Our nature center has several Minnesota animals who live on site and teach us about nature. Come meet a few, learn their favorite meals and see them up close. This is an ongoing program. Free. Drop-ins welcome.

Take your art materials outside! Immerse yourself in nature while using hike-able art mediums such as watercolor or drawing. Practice nature journaling and learn new art techniques such as printmaking. This camp includes lots of reflection time, outdoor time and hiking. We recommend this camp for kids who already have a high interest in art and that want to learn some unique art mediums in nature.

Many animals have babies in the spring season. What advantages and disadvantages are there for different animals? We will talk about which animals give birth in the spring, touch furs and other animal artifacts, hike a trail looking for homes and play a game of survival in the woods.

Step down from the bank and into the water of rambling Rush Creek. Investigate sandbars, forest birds, puddle creatures and oxbow formations. Splash, climb, bend and leap as you explore the shallow water channel and its connection to the big river. Naturalists will lead this unique hiking experience with an eye toward water quality and wildlife. $6/person.

Birds are migrating from their winter home to their summer home. Join us on a hike as we use binoculars and our ears to identify the birds we only see once or twice a year. Bird friendly coffee will be provided!

Trees deserve a day of celebration! Learn how to identify six different trees found in Elm Creek Park Reserve by investigating their bark, leaves and trunk. Practice aging a tree to find the age of the oldest tree around the nature center. Put your newfound skills to the test by taking a self-guided hike to identify marked trees along the trail. Drop in anytime. Each family will receive a free tree sapling to grow at home. Each group must include at least one registered adult, age 18+. $10/group (1-5 people per group).

Use a different sense than sight to identify the different birds that live in your backyard and around Eastman Nature Center. Use your ears and the Merlin app to learn different bird calls and add to our bird survey. The program is designed for anyone, but with a special emphasis on those who are visually impaired or blind. Reservations are not required but recommended so the naturalist can contact participants to make sure they have the supplies needed to accommodate accessibility needs. A smart phone is encouraged to download the Merlin app. Drop in anytime.

Learn how to use a GPS, then head out on the trails to discover fascinating river facts as we celebrate the Big Year of Rivers.

Stop by and visit with one of our interpretive naturalists who can identify animals and plants, make personalized trail suggestions, offer wellness practices, recommend programs for your interests, suggest outdoor recreation resources and more! Drop in anytime.

Join us in our front yard as our turtle ambassadors get some sunshine. Learn what makes Blanding's and painted turtles special, and discover where they live and what they eat. All ages welcome. Free.

Explore one of summertime's coolest habitats, the pond! Meet a naturalist at the dock to scoop with a net, identify aquatic invertebrates and plants, and get a closer look with a magnifier. All ages welcome. Free.

Join us for a quiet, creative activity at the pond or along the creek. Make your own watercolor painting to take home. All ages welcome. Free.

View the creatures of the pond in a new way using a microscope for up close discovery.

Tensions are rising in the forest. The dryads have been under attack by a mysterious group and have lost touch with their sisters. Help them find their missing kin while determining who is behind the attacks. Learn how forests are impacted by new plants and animals and help the forest around Eastman Nature Center by removing invasive species. This camp will involve playing Dungeons and Dragons inside and doing activities outside. No previous experience with D&D is necessary.

Come experience Eastman Nature Center in the dark! This version of our firefly hike is adapted for people who need physical accommodations. Listen to a presentation inside about how and why fireflies glow. Then load up in your vehicle and drive up to our upper parking lot which has a handicap accessible entrance to the paved trail. Move along the paved trail or take a seat on a bench and watch the fireflies glow in the prairie. Special flashlights provided, if needed. Reservations required. Program geared for ages 5+. Please call 763-694-7700 for more information on all the accommodations this program can offer. $6/person.

Frolic in the enchanted forest and hunt for your sparkling wand. Search for dazzling damselflies, water nymphs and other fairy-sized creatures in the pond. Chase dragonflies, butterflies and moths in the prairie, leave a message in a magical mailbox to reveal fairy mysteries and create a fairy house.

Come experience Eastman Nature Center in the dark! Linger at a few firefly stations, look at preserved fireflies, and learn how and why they glow. Take a hike in our forest as the night begins to darken and finish the evening at the prairie to safely catch and release fireflies. The hiking trail is uneven with occasional exposed roots. Special flashlights provided, if needed. Nets will be provided. Reservations required. Program geared for ages 5+. $6/person.

Are you new to the idea of summer camp? Have you ever wondered how to introduce your child to summer camp? Focus will be to have first time campers all together, building new friendships and exploring parks to increase confidence outdoors. We will experience some classic camp activities like building forts, meeting nature center animals and playing games to make new friends. Extended care available for an additional $48; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Discover how to survive in the woods. Practice keeping a fire lit and build an emergency shelter. Learn to overcome obstacles in your path and hone your skills in off-trail games. Find your way through the woods with the Geocaching Challenge. This is a great sibling camp that can be divided into smaller groups by age. Extended care available for an additional $60; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Are you looking for new trails to explore in 2026? Do it while connecting to the rivers and waters in the Park District, as part of our 2026 Big Year of Rivers. First, a naturalist will be available to suggest trails at Eastman that meet your needs and goals. Then, keep the momentum going with a list of trail suggestions for the other Three Rivers' parks you can to visit this year. The possibilities are endless! Free. No reservations required.

