Join us for the opening reception of In the Sky by Kim Wetzel on Thursday, September 10 from 6–8 p.m. The exhibition is on view August 13–September 30. Drop in anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Blast off for four days of hands-on, cosmic discovery as we explore the wonders of our solar system, galaxy and universe! Each day, campers will investigate new space themes—from the planets and moons that orbit our sun to the stars and galaxies that fill the universe. We’ll experiment with craters, build and launch our own model rockets and use our pop-up planetarium to journey through the night sky—right in the middle of the day. Along the way, campers will transform their observations and big ideas into imaginative works of art. Get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure where science and creativity collide.

Explore the park with an artist and naturalist in search of the clues left behind by the things that live and grow here. We will draw from our wild observations to create functional and sculptural ceramic artwork using handbuilding techniques with slabs and coils.

Join guest instructor Sandra Hatzenbuhler (Point & Stitch Embroidery) along with a Silverwood naturalist for a welcoming, hands-on introduction to embroidery in the park for participants of all backgrounds. In a relaxed, social environment, we will learn basic stitching techniques and create a simple note card embroidered on handmade paper with organic wool floss. Designs will be inspired by the coming changes to fall colors and foliage. No experience necessary, all materials provided. $15/person.

Join us for an evening of reading and making! We will read a book about mushrooms and make a colorful ceramic project inspired by our discoveries. $18/pair.

Join in an afternoon of free art and nature fun for the whole family in celebration of Silverwood Park's 17th anniversary! Shop at the artist market, join hands-on art and nature activities led by Silverwood's instructors and enjoy food from local food trucks. Plus, catch live music from Funk N Spuds at 12:30 p.m. and Yellow Ostrich at 2:30 p.m. Drop in anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Pack your boat with snacks and watch a movie on the water. Float or paddle up for a film projected on a large inflatable screen on the shore of Silver Lake. Limited space on the shore will also be available with viewing options in front of or behind the rear-projected screen for those who prefer to bring a chair. One night only. In the event of inclement weather, the movie will be rescheduled for Friday, July 24.

Learn about the flowers grown in Silverwood's Dyers Garden and the unique natural dye properties they possess. During this series, we will explore methods of natural dyeing with fresh flowers and plants, how to prepare fabric and the science behind these processes. Fabric will be provided for the eco-printing dates; please bring your own cotton/linen/wool (natural fiber) garment for fresh indigo and marigold printing classes. $35/person.

Once a month, learn foundational yoga postures and breathwork in a gentle vinyasa flow class with instructor Stephanie Wyman. Practice moving with breath, correct alignment of postures and sun salutations. Mats and props are available; use of props is encouraged. Registration recommended. Drop-ins welcome. This program is designed to be a primer for the weekly Sunset Yoga class. No experience necessary; all abilities welcome. Please wear comfortable clothes. You are encouraged to use props if available. Straps, blocks, and blankets are options. Music is provided during class. $12/person.

Grab a sketchbook and let’s connect to nature through close observation. We will start by drawing specimens in the classroom. There, we will learn some tips and tricks to drawing and journaling in the field. Then, with sketchbook in hand, we will explore the park along with a naturalist using images, words and numbers to connect with the natural world. All levels welcome. No previous drawing experience necessary. $8/person.

Explore the textures, patterns and stories hidden within the natural world through hands-on discovery and sculptural artmaking. Participants will investigate materials shaped by time, pressure and natural forces while experimenting with texture and form. Participants will learn clay techniques and skills to create sculptural artworks inspired by rocks, fossils and geological forms. $48/student.

Discover the many ways animals move through the world by exploring motion, balance and energy in nature. Participants will investigate how animals jump, glide, crawl, swim and fly while learning how movement helps them survive. Using interactive and moving art techniques, create kinetic artworks that shift, spin and respond to motion. This class blends creativity, engineering and hands-on exploration through playful artistic experimentation. $48/student.

Discover the amazing colors hidden in leaves, flowers and plants as we explore how nature creates color all around us. Participants will learn how plants use sunlight to grow and why different plants display different colors, patterns and textures. Then turn flowers and leaves into bold works of art while experimenting with natural pigments and creating colorful nature-inspired artworks. $48/student.

Explore the exciting world of animals and discover how they use color, patterns and camouflage to survive in the wild. Participants will investigate animal tracks, signs and behaviors while learning how creatures hide, communicate and adapt to their environments. Dive into a wild mix of paper artworks inspired by our discoveries. $48/students.

Take a closer look at the tiny details hidden in the natural world using microscopes, magnifiers, light and shadow. Participants will discover amazing textures, shapes and patterns that are often too small to see with just our eyes. Transform tiny discoveries into glowing shadow art and light-filled creations inspired by the incredible hidden details revealed through magnification and light. $48/student.

Travel way back into deep time when landscapes were different, ancient life was forming and Earth was constantly changing. Participants will explore fossils, petrified wood and the slow forces that shaped the planet over millions of years. Then use ceramics to create textured works inspired by stone, fossils and ancient earth layers. $24/student.

Step into the wild side of nature where animal behavior, tracks and survival meet mysterious creatures and cryptid legends. Participants will investigate how real animals move, hide and leave clues behind, and create their own stories of the unknown. Then use printmaking to build layered, textured artworks inspired by wildlife signs and “evidence.” $24/student.

