Explore some of the best activities in the parks with the Outdoor Recreation School. Try stand-up paddleboarding, archery, log rolling, geocaching, canoeing and more. Enjoy new adventures while making new friends. Equipment provided.

Join gallery artist, Anna E. Orbovich and staff from Silverwood Park for an afternoon of art activities on the front patio of French Regional Park. Experiment with art techniques inspired by the work in Anna's exhibition "Deep Mapping Wilderness". Take part in a hands-on, naturalist activity or play in the park's sprawling play area. Drop in anytime from 1–3 p.m. All ages welcome. Free.

Celebrate National Moth week. Meet live caterpillars, learn what makes them unique and leave with a new appreciation of North America's biggest moth.Drop in anytime. Free.

Stop by to visit with monarchs; there might be eggs, caterpillars, a chrysalis, or adult butterflies to see. Learn about the fascinating life cycle of the monarch butterfly and how it migrates to Mexico for the winter. All ages welcome. Free.

In Extreme Fishing Camp, participants will learn to fish different bodies of water in search of various species like: panfish, bass, northern pike, walleye, catfish, redhorse sucker and more! Try different techniques and hone skills while learning from experienced Outdoor Recreation School instructors and professionals in the fishing industry. Try angling from a watercraft and from a riverbank. Equipment provided. Each day, campers will meet at one of four parks: French Regional Park, Fish Lake Regional Park, Silverwood Park and Mississippi Gateway Regional Park. Parents are responsible for drop-off and pick-up on each day of camp at one of the locations listed above. These locations will be communicated in the pre-camp email. Transportation to specific fishing locations will be provided by Outdoor Recreation School staff during camp hours.

Spend four active days exploring the park and crafting unique and useful projects from natural materials responsibly gathered along the way. Campers will learn how to safely cut and carve using hand tools like knives and handsaws, and experiment with different processes including weaving with natural fibers and colors.

Experience the whole-body benefits that pole hiking provides while also experiencing the social benefits of the club. Outdoor Recreation School instructors provide direction about Nordic walking and lead a weekly hike. Explore trails, meet new friends and feel the health benefits of exercising in nature. Most of the hikes will be on unpaved dirt trails. Park locations will vary each week of club. You will be emailed a schedule from your Lead Instructor prior to the first week of club. $60/person.

Summer camp for adults? Yes! Explore different parks and activities under the guidance of skilled instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School. Be part of a community focused on health and wellness in nature. Activities include canoeing, log rolling, disc golf, archery, stand-up paddleboarding and more! Park locations will vary each week of club. You will be emailed a schedule from your Lead Instructor prior to the first week of club. $120/person.

Learn what makes insects so unique in the animal world and then grab a net and go on an insect hunt. We will study these animals up close and then release them back into the wild. All ages welcome. $6/person.

Join art instructors from Silverwood Park at French Regional Park for three mornings to explore the creative arts and natural world. Cozy up for a story or song, observe the wild surroundings and create an art project inspired by your discoveries. $66 per person. Ages 2-5 with an adult, siblings under age 2 are free but must register.

Join us for the opening reception of "Birds" by Melissa Borman on Thursday, July 16 from 6–8 p.m. The exhibition is on view July 16–December 31. Drop in anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

The Jon Sullivan Band is a dynamic group of Minneapolis musicians driven by powerhouse singer Jon Sullivan and a very talented 5-piece band that transmits their music through the flavors of funk, blues, soul and rock. Performances for this series are held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m. outside the French Regional Park visitor center. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and others to enjoy it with! In the event of inclement weather, the decision may be made to move concerts inside to the Oakwood Reservation Room. A food truck will be on site during the performance.