Spring is a time when animals look for a mate, and frogs do it by singing. Come discover the different sounds frogs make, which frogs live in Minnesota and what makes frogs unique. Meet our animal ambassador frogs. Drop in anytime.

Create some art using a pipette, baking soda, vinegar and special PH paper. Explore acidic and basic properties and see what colors they reveal on the paper. All supplies provided. Drop in anytime.

Enjoy a fire in our fire pit and explore what makes cottontail rabbits unique. Check out furs, skulls, and other rabbit artifacts and learn how they survive in the park. Drop in anytime!

Does your child have a special adult in their life like a grandparent, aunt or friend? Together, they can share time in the woods learning about nature, meeting our animal ambassadors and building special memories. This is designed for youth and an older adult. Parents get to hear the stories later! $131/pair. Ages 6-9 plus adult. NOTE: There is no additional child rate for this camp; all registrations are priced per pair.

Explore the trails with your baby in a carrier or all-terrain stroller. We will hike at a slow to moderate pace. The babies/toddlers to engage in safe, sensory experiences along the way. Drop-ins welcome. Ages 0-3 plus adult. Free.

Drop off your homeschool student to be immersed in outdoor discoveries. Students will explore the world of environmental science through questioning, discovery, information sharing, record keeping through nature journaling, evaluation and reflection. Designed for curious kids who would enjoy working in a group; must be able to attend most sessions. Schedule: March 3 & 17 April 7 & 21 May 5 & 19

Discover the amphibians around Eastman Nature Center. Learn what makes amphibians unique from other animals. Search around Eastman to find the habitats amphibians need to survive. Meet several live amphibians.

Learn how to measure the speed of a stream and make predictions on how that effects erosion. Use your data to map where the stream is now and where you predict it will be in the future.

Color is everywhere, and capturing some to keep can be fun and messy! Learn about respectful collection of natural materials, then take a short hike to sample from the woods, fields and trails around Eastman Nature Center. Use a mortar and pestle to release the essence of flower, leaf and soil, and create your own palette before creating a painted record of the shades you discover.

Listen to a presentation all about the black bears of Minnesota, including what to do if you see a bear and about the bear often found in Elm Creek Park Reserve. Afterward, go on a bear myth-busting hike to learn about animal signs, like tracks, scat and more, that people often confuse for bears.

The weather is getting warmer and snakes are out sunning themselves. What should you do if you see a snake? Are they safe to be around? This presentation on snakes in your neighborhood will answer these questions and more. Afterwards, head out on a hike to look for where you are likely to see snakes around the nature center and meet one of our education ambassador snakes. $6/person.

The weather is getting warmer, and on sunny days snakes are out sunning themselves. Learn about the snakes that could be in your neighborhood. What should you do if you see a snake? Are they safe to be around? This presentation on snakes in your neighborhood will answer these questions and more. All ages welcome. Free.

Listen to a 30-minute presentation about the different types of ticks you in Minnesota and where they can be found. Learn how to enjoy the outdoors while protecting yourself. Head out to the prairie with a naturalist to do a peaceful activity in the long grass, concluding with everyone performing a tick check to practice the skill.

Summer is finally around the corner! At Eastman Nature Center, we are a great summer destination for several nature hobbies: pond dipping, birding, watercolor painting, shelter building, flower ID and more. Kick off the season with a day where you can give these activities a try. Find your next summer obsession that will get you to go outside again and again.

What lives in and under a log? Furry, slimy, crawly, scaly… use different tools to explore these amazing microhabitats and discover all the amazing arthropods and other creatures that call logs and soils their home! This camp is designed for youth who like to get their hands dirty and go off-trail. Extended care available for an additional $36; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Is your child ready for the next level of outdoor exploration? Do they enjoy time in the woods and off-trail? This camp will take a deeper dive into being comfortable in the outdoors. We will introduce knot tying skills and build advanced geodome shelters with rope. We will make simple sitting stools, practice fire building, sample nature journaling, and introduce whittling skills with focus on safety and different wood types.

Learn about the dragonflies that live in our area through hands-on activities. Explore their life cycle and special adaptations, and hike to the prairie to try catching them with a net. Bring a picnic blanket to sit on. $6/person

Discover nature on the bookshelf and with your preschooler. $6/person. Ages: 0-6 plus adult. Under 2 is free but must register.

Watch a puppet show as our puppets have adventures in the woods and fields. After the show a head out on the trail for a short activity. $5/person. Ages: 3-6, plus adult.