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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Celebrate the changing season with an evening outdoors. As day and night find balance, join the Outdoor Recreation School for a guided hike through the beauty of autumn—crisp air, changing leaves, and the sights and sounds of the season all around us. After the hike, gather around the campfire to relax, connect and roast marshmallows. Bring warm layers, your sense of adventure and welcome the new season with us! $8/person.

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.

Savor the last "Golden Hour" of sunshine! Join a naturalist on this guided walk to identify seasonal sightings and soak up the season. $6/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.

Step into the quiet embrace of the forest and let nature wash over you. Shinrin-Yoku, or “forest bathing”, is more than a walk—it’s an immersion of the senses, a return to the wisdom of the trees. Feel the cool whisper of the breeze against your skin. Breathe in the earthy scent of moss and pine, and the sweetness of damp leaves. Hear the rhythmic rustle of branches, the distant call of a bird, the gentle trickle of water over smooth stone. With each step, the weight of the world softens, your mind quiets, your body unwinds. Guided by a certified Forest Bathing practitioner, you’ll be invited to slow down and engage deeply with your surroundings—touching bark craggy as time, watching sunlight dance through shifting canopies, tasting the crispness of the air itself. Through gentle prompts and mindful reflection, you’ll rediscover the innate connection between yourself and the living world. This is not a hike, nor a destination—it is an experience of presence, a practice of simply being. Benefits of Shinrin-Yoku: Reduces stress and anxiety, boosts mood and mental clarity, supports immune function, enhances mindfulness and connection. Come, step into the forest. Let it restore you. This program is in partnership with Scott County.

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.

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.

Venture into the prairie in search of monarch butterflies preparing for their incredible 2,000 mile journey to Mexico. Learn how these remarkable insects are tagged for research and observe them in various stages of their life cycle. Try your hand at finding and catching a monarch or other prairie insects using a net. This program includes a hike along rolling, woodchipped trails. All ages welcome. $6/person.

Discover the natural world with your preschooler through free play, a craft and a naturalist-led hike. Explore how the plants and animals in the park are getting ready for winter. This program is primarily outdoors. This program is designed for ages 2-6 and an accompanying adult. Both adult and child must register and pay. $6/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.

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.

Spend your summer days exploring the outdoors through hands-on adventures and nature discoveries! Team up with the Outdoor Recreation School and Richardson Nature Center to uncover the critters and creatures that call Minnesota home. From nature hikes and creek or lake explorations, to log rolling, geocaching and more, every day brings a new adventure. All equipment is provided.

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.

Join naturalists to take in the symphony of sounds and sights of late summer. Listen for crickets, frogs, owls and other nighttime wildlife. Learn why animals call at night and how tiny insects make big sounds. The hike will be moderately paced along rolling turf and woodchip trails. All ages welcome. $6/person.

Discover the history of the Noerenberg family on a guided walk through the property. From their home "Wilkommen" to the eye-catching boat house to the historic barn, learn about the family connections to the lake and the land during the Gilded Age. $9/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.

Celebrate Parktober, a month-long park trails mileage challenge, with a family-friendly evening adventure at Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park. On this 1.5-mile guided hike along turf trails, we will take in the crisp autumn air and "unlock" clues along the path to uncover a mystery word to learn about the natural history of our newest park. All ages welcome. This program is in partnership with Scott County. Free.

Celebrate the beginning of Parktober, a month-long park trails mileage challenge, with an evening adventure at Cleary Lake Regional Park. On this guided 3.5-mile hike on paved trails, we will take in the crisp autumn air and observe the seasonal changes. After our walk, gather around the fire ring to roast marshmallows as the sun sets, learning about other Parktober hiking routes. 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.

Be a part of the prairie restoration process! Hike with us into gorgeous, lush prairies to collect native wildflower seed. All seed collected will support continued restoration of the nearly 2,000 acres of prairie in Three Rivers Parks. No experience necessary; we'll provide training at the start of each session. Reservations required. Free.