This event includes a storewide sale, refreshments and a scavenger hunt for kids who will receive a Smokey Bear gift bag for participating. Young and old can have their photo taken with Smokey Bear, who will drop in for a visit from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

The center closed in late January after a broken pipe flooded the facility and damaged computers, ceiling, flooring and walls, director Wendy Gehlhoff said. Repairs were completed by Brent Pataconi with Miller Heating & Cooling, a Trace Construction crew and Demko Electric. The gift shop reopened April 1.

The interior of the center has had major changes, said gift shop employee Doreen Roberts, one of two part-time employees.

“The gift shop used to be behind a wall. It been expanded out and is double in size,” she said.

THE NEWLY REMODELED Florence Wild Rivers Interpretive Center & Gift Shop in Florence, Wis., features a number of animals on display, along with information about the region. A grand re-opening event is planned for Saturday after the center closed in late January due to flooding from a broken pipe. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

Another new feature is a changing photo display created by John Roberts. “He has 1,000s and 1,000s of pictures — he just has to put them in the right format,” she said. The area previously had a fish tank.

The just got their DNR computer back up and are back as a DNR substation, she added.

Roberts will be directing guided hikes on the 3/4-mile Nature Tale Interpretive Trail that tell the story of “The Return of Trees.” Groups can gather at the pavilion at the edge of the parking lot to walk the trail with Roberts and learn how forests have moved and changed in the area over millions of years. The 16 new signs on the trail were created by Roberts and graphic designer Ashley Zoppetti.

This project was partially funded by a John E. Force Forestry Education Fund donation. The trail is an easy, flat hike on a dirt path, with three resting benches for those in need.

Staff from the Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition will be on site Saturday for an Invasives Plant Trade-up Day. Landowners can remove ornamental invasive species from their landscape and bring them to the WRISC table outside the gift shop to receive monetary vouchers. Each invasive is worth one $5 voucher, with a limit of $50 per person. The vouchers can be spent at a local greenhouse or plant sale to purchase a native landscape plant from WRISC’s suggested list.

THE FLORENCE WILD RIVERS Interpretive Center & Gift Shop is at 5628 Forestry Drive, the corner of state Highway 70 and U.S. 2 in Florence, Wis. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition is a non-profit invasive species partnership in northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula.

The gift shop offers puppets, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, books and other souvenirs, Gehlhoff said.

“And take time to explore the many exhibits and wildlife mounts, including full body mounts of an albino buck, a mother bear with cubs, a wolf, coyotes, bald eagle, a variety of fish and more,” she said.

The Interpretive Center first opened in June 1992. It operates through a unique state, federal, and county partnership. They house the Florence County Forestry and Parks, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Federal Forest Service, University of Wisconsin Extension and Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles.

It also offers a RV dump station and fenced dog park near the center parking lot. The dump station costs $10 and offers rinse water and a water yard hydrant. The dog park is free.

The center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday into December.

The center is at 5628 Forestry Drive, which is the corner of state Highway 70 and U.S. 2 on the southwest edge of Florence. The staff can direct visitors to information about a variety of attractions to see in Florence County and the surrounding area.

For more information, go to www.ExploreFlorenceCounty.com or call the gift shop and visitor center at 715-528-5377.