Start your mornings at the archery range with instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School. Learn the fundamentals of the sport and sharpen your aim with fun games and challenges, including a trip to the wooded Elm Creek Archery Range. Then swap arrows for different adventures in the afternoons with Mississippi Gateway naturalists. From catching river critters and cruising on a bike to building campfires, geocaching and more—you’ll pack a whole lot of outdoor fun into one unforgettable week. Transportation to the Elm Creek Archery Range is provided. Extended care available for an additional $75; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Learn about insects through movement and games. Use nets and shovels to catch bugs on land and in water and watch them move. Get up close with live animals and make treasures to take home. Combine with Frogs Toads and Turtles Camp for four days of fun.

Learn the basics of archery and elements of safety. Practice fundamental skills, participate in fun challenges and enjoy the thrill of hitting the target.

Calling all adventurous kids! Explore, play, create and enjoy some of your favorite camp activities at the end of the summer. Bring your sense of adventure. Extended care available for an additional $75; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

The Coon Rapids Dam has been considered for removal several times since its construction in 1914. Discover the pros and cons of dam removal and factors that affect the fate of dams in our area. Then take a short walk to explore features of the Coon Rapids Dam and learn about the dam’s current role and how it has changed over the years.

Watch for birds along the river corridor while floating down the Mississippi and exploring the natural shoreline. Beginners are welcome. Participants will paddle and do some lifting with the team while guided by experienced naturalists. Safety equipment and shuttle provided. $35/person.

Go on adventures through woods, fields and water. Build forts and fires, and catch fish and frogs. Go on a bike ride, learn about animal camouflage and cook over a campfire. Bikes and helmets provided. Extended care available for an additional $75; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Do you dare sign up for this adventurous camp? Play games, find and cut rocks, build things, catch and feed critters, and explore the park by foot or on an optional bike or scooter ride. Get ready for fun days filled with daring activities. Campers must provide their own bike or scooter and helmet for the optional adventure; training wheels and balance bikes are welcome.

Try some binoculars to look for birds both big and small. Search along the river or from the Treetop Trail for warblers, ducks, eagles and herons. All ages welcome. Free.

Drop in at any time to meet a few of our live animals up close and discover what makes these critters unique! All ages welcome. Free.

Scoop for small aquatic animals along the edge of the river. Learn about what they eat, who eats them and what they tell us about the health of the mighty Mississippi River. All ages welcome. Free.

Explore a few signs of spring up close before heading off on your own scavenger hunt in search of seasonal changes!

Stroll along the Mississippi River and read "What Is A River?" by Monika Vaicenaviciene. Contribute to an ephemeral community art project by letting us know what a river is to you. All ages welcome. Free.

Do some fun experiments with water! Make a track for water, use a pump and more.

After answering Acer Township’s call for help with a neighboring village attacking their farms, you discovered that the entire village looks to have been poisoned. You suspect you know the culprit but you have no proof. Jump into adventure along the banks of the Mississippi River, gather evidence by testing the river’s health, raft down the river itself and risk the possibility of nature fighting back. This camp will involve the playing of Dungeons and Dragons inside and doing activities outside.

Drop a line in the mighty Mississippi River to see what is biting. Learn river fishing techniques and discover which fish call this river home. Equipment, bait and fishing license provided for the program.

Learn the basics of fly fishing equipment, casting skills, knot-tying, how to match the hatch, reading the water and fly presentation. Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors while you develop fly fishing skills, explore methods and watch demonstrations by professionals in the industry. Fishing equipment provided. Transportation to specific fishing locations will be provided by Outdoor Recreation School staff during camp hours.

Learn skills to be comfortable outdoors; we’ll build different kinds of forts, practice making fire in several ways and cook over the fire. Practice reading a map, explore the river and meet some forest animal neighbors.

Drop in anytime to search for tadpoles, play frog games and meet a live frog. The celebration doesn’t stop on Earth Day! Join Three Rivers Park District and Clean Water Action for a follow-up event dedicated to protecting our waterways. Roll up your sleeves for a park clean-up, learn more about how you can help improve water quality and connect with local wildlife—including a hands-on frog experience.

Search for frogs and toads and turtles in their natural habitat. Explore the park, play games and feed animal ambassadors from the Gateway Center. Meet new friends, explore the environments that these critters inhabit and learn how these cool animals survive. Combine with Backyard Bugs Camp for four days of fun.

Does your child have a special adult in their life like a grandparent, aunt or friend? Together, they can spend 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 or guardians get to hear the stories later! $140/pair. Ages 6-9 plus adult. NOTE: There is no additional child rate for this camp; all registrations are priced per pair.

