Join a naturalist on a leisurely stroll through Hyland Lake Park Reserve while exploring the clues wildlife leave behind. Whether the ground is snowy or muddy, March is an ideal time to look for animal tracks and and other signs of the animals that are active in winter. Depending on conditions, snowshoes or ice cleats will be available.

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a fun-filled family outing! Search for beautifully painted wooden animals hidden along the trail. Enjoy interactive games, create a nature-inspired craft, read a story stroll provided by Hennepin County Libraries and meet resident animal ambassadors. Both adults and children must register and pay. Each participant receives a beverage and snack to enjoy during the event.

Get ready for an unforgettable science adventure! Hunt for insects like an entomologist, spot wild birds and meet Richardson’s resident raptors like an ornithologist, and explore the colors, shapes and textures of plants like a botanist. Get hands-on with reptiles and amphibians like a herpetologist, and uncover the secret lives of mammals through tracks and clues like a mammologist. At the end of the week, showcase your discoveries at our very own research symposium.

Embark on an exciting journey into the world of science! Track down insects like an entomologist, spot wild birds and meet Richardson’s resident raptors like an ornithologist and dive into the world of plants like a botanist. Handle reptiles and amphibians up close like a herpetologist, and uncover the hidden lives of mammals by following tracks and clues like a mammologist. Then hop into a canoe and explore the pond like a real ecologist, observing the entire ecosystem from the water. At the end of the week, showcase your discoveries at our very own research symposium.

Experience the joy of summer camp and spending family time together in nature. Learn all about the animals that call Minnesota home. Hike the trails to search for animal homes, hideouts and clues they have left behind. Get up close, touch and help feed the animal ambassadors living at Richardson Nature Center. $36/person.

Experience the joy of summer camp and spending family time together in nature. Explore the three major habitats of Richardson Nature Center within Hyland Lake Park Reserve. Hike the oak forest and search for signs of animals. Sweep the tallgrass prairie with nets to catch and identify insects. Paddle a canoe on Turtle Basking Pond for a closer look at wildlife. Spend the day outside together exploring all parts of this beautiful park. $36/person.

Experience the joy of summer camp and spending family time together in nature. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring the park and learning wilderness skills. Discover wild edibles, try building a campfire, roast a hot dog, create a campfire dessert and paddle a canoe at dusk. $40/person.

Join a naturalist in the Wildlife Viewing Room as we learn about the birds visiting the bird feeders. View birds through a spotting scope and binoculars, while using bird guides to identify the birds you are seeing. Other activities include bird-themed coloring sheets, puzzles and puppets. No reservations needed; drop in anytime.

Celebrate Earth Day with us. Make an earth-like seed bomb, filled with wildflower seeds, to bring home and spread pollinator-friendly plants in your own space. Explore the park on your own, take a hike, play in the Nature Exploration Area or view Richardson's animal ambassadors indoors. No reservations needed; drop in anytime.

Tromp in the forest and explore the Nature Exploration Area! Make slushy smoothies in the mud kitchen, balance over muddy snow and work together to build a fun fort. Use a variety of loose parts like sticks, stumps, kitchen utensils, and other items that can be moved, arranged and used in creative ways. Drop in anytime.

Kicksleds have been described as chairs with ice skates or dogsleds without the dogs. Try this unique way of moving across the frozen pond by yourself or with a partner. Drop in anytime.

Learn about the maple syrup process from start to finish at this informal demonstration. Explore different tools used to collect, and hold and boil sap into sweet syrup. Ask questions, learn how to identify a maple tree and sample real maple syrup. Use your newfound knowledge to tap a tree at your home. Syruping kits are available for purchase during the program. No reservation needed; drop in anytime.

Celebrate the Big Year of Rivers by exploring a group of animals that rely on clean water throughout their life cycles. Meet Richardson Nature Center’s resident amphibians up-close. Learn about their natural history, explore and examine a variety of animal artifacts and get a chance to touch live amphibians. No reservations needed; drop in any time.

Discover what makes mammals so unique. Observe and touch pelts and skulls of Minnesota mammals, try matching skulls with their correct furs, and learn to decipher if an animal is a predator or prey by looking at its skull. Hike on your own with a scavenger hunt sheet and search for animal tracks and signs. No reservations required; drop in anytime.

Spring is popping up all around us, come see what’s blooming! Learn about Minnesota’s early-blooming wildflowers and explore plant biofacts up close. Take a self-guided hike to look for ephemerals and other signs of spring along the trail. No reservations needed; drop in anytime.

Uff-da! From loon calls to Paul Bunyan, discover what makes Minnesota so Minnesotan. Make your own muddy “hotdish”, look for the state insect in the prairie, and explore state symbols and folklore through song, art and outdoor discovery.

Meet Richardson Nature Center’s resident animals up close! Learn about their natural history, explore and examine a variety of animal artifacts, and get a chance to touch live reptiles, amphibians and more!

Get muddy and messy through crafts and outdoor adventures! Jump in puddles, catch and release pond critters, and play in a "mud kitchen" using natural materials to make mud pies and other creative concoctions. Hunt for slimy slugs and slippery worms in the forest. Catch interesting insects in a tallgrass prairie, and meet captive reptiles and amphibians. Ready to get your hands dirty?

