On an unseasonably warm, sunny, autumn afternoon, a group of 15 nature enthusiasts met up at the Forest Exploration Center (FEC) in Wauwatosa. Our goal was to get out our cameras and join together in a fall themed forest photo walk scavenger hunt. 

This was my first time hosting a group photo walk and I was a little nervous. As it turns out, I didn't need to be.  The group was a mix of young and old, all with a keen interest in enjoying the outdoors.  Most had been to the FEC before and were familiar with it. So, after a brief introduction, we headed out on the all-accessible trail loop.

If you're not familiar with an organized photo walk, it's pretty straight forward. Based on the location, and subjects at hand, a list of photo prompts is created to inspire participants in looking for photo opportunities. You can take the prompts quite literally, or interpret them in your own way, taking a photo from your own perspective.

Some folks went down the list, checking off each one as they went. Others referred to it loosely. There are no hard-set rules (unless you want it that way). 

I thoroughly enjoyed watching as this group of strangers started sharing photo ideas. Pointing out when they spotted something from the list. Taking turns composing their own shots. No competition. Just sharing the photo opportunities, and learning more about the forest. What's that leaf? What's that tree? Do you see that spider web? Someone spotted artful acorns nestled in the bark of a tree along the path. Art and nature intersecting at nearly every turn.

One person collected a selection of leaves to make a collage. Another pointed out some mushrooms growing from an old tree stump. We walked the Story Walk trail, and enjoyed the Smokey Bear story displayed along the way. Someone took a seat on one of the tree stumps that resembled a rustic chair. Another pointed out the way the light was coming in through the trees. We collected different colored leaves and took photos of them held in our hands.  

I can only go so long without immersing myself in nature, exploring a new park in earnest. Not just a quick trip to something tried and true (those do keep me sane), but a whirlwind of locations. So, when my husband recently asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday I told him I wanted to run away.

We haven't been able to get out on nature hikes like we used to. We used to go out together at least a couple weekends a month, and I would go on my own other days. But the past year has been full of other responsibilities, so...I requested a solo weekend trip the weekend of my birthday. And since my birthday is in autumn, I wanted to go somewhere I haven't been, and where the colors were changing. 

I did a quick bit of research and decided on Marinette County. According to the Fall Color Report there would be a fair amount of color on my birthday weekend. So, Friday I loaded up my gear and headed north. I managed to check out Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha on the way up. The reserve has a beautiful, all-accessible boardwalk, and the leaves were turning bright reds and golds. I even saw a few deer along the way.

Today I embarked on a driving tour of Marinette County that featured waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and plenty of turning leaves. It was a long day of driving and wandering, but it was worth it.

All of it was beautiful. The weather, the changing colors, the waterfalls. So far, I've taken close to 800 photos, and I have a few spots to visit tomorrow on my way back home. My husband predicted I would take about 800 photos. Guess he knows my shutterbug habits.

So, I will be celebrating my birthday by snapping pictures of parks, autumn leaves, and whatever catches my eye.

​I'm grateful for this opportunity to get out and explore without a curfew of sorts. I wouldn't call it relaxing, but it is peaceful, colorful, and a pretty sweet birthday gift. I wonder if there will be birthday cake waiting when I get back home?