Be among the first to view photos taken this year by visitors from around Three Rivers Park District! This year's show includes a special "Flowing Waters" category in recognition of the Big Year of Rivers. Participate in an informal vote for the People’s Choice Award, hunt images for items in the Photo Show ISpy, and chat with the naturalist about any questions the pictures may inspire. Voting is open through December 15, photos will be displayed through December 28. Photo submissions will be accepted through November 1 in both adult and youth divisions. Two winners will be selected in each division: one by random drawing and one by vote. To participate in the contest, visit ThreeRiversParks.org/EastmanPhotoShow or email EastmanNC@ThreeRiverParks.org for submission guidelines. All ages welcome. Free.

Celebrate autumn as part of our 50+ Adventures! Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors to learn the basics of archery and elements of safety. Practice fundamental skills, participate in fun challenges and enjoy the thrill of hitting the target. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned archer, come enjoy an archery experience with a seasonal twist. $12/person.

Spend a beautiful fall morning canoeing and enjoy the colorful foliage with instructors from the Outdoor Recreation School. Prior canoeing experience is recommended. There will be a brief review of equipment, paddle strokes and safety prior to our touring the lake. $12/person.

Join the Outdoor Recreation School for a hike and enjoy the benefits of spending time in nature. Take time to be active, connect with others, breathe in the crisp November air and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature along the Mississippi River. If there is snow we will snowshoe or use traction devices. $6/person.

How slow can you go? September is full of activity in the natural world. You can't take a step without noticing something new; at least that's the goal of this walk! How much can we find in a short distance Participants can choose from a wide range of tools such as nets, binoculars, magnifying glasses, field guides and more as we head out on an adventure short in length but rich in discovery. All the mushrooms, insects, birds, plants, etc. will be documented for citizen science. All ages welcome. Free.

Join staff from Mississippi Gateway Regional Park and the Outdoor Recreation School to try two very modifiable activities. You will get to experience the accessible features at Mississippi Gateway while fishing in the Mississippi River and practicing archery. Participants under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Trained staff and volunteers will lead instruction and modify the program for needs. A family, friend or PCA is encouraged to be present at the program to assist with transfers, communication or other personal needs if necessary. $15/person.

Enjoy the sport of mountain biking with the Outdoor Recreation School on an adapted three-wheeled mountain bike. We will ride on an accessible singletrack trail when it is open and a paved trail when the singletrack trail is closed. This program is entirely outdoors. All equipment will be provided; six adapted bikes available to choose from. Please bring a personal bike helmet, eye protection and gloves if you have them. If not, we will provide them. Reservations required. Participants ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Trained staff and volunteers will accompany riders each session on the trail. A family, friend or PCA is encouraged to be present at the start and end of the program to assist with transfers, communication or other personal needs. $30/three sessions.

All photos tell a story. Whether you are a child taking a photo for the first time, a hiker using your phone camera, or a lifelong photographer, we want to see the parks through your lens! Show us how much you love the parks by submitting your photos of them for the Thankful for Parks: Amateur Photography Show! All submissions will be displayed for a month at Eastman Nature Center and will have a chance at winning prizes as described below. Please review submission guidelines carefully. Visit the event's website for more information at www.ThreeRiversParks.org/EastmanPhotoShow, by emailing EastmanNC@threeriversparks.org or by calling 763-694-7700.

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.

Join the animal characters of the Big Woods on a Halloween trail walk. Visit the bubbling cauldron, eat a bug and experience the Gross Out Grotto! Enjoy Halloween games, a green screen photo opportunity and make a treat at the fire. Earn treats and experience the candy cannon. Costumes encouraged and refreshments provided. Activities are ongoing from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., but your reservation time is your trail start time. $8/person.

Enjoy a fun evening of pub-style trivia along the banks of the Mississippi River. Get a team of 2-8 people together and compete by answering river-themed questions for some Big Year of Rivers swag! The doors open at 6 p.m.; feel free to bring dinner and/or socialize before trivia starts at 7 p.m. The questions will be adult-level in difficulty, but all ages are welcome. $10/team up to four people. Registration will be by table: For teams of 2-4 people, ONE team member should register to reserve 1 table. For teams of 5-8 people, TWO team members should register to reserve 2 tables.

Ride along the Crow River and explore the paths people have followed over time. Enjoy the scenic and historic river and the layers of stories while enjoying the ride. Discover how this little river has played some big roles in shaping our region. Stops include a brew pub to celebrate the Big Year of Rivers. (beer samples available for purchase). Participants must bring their own bike and helmet and be able to ride a 15-mile loop at a leisurely pace with stops. $15/person.

