Class is full.  Submit your registration and get on our waiting list.

Course Title-Tree and Shrub Indentification

Dates-Aug 27, 29, Sep 5, 10

Location-Mercer Public Library and field

Instructor- Christine Paulik and Chad McGrath

Details have not yet been finalized.  Keep checking this website.

This class has been postponed for a later date.

Course Title: “Scientific Literacy in the Information Age”

Course #19S06

Dates: July 8, 15, 22, and 29 – Mondays, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (totaling 8 course hours)

Location: Iron County Courthouse, 300 Taconite St., Hurley, Wisconsin

Course fee: $35 minus $5 if registration is received by June 24, 2019

Course Objective: How do you find accurate and well-researched scientific and medical information online in a world overflowing with misinformation and bias? In this course you will learn how use critical thinking strategies to engage with scientific reporting in the media and online sources. Learn how to identify problematic claims or hoaxes attempting to take advantage of you or your money, in addition to well-informed but misguided information based on personal bias or hidden agendas. Navigate the internet wisely and safely! Continue reading

Course Title:  American Sign Language

Course #19S05

Dates:  Tuesday/Thursday, May 28 & 30, June 4,6,11,13

Time:  1:30 to 3:00 pm

Location:  Mercer Public Library

Course Fee: $40, Discount $35 if registered by May 14th.

Students will be required to purchase the following book before class: Signing for Kids by Mickey Flodin.  The book is available new through Amazon for $16.  Used books may be purchased for considerably less through eBay or Amazon.

Objectives:  Students will learn the basics of American Sign Language, beginning with the manual alphabet.  Students will also increase sign language vocabulary along with knowledge of grammatical structure.  Students will be able to hold basic conversations with deaf individuals. Continue reading

Course is full –no further students will be accepted.

Consider signing up on the waiting list for the next one.

Course Title: Exploring and Documenting the Flambeau Trail and Turtle Portage

Course #19S02

Course fee: $65, early bird discount $55 if registered before April 2nd

Dates: April 16 -3 hours, April 23 _3 hours, April 30 -3 hours, May 7 -3 hours, May 14 -2 hours May 21 –Rain Date as needed.

Time: Varies based on activity, classroom instruction 2:00 pm-4:00 pm, most field instruction 2:00 pm-5:00 pm

Class size: Limited to 12 participants.

Locations: Mercer Library, Mouth of the Montreal River & Oronto Creek, Long Lake & Turtle River Continue reading

This Class is now full we will accept your contact information on a waiting list for a future class.

Course Title:  Where Two Worlds Meet—Lac du Flambeau

Course # 19S04

Dates:  Wednesdays, May 15- June 5, 2019

Time:  10:00 AM to noon

Location:  Mercer Library conference room, 2648 W Margaret St., Mercer

Course fee: $35 with $5 discount if registration is received by May 1, 2019

Maximum number of students: 12

Objectives:   I hope that students will come to have a greater perception of and empathy for people of differing racial/cultural backgrounds with a view toward bringing about a better understanding and acceptance of others and differing ways of life. Continue reading

Course Title:  Climate Change: Causes, Effects, Solutions

Course # 19W05

Course Fee – $15

Dates:  March 19 and 26, 2019

Time:  9:00 AM to noon

Location:  Mercer Community Center, 2648 W Margaret St., Mercer

Objectives:  Students will learn about climate change effects on life in the Midwest and Wisconsin. Options for reducing the rate of climate change and adaptation to changes will be presented. Continue reading

Course Title:  Poetry Workshop: Words At Play.  (Poetry is like dancing with words.)

Course# 19S01

Course Fee-$25 Discount $20 if registered by March 23rd

Date: April 6, 2019

Time:  9:30AM to 1:30 PM

Location:  Mercer Library, Board Room

Objectives:  To acquaint participants in the ease of putting images of people, places, and things that have meaning for them into poetry.  We will discuss terms and techniques, including free verse, prose poems, and structured poems. Everyone’s personal history and aspirations are unique so why not put them into poems.  Poetry is a great way to express yourself in a concise and meaningful form. Continue reading

Make Up Class February 20th @ 9am-11am.

Course Title:   History on the Landscape: Ancient and Medieval Ireland

Course #19w02

Fee: $30 with $5 discount if registration is received by Jan 9th.

Dates:           Wednesdays, January 23, 2019, to February 13, 2019

Time:            10 a.m.­­–noon

Location:     Mercer Public Library/Community Center

Objectives: Ireland is unique in the Western world for the sheer number of archeological remnants and historical remains still visible upon its landscape, many of them dating back more than 6,000 years. In a country less than two-thirds the size of the state of Wisconsin, there are almost 150,000 such historical “monuments,” from ancient megalithic tombs, temples, and stone circles to medieval ringforts, castles, towerhouses, and monastic ruins. It is impossible to travel through the country without coming upon these silent yet palpable traces of hundreds of generations of human endeavor. This course explores the story of that ancient and medieval world. It will layer onto the chronological story of Ireland’s deep and rich past an exploration of the abundant monuments and historical sites that form a physical, material—and “readable”—record of that past. Continue reading

Course Title:  Cross Country Ski Instruction

Course# 19w01

Fee: $30 (minus $5 if registration received by Dec. 20); Includes $10 discount subsidized by the Community Pursuit, and $10 MECCA trail fee. Ski rental is available for $5 per session. Scholarships available

Dates:  Jan. 3, 8, 10, 15, 2019

Time:  1:00 – 3:00 PM

Location: Mecca Ski Trail, 4686 Fierick Rd., Mercer WI, 54547  http://www.skimecca.org/

