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.

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.

Join us for a presentation by Andrew Tri, a research wildlife biologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. From an era of persecution to conservation and management, Minnesota’s black bears are truly a conservation success story. We’ll discuss bear ecology, management, conservation, how to coexist with these amazing critters and why rivers can be corridors for range expansion. This program is part of the 2026 Big Year of Rivers Speaker Series.

Join us for a presentation by Lee Hendrix—pilot and riverboat captain. Learn about the exciting and dangerous work that accompanied a five-decade career of working on America's river with Lee Hendrix, pilot and former captain in the US Army Corps of Engineers. Lee piloted commercial towboats and the last three overnight passenger steamboats on the Mississippi—the Delta, Mississippi and American Queen. Through engaging storytelling, Hendrix sheds light on his rare experience along one of the most powerful and important waterways in the world. This program is part of the 2026 Big Year of Rivers Speaker Series.

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.

Pedal the paved trails near the Gateway Center with a naturalist. Make stops to observe what is happening along the path and near the river in early April. Learn how to plan your own bike rides on the regional trails connecting to other Three Rivers Parks. Bikes and helmets provided upon request.

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.

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.

Celebrate living in the land of winter with friends and family along the Mississippi River! Try snowshoeing and fat tire biking. Play winter games, enjoy snacks around a campfire, join in the hunt for the medallion and much more.

Are you curious about what the big deal is with fat bikes? In this program, you will get to ride one and navigate a wintry landscape both on and off the beaten path. Beginners welcome. Bikes and helmets provided.

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.

As our summer birds start to return, welcome them back by playing some bird games! Try your hand at migrating, see if you can guess the weight of Minnesota raptors and see if you can compete with world record holders in events like flying speed.

Drop in anytime to search for tadpoles, play frog games and meet a live frog.

Drop in any time to meet our live animal ambassadors up close!

Learn about Minnesota’s mammals by touching and investigating their furs and skulls. Try to match the fur to the skull and marvel at the variety of furred critters in this state.

The ice is thawing and birds are migrating north along the Mississippi River! Use binoculars and a spotting scope to look for ducks, mergansers and other water birds. All materials provided.

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.

Learn geocaching basics before searching for hidden s'more ingredient coupons throughout the park. End with roasting your s'more over a fire. Equipment provided.

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.

The great blue herons have returned to the Upper Mississippi River! Learn about herons and their lives on a geocaching course, pretend you’re a great blue heron migrating along the Mississippi Flyway by playing a game. Gain experience using binoculars as you take a walk in search of herons and look for their distinctive blue eggs.

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

Throughout the seasons, the stars we see in the sky change. Learn why this is, hear constellation stories from around the world and see the night sky during the day in our StarLab. Please only register people who will be in the StarLab. All students under 14 must have an adult present in the building during this program (adults do not have to be registered if they are not going to be in the StarLab).

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.

Learn about constellations, listen to the stories told about them from around the world and see the night sky during the day in our StarLab. Please only register people who will be in the StarLab. All students 5-7 years old must have an adult registered and present in the StarLab with them. Students ages 8- 14 must have an adult present in the building during this program (adults do not have to be registered if they aren't going to be in the StarLab).

Explore our astronomical “neighborhood” that is the solar system. Learn how the planets move around the sun, visit the planets and discover other celestial objects we can see in our skies—all from our StarLab. Please only register people who will be in the StarLab. All students under 14 must have an adult present in the building during this program (adults do not have to be registered if they aren’t going to be in the StarLab).

Join certified wildlife trackers to dive deeper into the art and science of wildlife tracking. Interpret the prints and signs left behind by all kinds of animals. Beyond identification (naming this is a deer track or this is a raccoon track), we will explore ecology and behavior to illuminate the stories of the wild lives that inhabit this stretch of the Mississippi River. Expect walking and stopping to look at dirt, mud, snow or sand, examining footprints and sharing your observations.

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 one that suits you.

Sagittal crests, temporal bulbs and rostrums; you can learn a lot about an animal simply by looking at its skull! Learn about the anatomy of mammal skulls, the clues they provide to help identify the animals they come from and how different skull adaptations can tell you a lot about the life that animal lived.

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.

Learn about our outdoor preschool program for children ages 4-6. This virtual open house is geared toward families interested in the 2026-2027 school year; it includes a program overview plus time for questions. You will receive an email invitation with a ZOOM link.

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.

Cook a tasty afternoon snack over a campfire. Learn different techniques to boil water and make a cozy warm beverage. And yes, there will be s'mores, too! Cooking equipment and food provided.

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. Through storytelling, craft and exploratory strolls in the park, we will learn about the plants and animals that live here. $93/Pair/8 sessions.

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 9, and fully potty trained. Reservations required by two weeks prior. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11:30 AM September 9, 2025 – May 21, 2026 No class on: November 25 and 27; December 23, 25, and 30; January 1; March 31; April 2. Total fee for September – May is $1,650/66 sessions. Monthly payments are calculated based on number of classes, and range from $150-$225. Tuition is billed monthly and due within two weeks. An initial deposit of $175 is due upon registration and will be applied as the September tuition.

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. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11:30 AM. September 15, 2026 – May 20, 2027

Explore the Mississippi River like few have had the chance to do. Build a raft and see if it floats. Investigate deserted islands and discover what lives in the river. Watch eagles and bike to explore different shorelines. Try canoeing or kayaking on a lake, and rafting down the Mississippi on a day-long trip. Equipment provided.

The mighty Mississippi and the adjacent fields, forests and wetlands are ripe for adventure and making discoveries. Immerse yourself in the wildest parts of the park, follow sneaky trails and learn how people have survived on the banks of this great waterway for centuries.