See wild songbirds safely trapped, studied and banded with numbered rings. Find out what scientists learn from these banded birds. All ages welcome. Free.

Work with naturalists to create a unique buckthorn wreath to decorate for the holidays. Arrange evergreens and other natural materials to bring color and depth to your wreath. Learn about this common invasive plant and how buckthorn impacts local ecosystems. Warm up with complimentary coffee, tea or bring your favorite cozy beverage. Enjoy good company and conversation while you work. Come ready to create, connect and celebrate the season. $32/person.

Join the Outdoor Recreation School and Gary’s Custom Fishing Rods while you visualize and construct your personalized keepsake. Each participant will receive a six-foot, medium light graphite rod blank. You will get to select between spinning and bait casting rod design. All participants building a rod must register and pay. Participants aged 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult actively engaged in assisting their child; this adult can also register to build their own rod while assisting their registered child or simply assist their child during the program at no additional fee. This program is entirely indoors. $150/person.

Stay in a rustic log cabin with your family or friends. Try archery and other activities while exploring and relaxing on your own. Meals are cooked on your own at outdoor grill sites. Advice, firewood and cooking/eating utensils provided. Maximum one cabin per family (maximum eight people). $199/cabin.

Come get cozy and comfortable around the campfire while making things that that people crave. We have new recipes for you to try. Make your next cookout amazing with tips and recipes your friends and family will love. Cook and eat tasty food during this wilderness feast. We will make several items including a steaming hot Dutch Oven cake to tickle your tastebuds! Bring your family and friends for a unique and custom dining experience. $14 ages 16+; $10 ages 3-15; children under 3 free.

Pie irons are a great way to cook and bake over the fire! One of the best things about pie iron cooking is that each person can customize the recipe to their taste. Don't like a particular ingredient? Don't add it! We have all new recipes for you to try. Make your next cookout amazing with tips and recipes your friends and family will love. Cook and eat tasty food during this wilderness feast. We will make several items, including mouthwatering cream cheese bars. Bring your family and friends for a unique and custom dining experience. $14 ages 16+; $10 ages 3-15; children under 3 free.

Learn basic candle making skills using natural beeswax and soy wax. Create several different projects using various candle making techniques, such as dipping, rolling and pouring tealights. This program is for ages 8+ for safety reasons. An adult must stay to assist children and must register if they want to make candles as well. $18/person.

In this introductory series, explore some fundamental processes of printmaking: relief linocuts, monotypes and collagraphs. Draw inspiration from the changing seasons and textured landscape, and learn the basics of each process as you experiment with techniques to create unique prints on paper during each session. No previous printmaking experience required. $35/person.

Create personal projects in clay through basic handbuilding methods. Learn pinch and coil building, slab construction techniques, and how to apply texture and surface decoration to your pieces. Designed for students at a beginner level who have not taken this class more than three times. This class is for handbuilding only and includes materials and firings. $150/six sessions.

Get fired up about the experimental and exhilarating process of raku! Raku is a fast alternative firing technique that comes from ancient Japanese traditions and produces a range of dramatic surfaces, from metallic luster to smoky crackle. During this two-part workshop, learn techniques for handbuilding unique ceramic objects, then the following week, learn how to prepare surfaces for the kiln and collaboratively fire the raku kiln. Quickly raise the kiln to peak temperature, remove the red-hot pots, and place them into combustible materials to create striking, unpredictable effects. No two pieces ever come out alike, making each firing a truly unique experience. No previous ceramics or raku experience required. $75/person.

Join an educator from Gale Woods Farm to learn simple cheesemaking. Then, learn the basics of woodcarving by creating your own spoon with a Silverwood educator. $30/person.

Help us remove invasive buckthorn from the Lowry Nature Center trails. Begin with a presentation about how to identify and remove common buckthorn, then work as a team to cut buckthorn with gloves and tools. Participants will work at their own pace, but must be able to walk on uneven terrain with limited access to water or restroom facilities. All materials will be provided. Free. Registration required.

With a CSA share, you pay a one-time fee for weekly pickups from mid-June through mid-October (18 weeks). Shareholders select their own items every week at a market-style pick-up at the farm. Your pick-up day is the same each week; either Tuesdays from 3:30–6 p.m. or Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (one hour prior to the Saturday Market public opening). We don't offer partial shares, but you may split shares on your own.

Join Ellen, a co-host of The Wandering Naturalist podcast, on a relaxed bird hike looking for this month's podcast topic-corvids! We'll chat on the trails about local corvids (and other birds), see if we can spot any and enjoy the fall colors. Not a listener? No problem, check out The Wandering Naturalist wherever you get your podcasts. $6/person.