Become an expert in the grossest parts of nature! Eat bugs, cover yourself in mud and find the grossest smells. Learn how to identify different kinds of animal scat and even dissect a squirrel. Extended care available for an additional $60; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Drop off your child for an exploration of the habitats in the park. Hike, play games, do experiments and discover what lives in the fields, forests and river. Activities are student-led and take place entirely outdoors whenever possible. Schedule: March 9 & 23 April 6 & 20 May 4 & 18

What does nature do when the sun begins to go down? Walk the trails in search of spring migrant birds and insects, trilling toads and singing frogs, mammal signs at the edge of a marsh and more. Come prepared to be outdoors for this lesson.

Drop a line in the mighty Mississippi River to see what’s biting. Learn river fishing techniques and discover which fish call this river home. Equipment, bait and fishing license provided for the program.

Spend some time along the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River with other like-minded crafters and artists. Bring a current project and work on it in the company of others or on your own, outside or in. Chat with a naturalist about a Mississippi River Flow Rate Blanket project that will show the history of the river. Drop in anytime and stay as long as you like!

Calling all knitters and crocheters! Commemorate the Big Year of Rivers by trying a new twist on a temperature blanket. Instead of using the temperature for each day of the year, use the Mississippi River's flow rates. In this class you will visit the river and learn why its flow fluctuates so much and the impact that has on people and world around us. You will be provided with a breakdown of river flow ranges per color, the data for the year up to date and step-by-step instructions on how to get the daily readings for the remainder of the year. Several different pattern options will be provided to get your creative juices flowing and find a style that suits you.

Spend quality time in your body moving, breathing and filling your cup with the beauty and wildness of nature. Practicing both indoors and outdoors (weather permitting), we will explore mindful movement inspired by a range of traditions including yoga, qigong, functional movement and dance. Drawing from the seasonal wisdom of summer to support our collective health, each session includes a wellness lesson, a guided meditation and 45 minutes of gentle movement and stretching. We will close with ten minutes of sound meditation for deep relaxation and a short silent meditation. Come for your well-being and stay for the friendship. Please wear sunscreen and comfortable clothing that is easy to move in. Bring a water bottle, a yoga mat (some available to borrow) and any props you find helpful. About the instructor: Kali Higgins is a wellness coach, teacher, retreat leader and sound healing practitioner. She received her Master's in Holistic Health from St. Catherine University in 2011. Her integrative approach to healing is informed by nature and spirituality. She is certified in astrology, Ayurveda, herbalism and sound healing. 12/person.

The Mississippi Muse series explores different aspects of the Mississippi River through a scientific and creative lens. Visualize and discover the earth's processes that have shaped the river through this hands-on workshop. Explore the riverbed for evidence of geological history, then unearth some "wild clay" (natural clay deposits from the earth). Learn how to process and refine this clay into something more workable, then use it to build a simple form.

Join instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School to explore methods for river fishing and learn about unique river fish like gar and drum. Hunt for river critters to use as bait for catfish, carp, bass and other large fish. Drop a line from shore and, while wading, head down river to find secret fishing spots. Watch demonstrations by professionals in the fishing industry. Equipment provided. Reservations required by two weeks prior. Transportation will be provided by Outdoor Recreation School staff during camp hours to specific fishing locations.

Get dirty on purpose! Dig in the dirt, make mud and sift in the sand. Explore nature and meet animals that get dirty. Combine with Wet and Wild Camp for a week of fun.

Explore a river, pond, field and forest to discover where animals find their food, build their homes, sleep and play. Catch insects, frogs and fish, play games and meet animal ambassadors that call these habitats home. Extended care available for an additional $75; drop-off begins at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up ends at 5 p.m.

Park Pals is a child, parent/caregiver program for infants, toddlers and adults, where caregivers role model the value of connecting with nature through play. Experience the park through the seasons with other nature-curious families. We will learn about the plants and animals that live here through storytelling, craft and exploratory strolls in the park. $120/Pair/10 sessions.

Search the pond for turtles, frogs and tadpoles. Put on boots and use a net to catch pond animals, then exercise your nature detective skills to figure out what they are eating and how they survive.

Nature School is an outdoor, inquiry-based preschool program that supports child development through nature play and exploration. Designed for children ages 4 – 6, it helps the next generation foster connections with themselves, each other and the natural world. To enroll children must be 4 or 5 years old by September 15, and fully potty trained. Test Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11:30 AM. September 15, 2026 – May 20, 2027.

Float down the Mississippi and explore the natural shoreline. Discover birds, minnows, mussels and more! Beginners are welcome. Participants will paddle and do some lifting with the team while guided by experienced naturalists. Safety equipment and shuttle provided. $35/person.