From the top of the hill at the Observatory Drive Scenic Overlook in Madison, WI, you can see over the top of the trees to the open sky over Lake Mendota. A paved path diagonally descends the overlook’s hill.
The Washburn Observatory hosts free Open House sessions for the public from 9pm to 11pm every Wednesday during the summer (when weather allows) and for select Wednesdays and hours the rest of the year. Visitors are welcome to access the telescope via stairs to a platform in the observatory’s open-air dome. Winter can be an ideal time to schedule a unit on Space because the night sky may be visible to young children before bedtime (and the Observatory opens at 7pm in the colder months). For more information, check their website: https://www.astro.wisc.edu/outreach/washburn/
Nature In Your Nurture 