Zoom way in and discover just how strange and amazing the tiny world really is. Participants will use microscopes to uncover hidden patterns, textures and details in natural materials that usually go unnoticed. Then transform those discoveries into glass-inspired artworks based on magnified forms and shapes. $24/student.

Get into the messy, colorful world of plants as we explore how flowers are built, how they grow and what’s really going on behind all that green. Participants will dig into plant structures and discover how nature makes its own color in surprising ways. Then turn plants into pigments and experiment with natural dye to create bold, expressive works. This class mixes plant curiosity with hands-on color experiments. $24/student.

Learn the basics of throwing on a potter's wheel or build on your current skills. Demonstrations will focus on cups, bowls, handles and surface options. Class will include free time to practice new skills and explore personal interests. $150/person.

Join FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra and Silverwood Park for an afternoon of creative expression in the natural world. Explore the 'Path to Sound' activity, featuring hands-on learning with instruments up close exploring where musical sounds come from. With a naturalist, we will find sounds around us in nature, and create artwork inspired by what we hear. Drop-in anytime for activities from 1-3 p.m. when the program will conclude with a story reading and performance from a small ensemble! All ages welcome. Free.

Join Silverwood Park in celebrating National Friendship Day by helping create the longest friendship bracelet in Minnesota. All summer long, visitors helped to braid sections of a giant friendship bracelet at concerts, events and at home using simple kumihimo braiding kits. On August 1, we’ll bring every piece together to stretch along the park trail from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in a joyful celebration of friendship, community and connection. After the bracelet is assembled, everyone is invited to join a Friendship Walk on the trail with a friend, old or new, until 2 p.m. All ages welcome. Free.

Take a closer look at the hidden worlds around us! Each day, campers will explore a new level of magnification using different types of microscopes to reveal the tiny details that make up our natural world. From hand lenses to dissecting scopes to high-powered compound microscopes, we’ll journey deeper and deeper into the micro world taking micro hikes around the park to collect fascinating samples along the way. Campers will even have the chance to view their own cells up close. Inspired by these incredible discoveries, we’ll create artwork that celebrates light, color and the often unseen patterns of nature. For a full day of adventure, combine with Nature's Protectors Camp in the afternoon. Includes a monitored lunch hour between camp sessions.

National Alliance on Mental Health Minnesota (NAMI MN) and Silverwood Park partner to offer a monthly arts-integrated support group for anyone experiencing a mental health condition. This support group is dedicated to helping participants build resilience through creative experiences, facilitated peer discussion and reflection, and connection to the natural world. Phone Number to register (651) 645-2948. Free.

Presenting their summer 2026 show, 'Tales of Hoffman'. Follow the wild adventures of traveling poet, Hoffmann, as he seeks love and creative inspiration in a world overrun by technology. He meets ghosts, robots, magicians and shape-shifting demons in this lively fantasy. With a mix of 1990s grunge and R&B, the Pickup Truck Opera is a one-of-a-kind mix of classical opera and pop tunes you'll love. All ages welcome. Free.

Explore the natural world and what is happening outdoors at the park. Learn how to weave a simple basket and explore what is living in the pond. Families register together. One registration includes art materials for two projects. One family can register multiple times for more materials. One registration includes art materials for two projects. One family can register multiple times for more materials. $16/group max 4 people. Ages 7-12 plus adult.

Explore the natural world and what is happening outdoors at the park. Explore plants and how they connect the sun's energy to food webs. Then, use light sensitive paper, plant materials, and pH to create dreamlike plant prints with cyanotype. One registration includes art materials for two projects. One family can register multiple times for more materials. $16/group max 4 people. Ages 7-12 plus adult.

Explore the natural world and what is happening outdoors at the park. Learn about pollinators and how some of them make their own paper to build their homes. Then, make your own hand made paper to take home. One registration includes art materials for two projects. One family can register multiple times for more materials. $16/group max 4 people. Ages 7-12 plus adult.

Join us for a once monthly program exploring the creative arts and natural world. Cozy up for a story or song, head on a hike to observe the wild surroundings and create an art project inspired by what you find. This program will occur primarily outdoors with access to the indoors for restroom breaks and when necessary for some artmaking activities. $7/person. Ages: 2-6 plus adult. Siblings under age 2 are free but must register.

Join us for an evening of reading and making! We will read a book about prairies and make a colorful ceramic project inspired by our discoveries. $18/pair.

Defend the wetlands, forests, prairies and lake while guided by an artist, a naturalist and your imagination. Practice outdoor skills needed along your journey and defend the earth from evil forces. Tell your epic tale of this saga through the artful creations we will make along the way. Registration required by two weeks prior. For a full day of adventure, combine with Micro Camp in the morning. Includes a monitored lunch hour between camp sessions.

Join us for the opening reception of Creatures in the Playing Field by Xavier Tavera on Thursday, September 10 from from 6–8 p.m. The exhibition is on view September 1–30. Drop in anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Join campers and staff as they celebrate the opening reception of their gallery exhibition. The exhibition is on view August 13-23, 2026. All ages welcome. Free.

Each week through the fall, we will enjoy stories, creative play, explore the outdoors and make art inspired by what we find in nature. All activities will take place outdoors with access to indoor space for art making, restrooms and in the event of inclement weather. $180/child for 10 sessions.

Drop your creative explorer off for discovery in artmaking and the outdoor world guided by an artist and naturalist. Each morning we will focus on a new topic in nature through story or song, creative play and investigating different parts of the park. Then we will use what we observe to inspire artmaking across a variety of mediums.