Enjoy a guided snowshoe hike under the full moon with the Outdoor Recreation School. Learn about snowshoes and snowshoe techniques as we embrace the crisp winter air and explore the quiet sounds of a winter night. We will hike if no snow. $6/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.

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.

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.

Get out on the trails for a self-guided fall scavenger hunt. Choose from several options and complete your hike to earn a prize! Drop in anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Watch some kooky animal puppets as they stop Trasher the Trash Can from trashing nature. Performance begins promptly at 1 p.m. After the show, try your hand at making an art project related to the show until 3 p.m. Join the Walk with a Naturalist at 2 p.m. for a longer nature hike or stay and make art throughout the afternoon. 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.

Enjoy the optimal fall hiking season and explore the parks in Scott County with an Outdoor Recreation School Instructor. Hike a different trail each week. Make new connections and meet fellow hikers or bring a friend along! Expect variable trail conditions. Locations subject to change; an updated schedule will be provided to registered participants. This program is in partnership with Scott County. $30/person.

Wrap up 2026 with one last s’more! Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors for a scenic snowshoe hike followed by a yummy treat. Learn how to put on and walk in snowshoes, explore the snowy trails on a guided walk, then gather around the fire to roast marshmallows and make a s'more. We will hike if no snow. Participants ages 11 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult. $12/person.

Wrap up 2026 with one last s’more! Join Outdoor Recreation School instructors for a scenic snowshoe hike followed by a yummy treat. Learn how to put on and walk in snowshoes, explore the snowy trails on a guided walk, then gather around the fire to roast marshmallows and make a s'more. We will hike if no snow. Participants ages 11 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult. This program is in partnership with Scott County. $12/person.

Explore the trails, meet new friends, and experience the whole-body benefits that Nordic pole hiking provides while exercising in nature. Outdoor Recreation School instructors educate on the Nordic walking technique and lead a weekly pole hike. Explore a mix of paved and unpaved trails in French Regional Park, Fish Lake Regional Park and Baker Park Reserve. Please wear sturdy shoes or light hiking boots for hilly terrain and potentially muddy ground. $48/person.

Explore the trails with your baby in a carrier or all-terrain stroller. We will hike at a slow to moderate pace and allow the babies/toddlers to engage in safe, sensory experiences along the way. Drop-ins welcome. Ages 0-3 plus adult. Free.

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. $155/Student.

Learn what makes birds unique. Examine taxidermied birds, learn about the adaptations that help birds survive and go on a binocular hike to find birds around the nature center. $6/student.

Blast off in to space as we explore our solar system and beyond. Learn about the moon, the other planets in our solar system, stars and many other celestial bodies that are floating throughout the universe. The second week (March 8) will be an evening session for stargazing. The last week (March 22) will be an evening session for a full moon hike. $24/student.

Join the Outdoor Recreation School to explore the park on a Scandinavian-style kicksled and enjoy the wonders of winter around you. If snow/ice conditions don’t allow for kicksledding, we will go on a winter hike instead. $6/person.

Hike an illuminated autumn trail at your own pace. Relax around a campfire while listening to live acoustic music. Hennepin County Libraries will provide a new Story Stroll to read on your hike each of the evenings. Bring your own snacks, beverages and s'mores. Stop in the building to view exhibits and purchase Richardson Nature Center's very own wildflower honey. The illuminated trail is approximately one-half mile along rolling woodchip and turf trails. No reservation needed; drop in anytime. All ages welcome. Free.

Celebrate this Scandinavian holiday by making several ornaments out of natural materials. Read a Lucia story about light in this darkest time of the year. Make a cookie and sing a Swedish song. See and hear a nyckelharpa, the national instrument of Sweden. Go on an optional self-guided, outdoor hike. This program is suitable for adults, kids and family groups. $10/person.

Discover the natural world with your preschooler through free play, a craft and a naturalist-led hike. Explore the forest while searching for beautiful fall colors. Reservations required. This program is designed for ages 2-6 and an accompanying adult. Both adult and child must register and pay. $6/person.

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.

Discover the natural world with your preschooler through free play, a craft and a naturalist-led hike. Use all five senses to explore nature and the changing seasons with a naturalist. Reservations required for both adult and child. Ages: 2-6, plus adult. $6/person.

Join our puppet friends. Explore activities before the show and hike on your own afterward. Maximum of three children per adult. Program is a combination of indoor and outdoor activities. Please dress for the weather. Bring a bag lunch and eat with other participants after the program. $6/person. Ages 2-6 plus adult. Under 2 are free but must register.

Join naturalists for an evening hike through the shadowy autumn forest. Explore the mysteries behind glowing eyes, nighttime sounds, and the ways humans and animals experience the night differently. Learn how owls, foxes, deer, and other nocturnal and crepuscular creatures navigate using their keen senses, moonlight, the stars and even Earth's magnetic field. The hike will be moderately paced along rolling turf and woodchip trails. Reservations required. All ages welcome. $6/person.

Enjoy an easy hike with a naturalist. We'll look for evidence of animal activity and play a few games along the way. All ages welcome. Free.

Embrace the extra hours of darkness by creating your very own paper lantern. At sunset, the group will venture out with our lanterns to take a hike guided by a naturalist. $6/person.

Come out to celebrate the final days of Parktober, a month-long park trails mileage challenge. We will hike 1.5 miles on turf trails through a grove of golden maple trees on Poplar Creek Trail and out through Cleary Point for lake vistas. Combine with Parktober Speed Puzzling Competition for a full night of fun. All ages welcome. Free.

Celebrate Parktober, a month-long park trails mileage challenge, with an evening adventure at Murphy Hanrehan Park Reserve. On this 2.5-mile guided hike along turf trails, we will explore hilly, scenic views and a sweeping prairie vista, taking in the crisp autumn air and observing the seasonal changes. Meet at the horse trail entrance located off Sunset Lake Road. All ages welcome. This program is in partnership with Scott County. Free.

Join us for a friendly puzzling competition as your group of 2-4 people competes to be the first to complete the 300-piece puzzle. The winning team gets free pizza! All ages welcome. This program is in partnership with Scott County. Combine with Parktober Guided Hike for a full night of fun. $10/group. Max 4 per group.

Drop off your preschooler to experience nature in the winter through outdoor adventures, discovery hikes and hands-on nature activities. Each week focuses on a new nature topic. This program is mostly outdoors in winter weather. Reservations required. No class Dec. 24 and 31. $187/11 sessions.

Drop off your preschooler to discover the natural world through art, songs, play, live animals, hikes and more. Enjoy a snack brought from home and listen to nature stories. Each session is taught in English with an introduction to the Spanish language. $68/child for four sessions.