Say hello to fall with us here on the Mississippi River; explore how the park and its inhabitants are changing as autumn approaches. Dig into a nature scavenger hunt, leaf art and a micro hike with friends and family. All ages welcome. Free.

Check out animal skulls up close, and learn how teeth and other features can tell us about what an animal eats. All ages welcome. Free.

Join a naturalist and an art instructor from Silverwood Park and explore a new artmaking activity inspired by nature on the front patio of the French Park visitor center. Take an up-close look at nature artifacts and learn to use tools like binoculars, hand lenses and field guides to observe the wild world around. All ages welcome. Free.

Beavers have amazing bodies and behaviors! A family of beavers built a dam not far from the nature center. Stop by to learn about Minnesota’s largest rodents, try to build a mini dam and head out on Eastman's trails with a map to where beavers have been active to hunt for signs that they have been busy. Drop in anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Learn how to use a GPS, then head out on the trails to discover fascinating river facts as we celebrate the Big Year of Rivers. All ages welcome. Free.

Drop in and make a beautiful cyanotype art project using a special paper, a nature object and the sunshine. Make one for yourself and one for a grandparent in honor of Grandparents Day. Limit of two projects per person. All ages welcome. Free.

Learn about nature at your own pace through free, hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic, with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required.

Smallmouth bass, redhorse, a variety of minnows and even Minnesota’s state fish (the walleye) are all fairly common in this part of the Mississippi River. Learn about the fish of all shapes and sizes that live here and how they play a role in this complex aquatic ecosystem with hands-on experiences and up-close encounters through with live fish. All ages welcome. Free.

Use nets and jars to catch insects and see what six-legged creatures are living in the park. All ages welcome. Free.

Journey through the water cycle in a unique hands on game. Turn yourself into a water droplet and become part of the adventure as you collect beads that tell your personal water droplet story. Drop in anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Join us in our front yard as our turtle ambassadors get some sunshine. Learn what makes Blanding's and painted turtles special, and discover where they live and what they eat. All ages welcome. Free.

Learn about nature at your own pace through free, hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic, with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required. 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.

Stop by to visit with monarchs; there might be eggs, caterpillars, a chrysalis, or adult butterflies to see. Learn about the fascinating life cycle of the monarch butterfly and how it migrates to Mexico for the winter. All ages welcome. Free.

Join us for collecting insects in the prairie. Use nets and small containers to collect, observe and release while the prairie is in full bloom. Meet in the prairie near the upper parking lot. If it rains or is too wet, we will meet a prairie animal ambassador in the nature center. Drop ins anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Learn about nature at your own pace through hands-on experiences. Each week features a different topic, with a naturalist available to share insights and answer questions. Activities change weekly and may include self-guided activities such as a short hike, exhibit discovery or using an exploration kit. Designed for individuals, families and learners of all ages. Drop in anytime, no registration required. Free.

Take a self-guided poetry walk near the river. Let the river inspire you to write your own "river of words" using paper and pencil or magnetic words. You can also add your ideas and sketches to our community poem. All ages welcome. Free.

Drop in any time to look for rocks along the banks of the Mississippi. Learn how to identify your finds and bring your best rock related questions to see if you can stump the naturalist! All ages welcome. Free.

Learn tips and tricks for walking on a slackline. Test your balance and enjoy the park at the same time. All ages welcome. Free.

Make your own stomp rocket out of recycled materials and experiment to see what makes it fly the best. All ages welcome. Free.

Hike the trails near the prairie and uncover the pages of "If You’re Not from the Prairie" by David Bouchard as you go. Complete the trail and the story! Find a naturalist out on the trail to learn more about the plants and animals that call the prairie home. All ages welcome. Free.

Join Brandon, one of the hosts of The Wandering Naturalist podcast, by a campfire to explore the show's September topic and get a sneak peak of the October topic. Learn how to identify some of the birds that use the Mississippi Flyway in the fall, then borrow binoculars to find them on the trails. Learn what makes crows and other corvids such amazing birds. Bring your questions and chat with Brandon. Drop in and leave anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Join us for a quiet, creative activity at the pond or along the creek. Make your own watercolor painting to take home. All ages welcome. Free.