Join us for an unforgettable concert with the Pan-Handlers, who have been captivating audiences for years with their vibrant Caribbean sound and diverse repertoire, including traditional steel pan tunes, The Beatles, Guns N' Roses and Prince. Experience the sweet, lively sound of steel drums, which evolved from old oil barrels to the beautiful instruments we love today. Come and feel the rhythm only these instruments can create. Performances for this series are held on Thursday evenings outside the French Visitor Center. Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair and others to enjoy it with! In the event of inclement weather, concerts may be moved inside to the Oakwood Room. A food truck will be on-site during the performance. All ages welcome. Free.

Salsa del Soul is a Twin Cities-based ensemble performing various styles of dance music from the Spanish-speaking regions of the Caribbean. The musicians of Salsa del Soul represent some of the finest talents in the Twin Cities Latin music scene. The styles of music they perform include Son, Son Montuno, Plena, Cha-cha-cha, Bachata, Merengue, Timba, and, of course, Salsa! Performances for this series are held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m. outside the French Regional Park visitor center. Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair and others to enjoy it with! In the event of inclement weather, the decision may be made to move concerts inside to the Oakwood Reservation Room. A food truck will be on site during the performance.

The JazzLove Trio connects audiences with an uplifting blend of jazz, classic rock and Motown favorites. From upbeat love songs to sweet ballads, performances weave in little-known stories about the composers to create a lively, heartfelt celebration of music. With decades of experience on keyboard, vocals and saxophone, the trio brings warmth and artistry. Performances for this series are held on Thursday evenings outside the French Visitor Center. Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair and others to enjoy it with! In the event of inclement weather, concerts may be moved inside to the Oakwood Room. A food truck will be on-site during the performance. All ages welcome. Free.

The Jolly Pops are a children's music and entertainment group. The band was built around dads who love to play music for kids. Their presentation involves music, movement and fun learning through experience. They have puppet friends in tow who often get in on the fun. Performances for this series are held on Thursday evenings outside the French Regional Park visitor center. Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair and others to enjoy it with! In the event of inclement weather, the decision may be to move concerts inside to the Oakwood Reservation Room. A food truck will be on site during the performance.

Discover the beauty and purpose of Minnesota State Parks and Trails and Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) while exploring how these special places protect native plants, wildlife and rare landscapes. We’ll learn what makes an SNA unique and how state parks balance recreation with conservation. Inspired by the colors, textures and habitats found across Minnesota, participants will create layered torn paper collages that reflect prairies, forests, wetlands or rocky shorelines. $8/person.

Celebrate the longest day of the year by getting out on the water! Join instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School to enjoy an evening of canoeing on Medicine Lake. We will do a brief review of paddle strokes before heading out on the lake. We recommend participants have some previous canoeing experience for this program. $12/person.

Ready to find your balance? Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors to learn the fundamental skills and versatility of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). You’ll learn about the equipment, basic paddle strokes and how to navigate the water safely in variable conditions. Practice paddling in a variety of positions—laying, sitting, kneeling and standing—and gain confidence getting on and off your board in the water. Whether you’re brand new to paddleboarding or looking to refine your skills and build confidence, this session is designed to meet you where you’re at. $35/person.

Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors for a stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) lesson designed to build skills, confidence and community. Learn the fundamentals of SUP including equipment basics, essential paddle strokes and how to navigate safely in changing conditions. Practice paddling in a variety of positions—laying, sitting, kneeling and standing—and gain confidence getting on and off your board in the water. Whether you’re brand new to paddleboarding or looking to refine your skills in a supportive, women-focused environment, this session is designed to meet you where you’re at. Come as you are and leave feeling strong, balanced and empowered on the water. $35/person.

Go on a geocaching adventure and celebrate the Big Year of Rivers with the Outdoor Recreation School. Learn how to use a GPS unit and explore the park to find geocaches full of river-themed trivia and fun prizes. No previous experience is needed. $6/person.

Join experts and community to learn about and celebrate turtles! Meet live turtles, see them in their natural habitats, connect with organizations specializing in turtles, hop in a boat to see them from the water, take part in creative turtle-themed projects and more.