitats. This trip explores the species diversity of Grapeferns in the Sax-Zim Bog. Attendees can expect some hiking and lots of time on their hands and knees searching for these small and delicate ferns.
Field Trip attendance is free for Friends of Sax-Zim Bog members. The $25 membership fee covers free entry to all field trips and programs, excluding workshops, in a 12-month period. Registrants meet at the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center and Lois King Education Center at 10 a.m. The field trip concludes at 3 p.m.
Fix-it Clinic
Whether it’s cracked, torn, stained, missing a piece or just not working properly, broken things can be made good as new with the right skills and tools. WLSSD has partnered with Duluth Folk School and Duluth Makerspace to host regular events where people can learn how to fix their stuff. Volunteers specialize in a variety of repair skills, including electronics and small appliances, woodworking and furniture, watches and jewelry, clothing and upholstery, sports and outdoor gear, ceramics, artwork and more.
People can sign up in advance to be paired with a skilled volunteer or volunteer their skills to help fix other folks’ stuff. For more information or to register visit wlssd.com/fix-it or call 218-722-3336. Walk-ins are welcome but not guaranteed a time slot.
Fix-it clinics are held on the second Saturday of alternating months.
Winter Solstice 2026
It’s the northern hemisphere’s shortest day and longest night of the year. No matter where you live on Earth, the solstice happens at the same instant: Dec. 21 at 2:49 p.m. CST. It’s when the sun reaches its farthest southward point for the year, and when noontime shadows are the longest of the year.
Vernal Equinox 2027
Day and night are of approximately equal duration all over the planet on this day. The official Central Standard Time moment of spring equinox in the northern hemisphere is 3:25 p.m.
Summer Solstice 2027
Summer solstice occurs when the Earth’s rotational axis is most inclined toward the star it orbits. The Sun reaches its highest position in the sky on this day, and the Earth’s gravity pulls humans toward beaches.
Autumnal Equinox 2027
Day and night are of approximately equal duration all over the planet on the first day of the fall season.
The official Central Standard Time moment of equinox this year is 1 a.m.
Winter Solstice 2027
It’s the northern hemisphere’s shortest day and longest night of the year. No matter where you live on Earth, the solstice happens at the same instant: Dec. 21 at 8:41 p.m. CST. It’s when the sun reaches its farthest southward point for the year, and when noontime shadows are the longest of the year.