Use an old-fashioned cider press to make apple cider and taste the finished product. Learn about pollinators, flowers and fruits on an autumn nature walk. Reservations required. Everyone attending this program must register and pay. All ages welcome. $6/person.

Experience the magic of tallgrass prairies and insects at this all-ages event! Pack up dinner and a blanket to enjoy a picnic in the prairie while listening to live folk and bluegrass music by The May North. Venture into the grasses with sweep nets and bug-catching jars, make a prairie-inspired craft, meet live animals and learn about the captivating world of monarch migration. All ages welcome. Free.

Learn about nature at your own pace through free, hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic, with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required.

Learn about nature at your own pace through free, hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic, with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required. All ages welcome. Free.

Learn about nature at your own pace through hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic, with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required. Free.

Enjoy paddling a canoe with your family and friends around a nature center pond. While exploring on the water, look for turtles, birds, insects and other wildlife. This program will cover the basics of paddling a canoe (safety, parts of a canoe, entering and exiting, and paddling strokes). We will focus on wildlife viewing and not on advanced canoeing skills. One adult participant is required in each canoe. $12/person.

Hike an illuminated autumn trail at your own pace. Relax around a campfire while listening to live acoustic music. Hennepin County Libraries will provide a new Story Stroll to read on your hike each of the evenings. Bring your own snacks, beverages and s'mores. Stop in the building to view exhibits and purchase Richardson Nature Center's very own wildflower honey. The illuminated trail is approximately one-half mile along rolling woodchip and turf trails. No reservation needed; drop in anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Venture into the prairie in search of monarch butterflies preparing for their incredible 2,000 mile journey to Mexico. Learn how these remarkable insects are tagged for research and observe them in various stages of their life cycle. Try your hand at finding and catching a monarch or other prairie insects using a net. This program includes a hike along rolling, woodchipped trails. All ages welcome. $6/person.

Discover the natural world with your preschooler through free play, a craft and a naturalist-led hike. Explore how the plants and animals in the park are getting ready for winter. This program is primarily outdoors. This program is designed for ages 2-6 and an accompanying adult. Both adult and child must register and pay. $6/person.

Discover the natural world with your preschooler through free play, a craft and a naturalist-led hike. Explore the forest while searching for beautiful fall colors. Reservations required. This program is designed for ages 2-6 and an accompanying adult. Both adult and child must register and pay. $6/person.

Discover the mystery of the monarch butterfly and its migration. Catch and tag monarchs before they fly to Mexico. Search the prairie for insects and make fun monarch crafts. Designed for children who have not completed kindergarten. $34/person. Siblings welcome with registration.

Learn alongside your preschooler through imaginative play, nature artifacts and movement. Then, watch a silly puppet show! Try a self-guided nature activity after the show. This program will take place outdoors if weather permits. $5/person. Ages 2-6 plus adult.

Join naturalists for an evening hike through the shadowy autumn forest. Explore the mysteries behind glowing eyes, nighttime sounds, and the ways humans and animals experience the night differently. Learn how owls, foxes, deer, and other nocturnal and crepuscular creatures navigate using their keen senses, moonlight, the stars and even Earth's magnetic field. The hike will be moderately paced along rolling turf and woodchip trails. Reservations required. All ages welcome. $6/person.

Join naturalists to take in the symphony of sounds and sights of late summer. Listen for crickets, frogs, owls and other nighttime wildlife. Learn why animals call at night and how tiny insects make big sounds. The hike will be moderately paced along rolling turf and woodchip trails. All ages welcome. $6/person.

Drop off your preschooler to discover the natural world through art, songs, play, live animals, hikes and more. Enjoy a snack brought from home and listen to nature stories. Each session is taught in English with an introduction to the Spanish language. Reservations required. $68/four sessions.

Drop off your preschooler to discover the natural world through art, songs, play, live animals, hikes and more. Enjoy a snack brought from home and listen to nature stories. Each session is taught in English with an introduction to the Spanish language. $51/3 sessions.

Celebrate Halloween by getting to know the sometimes feared, often misunderstood, always fascinating spiders of Minnesota. Learn to identify spiders based on their habitat, web and eyes. Contribute to citizen science by finding, identifying and recording web and spider sightings on a guided 1-mile walk through the forest and prairie. All ages welcome. $6/person.