Objectives:  At the conclusion of this course, students will understand the basics of both diagonal stride and skate style skiing, as regards both technique and equipment.  They will be able to stand comfortably on skis, compress each ski and grip the snow, kick off and then repeat with the opposite leg. They will be able to glide forward on the gliding ski after their kick, maintaining balance, as they shift their weight forward over the gliding ski.  They will be able to engage their poles at the proper time and push, assisting forward movement. Continue reading

Course Title:  Ceramics for Beginners

Course # 18s05

Dates:  September 10-27, Mondays and Thursdays

Time:  4:00-5:30

Location:  Art room, Mercer School, 2690 Margaret St., Mercer, WI

Objectives:  In the 6 sessions, students will learn three fundamental techniques for working with clay: coils, pinch and slab-work. By the end of the class, students will have made three projects, including a mug they will build out of coils, a multi-purpose bowl utilizing the pinch technique, and a flat dish made from rolling slabs from clay. Continue reading

Class was cancelled.

Course Title:  A Colorful Glimpse of Espana, Culture, History, and Cuisine

Course #18F03

Dates:  October 11, 15, 18, 23, 2018

Time:  3:30 – 5:30

Location:  Room 417, Hurley School, 5503 W Rangeview Dr., Hurley

Fee: $30 (early bird discount of $5 if registered by Oct. 1)

Objectives:  This 4 night adventure will highlight what makes Spain such a desirable destination.  Come learn why instructor Patritto returns over and over again to this fascinating country!

Course structure:  The course will be given in _4__ sessions, each _2__ hours long, covering the following topics:  highlights journey through history 711AD-present, architecture, the story of Madonna at Monserrat, the La Sagrada Familia, Mediterranean cuisine of the 17 regions of Spain, and more Continue reading

Course Title: Lake Ecology

Course # 18S03

Dates and time: Tuesday and Thursday, July 10 & 12, 10:00 AM to 3:00PM,   

Location: Oma Town Hall – 4514 W Town Hall Rd. Oma, WI (16 miles north of Mercer on the corner of Hwy 51 and Town Hall Rd.)

Fee: $35 with $5 discount for early bird registration before June 26^th (includes 2 lunches)

This course consists of 4 segments, each 2 hours and lead by a lakes expert. A catered lunch, included in the fee, will be served between morning and afternoon sessions both days.

Session I, Waters of Wisconsin, Tuesday July 10, 10AM to 12PM. Instructor Susan Knight  – Associate Scientist and Interim Director – UW Madison, Center for Limnology – Trout Lake Station –

Course description:   Waters of Wisconsin – Lakes, streams, wetlands, and ground water are dynamic features of Wisconsin’s landscapes. These waters are vital to our health, livelihoods and enjoyment. In this session, we will discuss the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of these water resources and how they interact.  We will consider how lakes differ as well as the importance of lake issues including food webs, eutrophication, invasive species, and damage to shorelands. We will address problems unique to streams as well as local groundwater issues. Finally, we will examine the importance and vulnerabilities of wetlands. We will discuss how these different types of waters interact and contribute to the aquatic landscape in Wisconsin. Continue reading

Course Title:  Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area Guided Auto Tour, Part I

Course # 18S04

Dates:  Monday, Aug. 6; Thurs. Aug. 9th; Monday, Aug. 13

Time:  9:00 am – Noon

Location:  Mercer Public Library Conference Room, (and various field sites to be announced), 2648W Margaret St. Mercer, WI

Fee: $35 (early bird discount $30 if paid before July 23rd)

Objectives:  Students will gain an understanding of the Turtle Flambeau Scenic Water Area by tracing the route of the Turtle -Flambeau Scenic Water Area Auto Tour guide book.  Topics to be covered include the introduction of the history of the flowage, fauna and flora present, its watershed, the geology, wetlands emphasizing deep water bogs, and how some tree and game species are managed within the tour area.  Continue reading

Course Title:  Identifying, Treating and Reporting Invasive Terrestrial Plants

Course # 18S02

Dates:  June 6 and June 7, 2018

Time:  9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Location:  Mercer Public Library, 2648 Margaret St, Mercer, WI 54547(if more than 12 students register, then a new venue will be required)

Fee: There is no fee for this class, but students must register as space is limited.

Objectives:  Students will learn about the negative impacts of invasive plants and about the organizations in the county and state that treat and monitor invasive species.  Students will learn about the most damaging invasive terrestrial species in the region, how to identify them, treat them, and report them.  During the second day, the group will visit known sites of invasive species in Iron County, learn about treatment techniques, and help remove invasive plants in the field. Continue reading

Course Title : Birding Skills Workshop

Course # 18W09

 Dates : May 21, 22, 23, 2018

 Time : 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

 Location : Mercer, WI Library, 2648 Margaret St.; meet in the conference room

Fee: $45, Early Bird (no pun intended) discount $40 with payment by May 7

Class Size Limit:   Class is full no more enrollments will be taken.

 Objectives: Mid-to-late May marks the return of nearly all of our neotropical songbirds from their wintering grounds in Central and South America. They come back in full voice and brilliant color ready to establish new territories and successfully breed. In this 3-day class, we’ll take our time to learn how to identify birds by sight, by ear, by habitat, and by behaviors. This class is for beginning birders to moderately experienced birders, so if you’re new to birding, you should fit in fine.

Course structure: We’ll be in the field every morning slowly hiking sites that will give us the best chance of finding a good diversity of birds and to give everyone the necessary time to get comfortable with their ID skills. We’ll also have a bird-banding demonstration by master bird-bander Bruce Bacon. Continue reading