Holiday Gift Ideas From The Park Next Door

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We live busy lives. And then the holidays come along and things get even busier.  Holiday shopping doesn't have to amp up your stress level.  Gift-giving should be thoughtful, but it doesn't have to be hard.

​Keep it simple and you can't go wrong.  Take the stress out of holiday shopping with these gift ideas for the nature lovers, hikers, birders, gardeners and nature photographers in your life. 

Happiest of holidays to all!

Gift-giving can be an opportunity to learn something about the person we're shopping for.

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Easy does it.  Sometimes the easiest gifts are the best ones.  Give the gift that keeps on giving all year long with annual park stickers, passes, and nature center memberships.

Harrington Beach State Park is one of 66 state parks in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin State, National, and County Park Stickers:

​Fortunately, annual stickers are now available to purchase online. They sometimes have special combo packages available during the holidays.

Wisconsin State Park Sticker
A National Park Sticker
Waukesha County Parks Sticker
Washington County Parks Sticker

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Nature Center Memberships:
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Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Wehr Nature Center
Boerner Botanical Gardens
River Bend Nature Center
Riveredge Nature Center
Retzer Nature Center 
​Urban Ecology Center

Want to gift to someone not in the Milwaukee area? Check out this resource for Nature Centers Across Wisconsin

River Bend Nature Center in Racine is one of several local nature centers in southeastern Wisconsin.

Tip: Most nature centers have great gift shops. Opt outside at a nature center for some exploration, then do a little holiday shopping in their gift shops!

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Books and Publications: You can't go wrong with books and magazine subscriptions that focus on a persons interests. Following are just a few suggestions. 

Subscription Publications:

Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine

Birds&Blooms Magazine

Our Wisconsin Magazine

Birding Magazine 

Outside Magazine
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Mammoth Tales - Ice Age Trail Alliance Magazine

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Books for the Wisconsin Hiker and Local Park Explorer
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Explorer's Guide - 50 Hikes in Wisconsin
Best Easy Day Hikes - Milwaukee
Ice Age Trail Guidebook
101 Things to Do in Milwaukee Parks: A Guide to the Green Spaces in Milwaukee - by Barbara Ali
The Milwaukee River Greenway - by Eddee Daniel
​Around Wisco - The Ice Age Trail by Cameron Gillie

Hiking a segment of the White River State Trail near Burlington.

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Birders love books of all kinds. From birding adventures, the history of birds, to guidebooks.

Books For the Birder
Field Guide to the Birds of Wisconsin by Charles Hagner 
The Wonder of Birds: What They Tell Us About Ourselves, the World, and a Better Future - by Jim Robbins
Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in a Life of an Extreme Birder - by Kenn Kaufman
National Geographic Kids Guide of Birding North America 
One More Warbler by Victor Emanuel
A Season on the Wind: Inside the World of Spring Migration - by Kenn Kaufman
​National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America by Jonathan Alderfer and Noah Strycker
The Thing with Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About Being Human - by Noah Strycker
The Urban Birder by David Lindo
This Is A Book for People Who Love Birds - Danielle Belleny (author) Stephanie Singleton (illustrator)

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Books For the Nature Lover and Gardening for Wildlife

Zooburbia - by Tai Moses
The Urban Bestiary - by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Mozart's Starling - by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds - by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Welcome to Subirdia - by John M. Marzluff
Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife - by Nancy Lawson
The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature - by J. Drew Lanham
Wildlife in Your Garden - edited by Karen Lanier
Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife - by David Mizejewski for the National Wildlife Federation
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks: compiled by Kathryn Aalto
Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard - by William Tallamy

Books on gardening for wildlife, understanding wildlife, memoirs of personal relationships to nature, to books on forming a deeper connection to the gardens we grow make wonderful gifts.

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Gifts of all kinds are available for the nature photographer in your life.

​Gifts for a Nature Photographer

The Smartphone Photography Guide by Pete Cope

Extra Camera Memory SD Cards (the more memory the better)

Selfie Sticks; Portable, bendable, tripods

Gift Card for prints or books at their favorite photo print shop

Arts Cameras Plus - Camera gear, photo processing, classes. Gift cards available for gear or workshops and classes

Mike Crivellos - Camera gear, photo processing
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Wildtree - Uniquely designed, handmade, camera straps and more.

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Specialized Gear:  There are some great Milwaukee area shops that can help you find the right gear for the outdoor enthusiast on your list.

​Outdoor Gear
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Sherper's A wide selection of outdoor gear, including boots, camping equipment, binoculars and more can be found at this Milwaukee area local outdoor gear shop

Stan's Fit For Your Feet Hiking Boots, Socks and Accessories

Yellow Wood - A Premier Outdoor Gear Shop

​Patagonia - An outdoor clothing and gear company that, for over 30 years, has been giving back 1% of its profits towards preservation and restoration of the natural environment.
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REI Co-op: Gear and clothing for a wide array of outdoor enthusiasts.

From boots to rain gear, outdoor gear shops have got great holiday gift items.

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Top to bottom: Gray Catbird, Eastern Phoebe, Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Bird Watching and Backyard Birding Gear:
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Wild Birds Unlimited Stores - Bird feeders of all kinds, bird food of all kinds, bird baths, books on birding, and a wealth of knowledge in feeding backyard birds. 

Bird Collective - A great online shop that offers all kinds of unique merchandise for birders, and fans of birds. Bonus: 20% of their profits are donated to projects that help to reverse the decline of bird populations.

Nocs Provisions - Compact, high quality, colorful binoculars in multiple styles.

Stein's Garden & Home - Wild bird feeders and food in several Wisconsin locations.

The Nest - Unique shop in Greendale that carries bird feeding supplies, along with unique bird enthusiast gifts and decor.

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SUPPORT THE PARK NEXT DOOR AND FIND GREAT GIFTS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING LIST

Get yourself a little something, too. Many of the images from The Park Next Door are available to purchase as prints, notebooks, phone cases, holiday ornaments, and more at my FineArtAmerica site.  You can get a gift for someone, or yourself, and support the website at the same time.  Check out the Art For Your Walls feature page, or visit the art site directly.  ​

Custom spiral journals are 6x8, and include 120 pages.

Custom holiday ornaments are available in 6 different shapes. They even include a magnet on the back so you can use them as refrigerator magnets.