Discover the natural world with your preschooler through free play, a craft and a naturalist-led hike. Explore the beauty of spring outdoors while we learn about animal babies and search for animal nurseries. This program involves both indoor and outdoor activities. $6/person. Ages 2-6 plus adult.

Discover the natural world with your preschooler through free play, a craft and a naturalist-led hike. Learn which animals stick around in the winter as we explore the trails and put out food for the animals to eat. Search for tracks, scat, homes and other signs that tell us who is active in the winter. $6/person. Ages 2-6 plus adult.

Discover the natural world with your preschooler through free play, a craft and a naturalist-led hike. Learn how spring rain helps flowers and other plants grow. Reservations required. This program is designed for ages 2-6 and an accompanying adult. Both adult and child must register and pay. $6/person. Ages: 2–6 plus adult.

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.

Get ready for a playful adventure with your child to learn about animals with paws and claws. Discover what makes them unique through stories, crafts and free play. Explore different habitats in search of animal tracks and homes, and maybe even see a few furry surprises along the way! 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. $5/person. Ages 2-6 plus adult.

Bre-e-e-p! Croak! Hike through forest and wetlands listening for the symphony of songs from toads and frogs as they emerge from their winter hibernation. Learn about the toads and frogs that call Minnesota home, including how to identify their calls. The hike will be moderately paced along rolling turf and non-paved trails. Reservations required by two days prior.

Join naturalists to catch the rise of the full moon on an evening hike through the forest and prairie. Look and listen for signs of animals. Learn the significance behind the "Worm Moon." The hike will be moderately paced along rolling turf and woodchip trails.

Tromp through the tallgrass prairie and adventure off-trail. Scoop in the pond and search for frogs along the shore. Use your imagination while playing in a mud kitchen, climbing in forts and playing with sticks. This camp encourages child-led free play as we explore various habitats together.

Get ready for summer adventures! Put your survival skills to the test with shelter building and fire-making. Step back in time with historical games like spear throwing. Try your luck at baiting a hook and reeling in a fish at Bush Lake. Take to the water and enjoy a canoeing adventure on scenic Turtle Basking Pond. Learn essential outdoor skills and cool tricks from seasoned experts to prepare for your future adventures.

Get ready for a playful adventure to learn about animals with paws and claws. Discover what makes them unique through stories, crafts and free play. Explore different habitats in search of animal tracks and homes, and maybe even see a few furry surprises along the way!

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.

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. $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. $85/five sessions.

This collaborative camp brings together naturalists from Richardson Nature Center and the University of Minnesota Raptor Center. Richardson Nature Center hosts the first day of camp. Activities include meeting resident raptor ambassadors, discovering their natural history and behaviors, learning the requirements to care for and train birds in captivity, and exploring habitats to search for wild birds. The second day includes a field trip to The Raptor Center. Campers will learn how the veterinary clinic rehabilitates and cares for injured birds and will get a behind the scenes tour of The Raptor Center’s education department to see many different species of raptors up close. Bus transportation to and from The Raptor Center will be provided.

Get ready for summer adventures by developing essential skills under the guidance of outdoor experts. Practice building shelters and small survival fires. Try reading maps, searching for edible plants and spotting poison ivy. Meet Richardson's animal ambassadors and learn what to do when you encounter animals in the wild.

Use nets, trowels and jars to catch and observe the critters that crawl, hop and fly. Discover insects, arachnids and other amazing arthropods found in the park. Play games, make bug-themed art and meet animal ambassadors with a connection to bugs.

Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors for a scenic snowshoe hike. Explore winter sights and sounds while snowshoeing under the full moon. We will hike if no snow. Equipment provided.

Grow as an artist and use nature as inspiration. Collect natural materials from the park for your projects. Experiment with painting, drawing, mixed media and nature printing with individual and community art projects. Show off your creations to family and friends at an open house art exhibition on the last day.

Our littlest explorers will step into the magical world of nature as we hunt for the tiny wonders hiding all around us! We will search for miniature marvels like mushrooms, acorns, seeds, pebbles, flowers and insects. Campers will become explorers, discovering the tiniest treasures in nature and creating their own miniature garden using tiny nature items, along with some extra magical touches, to bring home.

Stay active and explore the park district with an Outdoor Recreation School instructor and others who enjoy hiking. We’ll check out a different trail each week, learn a little about navigating trails and Leave No Trace hiking, and get to know each other while we hike. Expect variable trail conditions. Locations subject to change – an updated schedule will be provided to registered participants. $100/12 sessions. Schedule: March 3-Richardson Nature Center, March 10-Eastman Nature Center, March 17-Murphy Hanrehan Park Reserve, March 24-Lowry Nature Center, March 31-Silverwood Regional Park, April 7-Crow Hassan Park Reserve, April 14-Gale Woods Farm, April 21-Baker Outdoor Learning Center, April 28-Cleary Regional Park, May 5-Hyland Park Reserve, May 12-Elm Creek Park Reserve, May 19-French Regional Park,